I have a friend who is approaching middle age. He has survived a number of heart attacks. Following his last attack, his physician prescribed jogging to restore his faltering heart. Gradually, he worked into a physical fitness program. He changed his eating habits as well. His pulse rate now is lower, his heartbeat stronger, and he feels better. Exertion no longer tires him as it once did. In all likelihood his health will continue to improve, but only as long as he stays with the program.
This man’s lifestyle—prior to getting involved in a physical fitness program—is an excellent example of far too many of us, particularly the professional class because of sedentary conditions. He has spent most of his life exercising his mind or intellect while neglecting his body. The outcome was deterioration of the body and finally cardiac disease. Luckily, he came to his senses before it was too late.
My Commitment
I am totally committed to the concept that physical fitness is indispensable to a healthy life. I offer no apologies for promoting good physical and spiritual health. Each compliments the other. In fact, my positive hang-up has become a positive addiction! I don’t need artificial highs, such as alcohol and drugs, to satisfy my needs. I enjoy a
natural high from running, hiking on lonely trails in the Arizona mountains, and trekking the Grand Canyon—plus smaller ones. Other forms of exercise are my lot as well. Who knows? I could possibly live to be 120 before I die from natural causes!
Eating Sensibly And Exercising
A noted Life Insurance company remarked that 20 million Americans are now spending less time in front of their television sets and more time running and walking their way to physical fitness. Many other Insurance companies also are encouraging physical fitness. They are sold on the idea that good health prolongs life, and that a physical fitness program makes for good health. Monetarily, it is to their advantage to promote longevity. They and the
American Heart Association are also telling Americans to eat sensibly and eat less.
To Live Or Die!
A renowned author recently claimed that we are eating ourselves into the grave. Truer words were never spoken through false teeth! He affirmed that we are consuming huge amounts of rich and fatty foods, particularly the younger generation, and that our physically inactive lifestyles invite cardiac, respiratory, and kidney diseases.
However, on the brighter side the trend now appears to be reversing itself. Americans are becoming more concerned about their health and are running, bicycling, swimming, skiing, or taking long, brisk walks. Smoking among adults is on the downturn, although rising among the younger generation, and many are educating themselves on the harmful effects of ingesting large amounts of cholesterol and animal fat. (For informational purposes, my diet consists largely of fruits and vegetables—with daily helpings of meat low in cholesterol and animal fat.)
Supplementing your diet with vitamins is also advisable, particularly multi-vitamins, at least 1,000 mg. of Vitamin C per day, and fish oil (at least four capsules).
Cholesterol And Fat
The
American Heart Association says to “eat no more than three egg yolks a week, including eggs used in cooking”
(Eat Well But Eat Wisely). This is understandably true since one egg contains 250 milligrams of cholesterol. Medical experts recommend that no more than four to five hundred milligrams of cholesterol be consumed daily. Two eggs satisfy that amount! However, nutritional experts are now saying eggs do not contribute remarkably to cardiac disease, and that one egg per day should do no harm.
High In Fat!
We all are aware, of course, that certain meats are high in animal fat. Meats low in fat are chicken, turkey, and fish. Dairy products such as whole milk, cheese, butter, and cream are strikingly high in fat and cholesterol. Rosita and I drink only non-fat milk. Cardiologists and nutritionists do not recommend that
all fatty foods be deleted from our diet. They suggest simply that we eat sensibly, avoiding large intakes of fat and cholesterol.
Asian Culture
Have you given any thought to the low rate of cardiac disease in Asian culture prior to and shortly after World War II? Diet had a great deal to do with it. Fruits, vegetables, rice, and fish were primary to their dietary lifestyle. These food items contain no fat and little cholesterol.
Bicycling among the Chinese, even today, contributes to a low rate of cardiac disease as well. For millions of them, the bicycle is their only means of transportation. Since World War II, however, cardiac disease in Asian culture has increased substantially. The reason for this is that many Asians have adopted the Western diet—a fatal mistake.
Running and bicycling, say medical authorities, stimulate the blood flow and strengthen the heart and lungs. The heart’s muscles are invigorated and its beats per minute decreased, relieving it of much labor and preserving it for future years. (As opposed to the average male pulse of 68 to 78, mine is 48 to 52 when I’m relaxed.)
Brute Determination
A few years ago, I read a story of a wealthy senior adult in her early 70s. She had given up living and consigned herself to a wheelchair to await death. Her children were greedy and, naturally, anxious to have her pass on quickly. She decided to disappoint them. Through brute determination, she negotiated herself out of her wheelchair and managed to take a couple of steps. Elated by her success and determined to press on, she continued the exercise until she was able to walk. Walking led to more walking. More walking led to jogging. Jogging led to five miles a day! The last time I heard anything about this brave woman, she was 76 years old and going strong.
Many of us are like this woman in that we have relegated ourselves to a sedentary lifestyle (“wheelchair”). We are awaiting death! For many it will soon arrive.
Pounds, Pounds, Pounds!
Obesity is something else. It, too, takes its toll. We ought to consider the enormous strain placed upon the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other vital organs, and how much harder they must labor to accommodate all that extra fat. Most obese people don’t like the way they look. And that’s understandable. But if they desire a “normal” physical appearance, let them refuse rich and fatty foods, stop all junk food, and discontinue in-between snacks.
Undisciplined eating habits can be as harmful, and often as fatal, as alcohol and drug addictions. In principle, there is little difference between compulsive eaters and compulsive boozers. Both compulsions are unhealthy addictions. For obese persons who are genuinely concerned, I offer my recommendation for guaranteed weight loss. There are no pills to take and no elaborate, costly programs to pursue. It will not cost you one additional penny. You will, in fact, save money because your food bill will be cut considerably. Here’s the solution to your weight problem:
Barring any kind of medical problem, you have put on that weight by eating and not exercising. You will, in turn, take it off by not eating and by exercising. I’m not speaking of starvation. I’m talking about eating less and eating wisely. Interested? Then put your willpower in gear.
Eternal Enemies
And smoking? Nicotine and good health are eternal enemies. Nicotine is as potent a poison as one will find dressed in an attractive package. It is so venomous it is used as an insecticide. It is no respecter of creatures. It kills both insects and humans.
“But my grandfather lived to be 97, and he smoked all of his life and ate anything he wanted to eat!”
How often have we heard that? It’s a cop-out. His grandfather was the exception, not the rule. He might have lived to be 120 had he not smoked and had eaten wisely.
Endnote
Lest I be accused of leaning too heavily on temporal factors and not enough on Heaven, allow me to say that spiritual health is far more important than physical health. The great apostle Paul affirmed that physical health has its benefits but that spiritual health is far better (I Timothy 4:8). Both are important. If either is neglected through indifference, we displease the One who created both. God loaned us this body for a while. He expects us to care for it, not neglect or abuse it. The decision is ours. I know what my decision is. What’s yours?
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