tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37700843748618863702024-03-13T11:34:54.879-07:00Missing Link Health CoachChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412073727859282887noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3770084374861886370.post-87308247173697173982018-01-13T08:31:00.000-08:002018-01-13T08:31:01.969-08:00WE NEED A HEALTH COACH REVOLUTION<a href="https://www.tonyrobbins.com/health-vitality/health-coach-revolution/">The Health Coach Revolution - Doctors Aren't Enough</a> by Chris Kresser<br />
<br />
We don't need more information... Most people know that eating poorly, not exercising, not getting enough sleep and engaging in other unhealthy lifestyle habits is not good for them. Yet they continue these behaviors anyway, or they chase quick fixes that don’t last for more than a few weeks.<br />
<br />
The average visit with a primary care provider in the Unites States is ten to twelve minutes, with newer doctors spending as little as eight minutes per visit with patients. That’s barely enough time to say hello, review the patient’s current medications, and possibly prescribe a new one. It’s not even remotely enough time to assess what behavior and lifestyle changes would be most effective for the patient and provide the support necessary for sustaining them for a lifetime.<br />
<br />
HEALTH COACHES ARE THE SOLUTION<br />
People want to feel good, avoid chronic disease and live a long life. They want to see their children and grandchildren grow up and have the energy to play with them. They want to perform better at work, enjoy their relationships, and be well enough to get the most out of life. But there’s a big difference between wanting the benefits of being healthy and consistently engaging in the behaviors that lead to health. That’s where health coaches come in. Coaches are trained in a number of disciplines that support people in making lasting change.<br />
<br />
I’m not arguing that health coaches will replace doctors. Doctors and other licensed clinicians will always be required to order lab tests, analyze those results, diagnose disease, prescribe treatment and coordinate care. Health coaches aren’t trained to do those things, just as doctors aren’t trained to support behavior change.<br />
<br />
I’m advocating for an approach that utilizes the professional that is best trained and suited for each particular need: health coaches to support diet, lifestyle, and behavior change, and doctors to practice medicine.<br />
<br />
The writing is on the wall: chronic disease is destroying our quality of life, shortening our lifespan, bankrupting our country and threatening the health of future generations. It’s clearer than ever that our “disease management” system, which was designed to address medical emergencies and other acute conditions, is not prepared for the challenge of chronic disease. We desperately need a new solution – one that is affordable, timely and suitable for the task at hand. In short, we need a health coach revolution!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412073727859282887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3770084374861886370.post-48507969579919939352018-01-13T08:12:00.003-08:002018-01-13T08:12:30.547-08:00TIME FOR A NEW HEALTH PARADIGMSome key take-aways from <a href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/the-key-role-health-coaches-play-in-stopping-the-chronic-disease-epidemic">Why You Need a Health Coach Now More than Ever</a> by Chris Kresser<br />
<br />
You may have noticed that doctors lack the time and training to help us make lasting changes in areas such as diet, physical activity, sleep, and stress management, which are crucial for addressing chronic disease.<br />
<br />
If we want to stem the rising tide of chronic disease, we need a new model of health care that is better equipped to support patients in changing their behavior. And <i>that's where <b>health coaches </b>come in</i>. I believe they will play an important role in a new, more holistic approach to wellness.<br />
<br />
Health coaches are ideally positioned and trained to support you in changing your diet, lifestyle, and behavior—which is the <b>single most important step</b> you can take to address chronic disease.<br />
<br />
A well-trained health coach acts as a guide and ally, helping you create new, healthy habits, let go of unhealthy behaviors, transform your health goals into realities, and ultimately become their own most powerful advocate. Health coaches also help you identify potential stumbling blocks and hold you accountable for your health behaviors so that you have the best chance of reaching your goals. By teaching you the skills you need to live a healthy life, health coaching can significantly lower long-term health care expenditures, making this a cost-effective approach for various socioeconomic backgrounds.<br />
<br />
The medical community has begun to catch on to the benefits of health coaching, and a growing body of research indicates that health coaching can significantly improve outcomes for patients with chronic diseases.<br />
<br />
The urgency of our health care situation means that healing needs to become a team effort, and I believe that <i>the unique skills of <b>health coaches</b> are going to play a pivotal role</i> in stopping the epidemic of chronic disease and empowering all of us to take responsibility for our own health.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412073727859282887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3770084374861886370.post-49156065154698215602018-01-13T08:00:00.001-08:002018-01-13T08:00:10.900-08:00MISSING CHINS - FIBER - AND MORE<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Josh LaJaunie and h<span style="color: #525252;">is </span></span><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration-line: underline;">Missing Chins Running Club on Today</span><br />
Q: Wasn't giving up meat hard?<br />
A: Not as hard as walking around with 400 pounds.<br />
<br />
I came across this article on <a href="https://www.today.com/health/americans-need-more-fiber-their-diets-wbna15938650">fiber</a> and even though it's 12 years old it's still relevant - probably even more so now.<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_285256690"><br /></a>
From Refinery29.com <a href="http://www.refinery29.com/plant-based-diet-benefits-environment">Is a Plant-Based Diet Actually Legitimate?</a><br />
"The positive environmental effects are clear: it is more energy efficient to eat plants than to feed plants to animals and then eat the animals." - Jessica Green, asst. professor of environmental studies at NY university<br />
<br />
