The health of New Zealanders has never been poorer. Obesity levels continue to rise as do the number of people being diagnosed with Diabetes and other lifestyle related illnesses and diseases.
According to the Ministry of Health, more than 200,000 New Zealanders currently have diabetes (predominantly Type 2) and more than 100,000 people who have diabetes but have not had it diagnosed and much of this is related to the rapidly rising numbers of people with obesity and the unhealthy lifestyles we are leading. Diabetes is not just a disease of adults and the elderly, with the most rapid increase of diabetes and obesity occurring in children and young adults, which is of huge concern and something that our health system will not be able to cope with if the current trends continue! In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children born in 2000 and after may not outlive their parents and they estimate that 1/3 of children born in 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes in their lifetime! It is a tragedy that today’s children could die in middle age from a food and lifestyle induced disease. Despite all the doom and gloom, the great news is that because diabetes (type 2) is largely a lifestyle related disease; we have the opportunity to take control of our health and wellbeing, approach our health proactively to make sure that we make better health choices for ourselves and our children. After all, Albert Einstein said that the definition of insanity is: “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” So what choices can we make to increase our level of health rather than becoming a statistic? Here are the Vital Solutions top tips for a Vibrant Lifestyle, to increase your health and avoid diabetes:
Combat Stress
In today’s ‘wired world’ we are continually under stress from a variety of external sources: from chemical toxicity from our environment or poor food choices, to the physical stress of sitting at a desk all day or the mental/emotional stress of completing our ever growing to do list! The stress-response is a well-known contributor to the diabetes crisis, so here are 3 ways to get your stress response and nervous system sorted!
Just breathe
One of the quickest, easiest and cost effective ways to calm down your nervous system is to breathe. Pay attention to what happens to your breath when you are under stress; guaranteed the shoulders go up around your ears and your breathing gets shallower and shallower!
Exaggerate the stress by tensing EVERY muscle in your body
Often when people are overwhelmed and stressed they can’t even get themselves to breathe. In this situation, tense every single muscle in your body for 15-30 seconds and then relax. You’ll be surprised by how much stress gets released and how much tension you were holding in your body!
Get your brain to body connection turned on
Our brain and nervous system is amazing and controls and coordinates every single function in our body! Get yours assessed by a wellness orientated chiropractor. A healthy nervous system will increase your body’s ability to deal with stress.
Eat NUTRITIOUS Food
Today we fill our body with more packaged and toxic food than ever before. Start putting REAL and nutritious food onto your plate and reap the rewards. Real food includes:
- Vegetables (& fruit): Veggies should form the basis of your meals, the more colour the better. Have a maximum of two fruit serves per day, especially if weight loss or blood sugar levels need to be controlled.
- Protein: From healthy animals or eggs at as many meals during the day as possible. Not only is protein essential, but it also helps you feel full and satisfied.
- Good fats: fat WILL NOT MAKE YOU FAT! Fat is a component of every single one of the cells within our body and most of us just don’t get enough. Good choices include: coconut, avocado, nuts and seeds, good quality butter or a little cream, olive oil, oily fish e.g. salmon and fish oil
- MINIMISE sugar: This includes grains, cereals, breads, table sugar, flour, high fructose corn syrup and packaged foods. Don’t worry, you will get plenty of good carbohydrates from the veggies and fruit you are eating!
Move
Movement is an essential nutrient and we just don’t get enough of it.
- For an overly stressed person the best exercise is one that is calming to the nervous system; so try something like yoga, tai chi or pilates.
- Get Walking: Best of all if you head outdoors and enjoy the environment it’s FREE – yes I know it is winter and it is getting colder, but it will invigorate you no end!
- Lift Heavy Things: this could be going to the gym and lifting weights or doing a body weight resistance training program at home. Even if all you incorporate is squats and push – ups, you will be doing something fabulous for your body.
