The New Challenge to Your Health

The human body is a miracle of evolution, and human ingenuity has led to the development of many improvements to the quality and quantity of human life. For example, people commonly died by their mid 40s even a few hundred years ago. Today, the average woman in America lives to about 78, men 73. Today, you're unlikely to die for tuberculosis, childbirth complications, or some kind of horrible farm accident. What is likely to happen is a long life with an extended period of gradually declining health over time.

Common Age Related Conditions

Some of the most common age related conditions in America today are diabetes, heart failure, and cancer. These conditions aren't always preventable, but there is a lot you can do to reduce your risk. This is a three part article series, one for each of these conditions.

Diabetes

About 26 million people in the US currently have diabetes, and over 70 million are at risk for developing diabetes due to genetics, diet, and lifestyle. Diabetes can lead to a number of health issues, including heart attack, stroke, blindness, and kidney disease. In extreme cases, it can lead to the amputation of limbs or even death if not addressed in a timely manner. Although diabetes often has genetic factors, millions of Americans can remain healthy with proper diet and exercise.

Try to get a moderate amount of exercise every week, either by going to the gym 2-3 times a week, or by taking a walk around the neighborhood or a nearby park. Doing so will not only boost your metabolism (which will help you maintain a healthy weight), but it will also strengthen muscles and stretch out your tendons and ligaments. That will go a long way to making you feel better both today and down the road.

Diet is also very important. The American Diabetes Association recommends a diet that is high in fruits and whole grains, and moderate in starches and refined sugars. They also recommend several "superfoods" that are rich in essential nutrients not found in sufficient quantities in the typical American diet. The list includes beans, leafy greens, citrus fruits, and tomatoes.

The goal is to maximize your health by taking some simple, but powerful steps. Even a moderate amount of exercise will improve your sense of well being, and filling your dietary gaps can give you the complete nutrition you need, without costing a lot in money, requiring significant changes to your diet. Your body will thank you for it!

As always, consult your doctor before starting any kind of exercise or diet regimen. Diabetes is a complex disease that can have multiple causes, which often require one or more types of treatment.