It is so simple. Another rant.

I started thinking about this subject this morning when Vicky was talking about her concern for the health of a friend who doesn't eat right or exercise. Later, I had a conversation with another friend along the same lines.

Think of all the people you know; fat, skinny, tall or short, any age. I'll bet you that the healthy ones, irregardless of size, are the ones who eat wholesome foods,  get a decent amount of physical activity, and sleep on a semi-regular schedule. Am I right?

Our bodies were created/evolved to move. To hunt, gather, pick up heavy things, drag heavy things, walk long distances and run short distances really fast. Our bodies need food in it's whole state in order to get the nutrition needed to function properly and resist disease and decay. Food, in it's natural state has the macro nutrients, vitamins and minerals we need, in a form that our bodies can use.

I've never been a big fan of diets that eliminate entire food groups, so I'm not going to go all "paleo" on you, but I am a huge proponent of eating food that is as close to its natural state as possible. Fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, fresh unprocessed meat, eggs, dairy, whole grains. If you eat as much of this stuff as you should, you won't have room for the junk.

And since it's the holidays I have to add this. Eating some delicious holiday food at 2 or 3 parties is not going to make you unhealthy if you follow the 90% rule. Make healthy eating a habit (90% of the time) and you won't even need to worry about those 10% days.

Since our bodies were made to move, our muscles, bones and connective tissue will not stay strong and function properly if we don't exercise. Our hearts and lungs won't stay strong and healthy unless we get our heart rate up and breathe hard. The human body is amazing in its ability to adapt to the demands we ask of it. If it is only asked to sit in front of the TV that is all it will be capable of, but if you ask it to lift a 40# bag of dog food, it will build the necessary muscle fiber and neurological connections to do so.

I train people, and I have some really nice tools for building strength like the barbell, but if all you've got is a 40# bag of dog food, pick it up, set it down, pick it up again, carry it a few yards. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Every day, sweat a little, breathe hard, and pick up something heavy.

Gadzillions of money is spent every year trying to study and solve all kinds of health problems.

The answer is simple, staring us in the face, and doesn't cost anything.

Eat right. Move your body. Simply doing that would solve 90% of the health issues we have and make us better able to cope with those it doesn't solve.

Rant over.