Health and Wellness seem overrated, but are they? Being that 30% of Americans are obese, I’m thinking more people should be paying attention and valuing their health.

So why aren’t more people taking responsibility for their health? How and where we lost sight of the importance of good health is no longer relevant to solving the problem. The only way to stop the fast growing obesity rate in this country is to educate people about the importance of diet and exercise.

It’s true that an effort is made in schools with Physical Education and Health classes but this is obviously not enough for the kids to take home. Our kids need cooking classes where they can learn how to make themselves healthy snacks and learn the skills needed to navigate comfortably in a kitchen.  In a society where most parents are working, kids are left to eat highly processed food with low fiber and few vital nutrients. This is followed by long stints on the computer or in front of the TV, where the calories find homes in their bodies instead of rightfully burning into oblivion.

Isn’t it obvious enough that a good diet and regular exercise would keep your body at optimal functionality? Actually most people have no idea the damage they are doing to their insides.  It is not until significant damage is done that your body starts showing signs.  This is usually when a person will become aware of the things they can do to steer away from the direction of the inevitable illness. These things usually include removing certain triggers from your diet, like fried foods and excess salt. It almost always will leave you wondering if this could have been prevented.  Left with the question, “How can fix I this problem without abandoning the foods I love and ending up in the gym 5 times a week?”

Thanks to Michele Obama’s passion, public health is in the front seat and it’s time for you to take responsibility and make your health a priority. Stand up, be strong and remember that it has to start with you.  It’s not a matter of crash diets and awkward exercise, it’s a matter of finding what works best for you and your body type and making new healthy habits that you are comfortable living with.

Gaia Health & Wellness Center is here to educate and be a guide for you.

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