Here at FoodSource Nutrition we are firm believers in the power of preventive medicine through proper nutrition, exercise, supplementation, and healthy living. We believe that in education, positive reinforcement, and personalized health and fitness programs. It’s important that we make a difference in changing the world one individual at a time. In turn, we can spread the health, wealth, education, knowledge, and motivation to their neighbors through our own personal relationships. All it takes is one spark, that one person, who dares go against the conventional collective to rise up and say, “I am better than this! I am ready to make a change!”
We understand and embrace that each and every one of us is unique, but that’s not what makes us powerful. Diversity is our strength but our strength is not in our factions and division. Our strength comes from our unity towards the common goal of sharing the free gift of health and well-being to all regardless of our differences.
Living Your Best Life
We are looking to create a community of like-minded individuals regardless of sex, race, religion, creed, or political differences. The goal is to unite as one to maximize our human potential individually and collectively through fitness, nutrition, and overall wellness. Whether you are new to the health and wellness world or are a seasoned veteran, we invite you to become a part of our community to unite this cracked and hurting world with your love of helping others through the health and wellness atmosphere.
We will look at several different factors to live your best life but the first one we’ll tackle is the obesity epidemic that is ravaging our society. Now I don’t want to be a downer but I’ve got to get to a little brass tax on the dire situation we find ourselves at as humans. Where do we stand as a Global Society? The old adage is true that it’s always darkest before the dawn, so let’s first understand some heartbreaking statistics of how bad we really are in this obesity epidemic. Then we can start getting into some more positive and proactive solutions. Let’s take a look.
The Problem with Obesity
The largely preventable rise chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer that account for nearly 70% of deaths in the US alone have made it clear that something needs to change. In 2018, the CDC National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) recorded that 42.4% of Americans were clinically obese. From year 2000 to 2018 the prevalence of obesity increased from 30.5% to 42.4%. Now let’s wrap our minds around that. That’s an absurdly high 12% increase in clinical obesity in less than 20 years! Based on the US Census Bureau’s estimated 328 million documented citizens in the United States, that means that in less than 20 years almost 40 million people have become clinically obese in the United States alone.
So you may be telling yourself as I once did, “So what if I’m a little husky. That’ll never effect me.” Guess what? It will. Studies by the Institute of Health Metrics on the Global Burden of Disease have determined that more than 672,000 Americans and over 8 million global citizens die each year from the direct effect of obesity and the “Modern Western Lifestyle and Diet”. Each year it gets worse and worse. This “fat acceptance” movement has invaded modern culture which tells us that we should just be ok with our consumption and obesity but the reality is, this should terrify us.
Here’s the Nutrition Stats
As of 2016, according to the World Health Organization, 7 out the top 10 leading causes of death worldwide could have been prevented by proper nutrition. This is manifested in two ways. The first way would be to provide proper nutrition to the poorest people in the world that needed it the most. The second way would be to battle the obesity epidemic that is plaguing all countries, but particularly the countries that have adopted the “Modern Western Lifestyle and Diet.”
According to the CDC the risk factors of obesity dramatically increases ALL CAUSES OF DEATH, high blood pressure (hypertension), type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, asthma, sleep apnea (among other breathing problems), several different types of cancers, high LDL cholesterol, mental illness (i.e. depression, anxiety, etc.), body pain, difficulty with physical functioning (i.e. tying your shoes, walking, sitting down, standing up), and perhaps most importantly the obesity epidemic has dramatically lowered the quality of life for millions of people around the world.
What can I do?
I know these stats are rough, so here’s a fat cat to lighten the mood! It’s truly heartbreaking see my fellow global citizens fall prey to the divisions in our society, but surprisingly this doesn’t even scratch the surface of the effects this “Consumption Culture” has had on our economic systems, corporate greed, societal differences, wealth gap, racial disparity, etc., but I will leave that for the other articles, videos, and discussions the site. First things first. It’s time to start looking at different solutions for the immediate problem of obesity. Let’s take a look.
We are at a pivotal point in human history. We now understand that health, wellness, and physical fitness directly effects the quantity, but more importantly, the quality of our lives. With medical advancements happening at breakneck speeds, it is more crucial than ever that we take care of our minds and bodies as we live longer and longer. Our nutrition and activity levels are more important than ever. According to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, we are hovering around a life expectancy of 78.6 years old.
To give you some perspective, the average life expectancy in 1900 was 41 years old. The general trend is that our life expectancy is rising but the correlation with the rise in obesity and the stagnating life expectancy from 2000-2017 is alarming. You may be asking yourself. “So what can I do about it?” Let’s look at some important steps to take as individuals and as a collective community.
Nutrition Education is Key!
The most important factor in fighting the obesity epidemic is education. If people don’t know that there is another option in living then they will never search it out. The old adage is true that you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make them drink. Although we can be an example and be a guiding light to those who want to change, we cannot force people to see something they are not capable or willing to see. This is the beginning of education. Be the example. Live your best life with passion and zeal and be willing to share your life with people should they inquire. Be open and honest.
Personally I’ve found that just being friendly to all people and having a warm and open demeanor is the best way to open a conversation. Creating personal relationships is the best way to educate because you can build mutual respect. Share your journey with them. We all had to start somewhere. Be open and honest about where you were, the difficulties you had, the struggles, and where you’re at now. As Lao Tzu says, “The journey of a thousand miles is started with a single step.”
The Invitation
The next part of education is simply inviting them to join along. On the exercise front, perhaps you can invite someone to a group class, a dance class, have them come lift weights at the gym, going for a walk or run, really anything that gets them up and moving to get their heart rate moving. It can be hard at first but for those of you who are used to it know how damn good it feels after working out. The release of endorphins and dopamine, the mental alertness and clarity, the overall feeling of well-being is addictive.
Most people are super apprehensive at first because they are unsure and self-conscious with their bodies and lack of knowledge. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to encourage people at this point. They’ve already dipped their toes in the water. The last thing you want to do is just launch them in the water alone without any idea how to swim.
Nutrition is the Keystone
Now teaching someone about proper nutrition is usually the way more difficult part of personal transformation. People do not want to give up their favorite foods even though most of them are literally killing them from the inside out. The “Modern Western Lifestyle and Diet” was manifested through supply and demand. The reason why it was so overwhelmingly adopted by the world is because the foods tastes so damn good! High in salt and high in sugar taps into our primal responses of our core wants and needs as humans. The best way to go about this is to explain that there is a time and a place for all things. You don’t have to completely give up the lifestyle you know and love, but the best way to go about it would be an everything in moderation approach. Baby steps.
Whether it be with implementing an exercise program or nutrition plan, it’s best to start slow. From personal experience and general observation with friends and clients throughout the years, when people dive in too deep at first they almost always burn out. It’s not sustainable for them because they have not gone through the necessary steps to build up to that point. For the individuals who want to learn, really driving home the reality that it’s not about the destination but the journey is crucial.
We can change the world by living our best life!
Those of you who are seasoned health and wellness advocates know whole-heartedly that there is no final destination that you can achieve. It’s a lifelong journey to live your best life, becoming the best person you can (mind, body, spirit), and then always be learning and growing from there sharing your love for life with the rest of your community and, in essence, the world one individual at a time.