Taking care of your health is like teaching a child
In the early stages of childhood we go through a stage of "Mine!" You want what you want. You've not yet learned you can't have everything you want, you've not yet learned to share, and you've not yet learned that just because you want something doesn't mean it's good for you.
As adults, we know better, but that doesn't stop the desire. So how can we transfer this strong desire for wanting the bad to preferring the good?
I have discovered something interesting. When you are grossly unhealthy, you tend to gravitate towards unhealthy foods - overly processed, denatured, sugar-laden, and just plain junky foods!
When you start eating healthy foods, something magical happens - you start desiring healthy foods over the bad ones!
I've heard it takes only two weeks to change your taste buds. That means just a two week test of eating ONLY healthy foods should put you on the path to healthier eating.
It is vitally important that we teach our children respect. Respect towards adults, for the land, for things they've borrowed, for the value of ownership, etc. How about the body?
When we consume good foods and exercise, we show respect for our body.When we don't, we show disrespect. We're stuck with our bodies, for the rest of our lives! How we treat it now, determines how it treats us.
When we teach a child to love, we give them the greatest gift imaginable. We teach them to love their family, to love and appreciate their neighbors, teachers and friends. We teach them to develop a love for learning and a passion for life. Do we teach them to love vegetables and healthy foods over junky ones? What a disservice to our children if we don't teach them that.
The choices they make in their younger years set the stage for health challenges they may have to endure for a lifetime.
We also teach our children that when they take things, to put them back, and when they're done, to clean up their messes.
If we spend a lifetime of eating poorly, refusing to exercise, forgetting to have passion and fun in our lives, neglecting our spiritual health, and charging from one activity to the next, barely coming up for a breath, at some point, we have to clean up the messes. It is much easier to take care of the disorder we create at the time, than trying at another point, generally a point of desperation, to clean it up.
I read a sign once that said "You will either pay to be well, or pay to be sick. Either way you will pay."
The price is much cheaper if you keep balance in your life, in your diet, and in your mental/emotional/spiritual health now.
Dr. Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with over 30 years of experience. Dr. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d'Alene clinic. Visit Dr. Carling's website at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com to learn more about Dr. Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Dr. Carling can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.
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