Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Wayne Goffin, Physical Therapist –
“If only I had taken better care of myself when I was younger; if I could just get this weight off I would feel so much better.” As a Physical Therapist if I had a dime for every time I have heard a comment like this from a patient in my office I would be a millionaire. Oftentimes, the people who present with comments like this are suffering from back pain, sore knee joints, high blood pressure and sugar levels, and generally they simply don’t feel good. Most know they need to increase their exercise level and eat better but many feel so poorly and overwhelmed that they don’t know where, or how, to begin.
Everyone is well aware that exercise is an important part of health, but the piece of the pie that is generally not given proper attention is what we consume. Yes, everyone knows they should stay away from food high in saturated fats and sugars but knowing and doing something are two different things. Until nutrition is completely addressed and understood it is difficult for many people to feel well enough to even begin to increase their physical activity level.
Research completed by Adventist Health Study and others have proven that a plant based diet yields the best results for longevity and quality of health. Several studies have looked at Blue Zones across the world where people commonly live to be over 100 years old. The striking common factors among these populations are a moderated lifestyle and mainly plant based nutrition.
To most modern Americans a plant based (vegetarian) diet is a strange concept. It seems difficult for many of us to maintain an all-plant diet, we have busy schedules and fast food is plentiful and easily accessible. Eating nothing but plant based foods is simply not what we are used to, in fact the mere thought of it seems completely foreign for many Americans. Consuming nothing but plant based foods is a big change and some folks just can’t handle or simply don’t want to make that big of a change in their diet. Recently experts in the field of nutrition, however, have found that even making small changes can make big differences in our nutritional health. A program called Creation Health, developed from research completed by Florida Hospitals, discusses the importance of small changes in key areas of health and has been very successful in helping individuals improve their health. The program focuses on teaching the importance of lifelong changes to health practices. An example is something as simple as adding just one piece of fruit to your diet each day for fiber, or making sure you have something for breakfast each day to start your metabolism.
With these findings in mind, we have been using a product in our practice that is a nutritional meal replacement shake that has the nutrients you need in a low calorie, lactose and gluten free formula that is even safe for those with diabetes. It is easy to prepare for breakfast and gives your metabolism the boost it needs to properly start the day. And if you really need to lose a significant amount of weight, you can safely replace two meals per day with the shake and still get the mostly plant based nutrition you need without having to worry about counting calories for every single different food consumed which can be tedious. The meal replacement shake that we offer provides the body with essential vitamins and nutrients that are often lacking in the typical American diet. Adding this shake to your daily diet plan offers numerous benefits and will provide results you can see and feel.
Once you make a simple change such as those mentioned above and stick with it for at least 21 days it becomes a good habit and you will begin to feel and see the benefits these small key changes can have on your body and health. Once nutritional habits are improved you will find it easier to work on other areas such as exercise. It is amazing how much stress is alleviated from painful joints from loosing as little as 5 lbs.
Progressive Physical Therapy and Health Club is starting a free monthly series of Creation Health Seminars that will discuss ways you can improve your health and feel better by making simple healthy lifestyle changes. For more information on the meal replacement shake or the Creation Health classes call 941-743-8700.
Progressive Health and Racquet Club
941-743-8700
www.progressivehealthplex.com
