As our world advances, so too do the issues we deal with on a regular basis. Most of us are aware of the health concerns associated with sitting for too long. After so many years of the Standard American Diet (SAD), we know how important it is to get (and keep) our blood sugar levels regulated to achieve optimal health. And with the hustle and bustle of our daily lifestyle, more of us are embracing stress relievers such as meditation.
So what are the signs of the times we’re in right now? All you have to do is take a look at the news to find out.
We now have a condition called “smartphone thumb.” Any guesses on the cause? The name of this condition doesn’t leave a whole lot of mystery: smartphone thumb comes about from overusing the muscles associated with texting.
As our daily activities change, different parts of our bodies are affected. Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the arms and wrists, and now, thanks to our portable devices, we have to worry about our thumbs. This is all the more reason to insist your family put down their smartphones and other screens for chunks of time while they’re at home.
In other news, scientists here in the United States have developed an ultra-tough antibiotic to deal with life-threatening superbugs (which originated because of our overuse of antibiotics). You know the phrase hindsight is 20/20? Well, here’s a big ol’ dose of it. While this super-antibiotic needs more testing before doctors start prescribing it, the need for such a thing shows us where we’ve been.
Switching to a traditional diet of nutrient dense whole foods (including ferments) and eliminating processed foods can catapult your immune system and help it fight off illness in ways you never thought possible. Get started with Real Food: What to Eat and Why by Nina Planck. It’s an uncomplicated book that can help you get there.
Last but not least, just to prove the phrase “everything old is new again” applies to nutrition and health right along with everything else, the American-Statesmen published “What We Can Learn from Old Nutrition Books About Eating Healthy Today.” The title sums it up perfectly, and this great article seems to be a promising sign of the times. The author points out how our problems began when the word “diet” became associated with restriction rather than with the foods we eat.
When we completely eliminate specific foods, it often leads to binging on them. Listening to our bodies and giving them what they’re asking for is the best way to create balance. Eat when you’re hungry (but make smart choices, of course), and don’t eat when you aren’t. Just because it’s 6:00 p.m. doesn’t mean you must eat dinner if you aren’t hungry for it.
Much like Dr. Royal Lee, authors of older nutrition books understood these ideas and urged people to take responsibility for their own health. Food marketing is simply a ploy to get us to buy a particular food so a particular company can make money. It has no basis in improving our health.
These signs of the times help us realize where we’ve been, where we’re at right now, and where we might be headed. Some are good and some not so much. Forming an opinion based on your own self-health education will help you follow the signs that will benefit you and the ones you love.
Image from iStock/AntonioGuillem.
Paula Widish, author of Trophia: Simple Steps to Everyday Self-Health, is a freelance writer and self-healther. She loves nothing more than sharing tidbits of information she discovers with others. (Actually, she loves her family more than that—and probably bacon too.) Paula has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Public Relations and is a Certified Professional Life Coach through International Coach Academy.
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