Originally published 11/22/14, this article has been updated and reposted due to its popularity and importance for Optimum Health.
One of four deadly diseases will likely kill everyone reading this. I call these diseases the “Deadly 4”, and they take the lives of most Americans. Yet these diseases are mostly PREVENTABLE! The “Deadly 4” Diseases are:
“Malnutrition” – What comes to mind? If you are like me, it is the disturbing and painful image of the frail, fly-covered, “nothing but skin and bones”, impoverished children of Africa. After seeing the suffering, we’ve all sensed that tug on our hearts to do something. Malnutrition seems all too painful and all too unnecessary in this age of plenty.
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”!
The holidays keep rolling around year after year! What a great season! We each have much to be thankful for, and it is always a blessing to give gifts and host friends and family members for memorable and fun feasts and gatherings.
Unfortunately, the holidays typically involve less than ideal foods. If not careful, we can easily gain 5-10 pounds of unwanted weight gain between October 31st and January 1st! In fact, for some, the only weight gain they have during the entire year is during those few weeks. It is simply a difficult time to control food choices and portion sizes. It seems everyone is feasting, and they want us to join them! The temptation can be hard to resist.
There is an epidemic of high blood sugar. Normally, our metabolism converts blood sugar to energy for things like fun physical activities and thinking with our brain. When resistance to this process occurs, there are rising blood sugars and a situation known as “Insulin Resistance” or “Metabolic Syndrome”. If this situation is not managed early, the result is progressive weight gain and eventually blood sugars increase to the point of Type 2 Diabetes.
Vitamins AND Minerals in optimal amounts are essential for Optimum Health. If your goal is excellent health, pay attention to Potassium. Inadequate potassium can lead to irregular heart beats, muscle weakness, high blood sugars, high blood pressure, kidney stones, thinning bones, and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Got your attention? Potassium matters!!!
Potassium deficiency is literally robbing Americans of health! Potassium intake is about half the recommended 5,000 mg/day. These facts are why I recommend key strategies to increase potassium intake in my patients.
Unwanted weight gain is a real bother. Gaining just 15 lbs is enough to increase one’s risk of ugly things like cancer and heart disease. A few extra pounds can also impact our appearance, our self-confidence, our energy level, and even whether or not our clothes fit. Truly, no one wants to be overweight. It can be painful, frustrating, and downright depressing!
For weight loss success, one must first WANT to lose weight. Envisioning our future with the many rewards of weight loss can be all we need to give us that added motivation to get the job done.