| It's funny how humans perceive health information | | | | means your open to other healthy suggestions. |
| and adsorb information. For example, you may | | | | That's a good sign. |
| see a public announcement on television | | | | Let's evaluate a couple of the questions: |
| recommending "we should eat five servings of | | | | For example, if you only said you floss your teeth |
| fruits and vegetables a day". How do you | | | | that indicates that someone got through to you |
| perceive that message? Well, if you're a healthy | | | | on the health benefits of flossing. As simple as it |
| thinker you probably not only agree, you think it is | | | | seems, flossing can prevent bacteria build up in |
| important that everyone gets that message. The | | | | your gums that can get into your blood stream, |
| reality is that many people just change channels | | | | trigger inflammation, and possibly trigger a heart |
| or do not absorb the message. As a health | | | | attack in susceptible individuals. The question |
| professional I can be channel surfing and if I hear | | | | regarding prescription drugs says a lot about your |
| any trigger words such as cholesterol, diabetes, | | | | thinking. If you just go along with the doctors |
| obesity, healthy foods, etc. I stop and check it | | | | suggestions you're not accepting responsibility for |
| out, I'm a healthy thinker! I should be, it is my | | | | your own health. That's unhealthy thinking. Imagine |
| profession. If we were all healthy thinkers we | | | | your doctor's surprise at your next appointment if |
| would all probably do the same. Another example | | | | you said, "I would rather lose some weight, |
| is the new food pyramid that the government | | | | exercise, and change my eating habits than take |
| spent millions of dollars to create. That should | | | | drugs". That would make their day! |
| mean that everyone will now know not only what | | | | People who think unhealthy have some of these |
| to eat to stay healthy and prevent disease but | | | | characteristics: |
| exactly how to do it. In reality here is what will | | | | 1. To them health means not being sick. |
| happen. Healthy thinkers will scrutinize and | | | | 2. They depend on over the counter medications |
| evaluate the information based on their present | | | | for minor aches and pains. |
| diet. For most of the population, especially those | | | | 3. They depend on advertisements for health |
| who need it most, you will get varied answers. | | | | information. |
| When the first food pyramid came out I ask my | | | | 4. They are usually sedentary and give little |
| students if they had heard about the food | | | | thought to exercising and eating healthy. |
| pyramid. Some said they had heard about it but | | | | 5. They are always looking for quick fixes for |
| could not describe it. Several students had actually | | | | energy, weight loss, and feeling better. |
| seen it but could not explain it. Others thought it | | | | One way to get people to think healthy is to |
| was in Egypt, but were not sure. In reality few | | | | focus on the outcomes of a healthy lifestyle |
| people will pay much attention to it. Get the | | | | rather than just telling people the changes they |
| picture? Until people learn to think healthy they | | | | should make. For example, rather than tell people |
| just do not pay much attention to information | | | | to eat more fruits and vegetables, it would |
| about how to stay healthy and prevent disease. | | | | probably be best to first emphasize that plant |
| How do you know if you're a healthy thinker? | | | | foods are nature's medicines! They contain literally |
| Here are a few simple questions that I want you | | | | thousands of phyto-chemicals that work |
| to answer: | | | | synergistically to protect you against disease. |
| 1. Do you floss your teeth? | | | | More people would start thinking about that and |
| 2. Do you set aside time for movement | | | | start adding more fruits and vegetables and other |
| {exercise}? | | | | plant foods without considering how much or |
| 3. If your doctor suggest prescription or over the | | | | what ones. Exercise is another hot button with |
| counter drugs for a health problem, do you | | | | sedentary people. When we mention the word |
| always ask, "What can I do to avoid taking | | | | "Exercise" to a sedentary person the first image |
| medication"? | | | | that comes to mind is work and sweat. That's |
| 4. When dining out do you always look for healthy | | | | not a good image, so they are more likely to |
| choices? | | | | take a nap until the thought goes away. The |
| 5. When shopping for food do you always read | | | | better approach is to stress "movement". That's |
| the nutritional information on products you are | | | | less stressful and they can start by avoiding |
| unfamiliar with? | | | | elevators, parking farther away at the mall, walk |
| 6. When traveling, do you bring healthy snacks for | | | | more, drive less. If they do that they start |
| your family to avoid fast food outlets? | | | | thinking like a healthy person. When you start to |
| Obviously, if you said "yes" to all the questions | | | | make small changes in your lifestyle you will |
| you're a healthy thinker. You not only listen to | | | | experience some positive feedback in how you |
| health messages, you seek out information on | | | | feel. That will motivate you to keep going. |
| your own. The good news is that if you only | | | | Sedentary people may or may not ending up |
| answered one question "yes", you're on the track | | | | running marathons and eating the perfect diet but |
| to thinking healthier. You have to look at health as | | | | our society will be a lot healthier. The goal is to |
| a journey, not a destination. The fact that you | | | | increase the quality of the years in your life. |
| answered one question like a healthy thinker | | | | Thinking healthy is the first step. |