A personal, reflective, and “optional” philosophical note from Dr. Tague
Humans are complex beings. And that is an understatement! What is it that makes us who we are? Are we just a bag of skin containing chemicals and chemical reactions? Or, is there an immaterial, “can’t touch it” aspect to man that makes us unique as individuals? And could the immaterial part of man influence our health and sense of well-being?
Has your scale steadily increased since COVID-19? You’re not alone. Gaining weight this past year has been epidemic, causing major setbacks to health and happiness. Many dine-in restaurants closing, gyms shutting down, and unprecedented stress has resulted in a lot of stress eating and comfort foods! Consequences were inevitable.
If you are like me, you’ve never been more interested in your immune system and its ability to fight off infections. COVID-19 has gotten our attention! How peculiar that the same virus can cause an infection with few or no symptoms in some, but result in multi-organ failure and death in others! It’s the same virus, in the same species, but the hosts of that virus are NOT the same.
The question we are all asking is if we are in the group with a killer immune system that can knock out coronavirus as if it were a common cold, or are we more vulnerable to life-threatening complications from COVID-19. The answer to that question applies to other viral respiratory infections, including influenza. Let me explain.
Is your scale “creeping” upwards? You’re not alone. Unwanted weight gain is epidemic and is often devastating to health and happiness. 80% of Americans are now overweight, with more people joining the list each year. Calories from food end up as fat (what we DON’T want), instead of energy (what we DO want). Calories have become a “bad guy”!
Look at common efforts to avoid calories, our source of energy:
Is your scale “creeping” upwards? You’re not alone. Unwanted weight gain is common and can be devastating to health and happiness. 80% of Americans are now overweight, with more people joining the ranks each year. Calories from food end up as fat (what we DON’T want), instead of energy (what we DO want). Calories have become a “bad guy”!
Protein… I call it the “Dieter’s Friend”. Did you know that dietary protein is ESSENTIAL for health? Literally, we cannot live without it. If you are protein deficient, your energy, strength, endurance, appearance, and even your immune system are not at their potential. Lean meat, dairy, eggs, and soy are just a few of the common foods that are good sources of quality protein.
You’ve likely heard before that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” But do you know why it is true?
In many ways, breakfast sets the energy and metabolism “tone” for the day. Will this be a day of high energy, muscle building, and feel good brain chemistry? Or, a day of fatigue, excessive food cravings, and a sluggish, fat-storing metabolism?