"In 30 years or so, we will no longer need to kill any animals and that all meat will either be lab- or plant-based, taste the same, and also be much healthier for everyone." - entrepreneur Richard BransonChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412073727859282887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3770084374861886370.post-75911883366097400372017-12-29T11:52:00.003-08:002017-12-29T11:52:19.667-08:00TOP 2017 HEALTH MYTHS DEBUNKED<br />
Below is a great 14 minute video from the folks at <a href="https://www.plantbasednews.org/">Plant Based News</a>. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from it;<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;">“Distorting
the truth to the public has become a science, become an art form. You can hire
professional organizations to plant doubt in the public’s mind and through the
media.” – Dr. Michael Klaper</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;">Regarding
milk consumption, Dr. Neal Barnard says, “One of the rules that nature laid
down for every mammalian species is that you have to get weened at some point.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;">“We’re
literally on the cusp of what could be a seismic revolution in health and this seismic
revolution is never going to come about through the invention of another pill or
a drug or a procedure.” – Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;">“I’m
getting a little bit tired of my colleagues using their laziness as an excuse
for not moving forward with something. Because if you take the time to look
into this… you’ll find an enormous amount of data to support the use of diet
for almost every chronic degenerative condition.” - Pamela Popper, PhD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3NAUAx8jEMA/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3NAUAx8jEMA?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412073727859282887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3770084374861886370.post-7215019556174834312017-12-28T09:59:00.002-08:002017-12-28T09:59:39.688-08:00SOME LINKS TO PONDER<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some cool sites and articles I came across lately;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I signed up for <a href="https://veganuary.com/us/">Veganuary</a> and set my start date to January 1st.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just discovered <a href="http://thegreenplate.com/">The Green Plate</a> which has a vegetarian
starter guide, community, meal planner.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are 11
reasons why <a href="http://www.mercyforanimals.org/this-is-why-2017-was-the-tipping-point-for">2017 WAS THE TIPPING POINT</a> for veganism and <a href="http://thegreenplate.com/blog/12-tips-for-new-vegans-who-dont-know-wtf/">12 TIPS FOR NEW VEGANS</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/photos-and-review-veggie-grill-2017-6/#dont-let-the-name-fool-you-veggie-grill-is-not-necessarily-going-for-the-vegan-crowd-1">A vegan fast-casual chain</a> <o:p></o:p>you've never heard of is expanding nationwide — and that should scare legacy brands. I hope they come to Minnesota.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, I'll share the <a href="https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/97696874">best medicine</a></span><span style="color: #202020;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> doctors don’t tell you about.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #202020; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412073727859282887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3770084374861886370.post-86024114468109877552017-12-28T09:37:00.000-08:002017-12-28T09:37:21.306-08:00MY PROBLEM(S)I'm sure I have lots of problems. One of them is that once I get into something, I try to gather as much data as possible through books, documentaries, email newsletters, websites, apps, etc. As you can imagine in this information age, this can be overwhelming. One of my goals for 2018 is to go deeper into a few good sources, rather than trying to scratch the surface of <i>every</i> resource possible. This includes developing a better method for absorbing information, especially from books. Ideally, I'd buy all the books I read and simply highlight all the info that I find helpful. However, that'd get expensive, so I try to utilize the library as much as possible. But that means taking notes - which can be great for helping me to retain the info, however, it slows down the process. And, again, this can be hard for someone who wants to learn as much as possible. <br />
<br />
Typically, the websites I follow also send out weekly email newsletters. This is great, but typically I follow so many that I end up not reading any - or just skimming the data. I've been trying to do a better job of this lately too. At the start of every year I like to spend time purging social media that I no longer find useful. This can mean anything from unfollowing "friends", deleting apps, unsubscribing from emails, to clearing out my favorites/bookmarks.<br />
<br />
One newsletter that I still read each week is from Brad Stulburg and Steve Magness at <a href="https://www.peakperformancebook.net/">Peak Performance</a>. I haven't read their book yet, but it's on my list of "must reads". Their writings are directly linked to nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, but they are about getting the most out of yourself, which is another thing I'm interested in. One of their recent <a href="https://www.peakperformancebook.net/single-post/2017/12/20/Bust-Barriers-with-Purpose-Choose-Reflections-Over-Resolutions">newsletters</a>, under the section Coaching Corner: Choose Reflections not Goals, they talk about their approach to reviewing the notes that took throughout the year.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br /><span style="font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">My objective is simple, filter all of [my notes] down into ideas or concepts that I need to look into further or could potentially apply in the future... the task is to continually narrow all of the thoughts that sparked interest throughout the year into usable and actionable sound bites that lead to functional change in behaviors or, at the least, further exploration.</span><span style="font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I filter the notes by asking a simple question: Does this cover material I fundamentally need to know when coaching/writing, or is it something I could use elsewhere in my life? If it’s fundamental to coaching, for example, then I take the idea and put it into my “cheat sheet guide to coaching.” If it’s something that I can use elsewhere, then I sort it into an evernote file based on a number of topics (e.g., Training, Psychology, Writing, Motivation, etc.).</span><span style="font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "open sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">After going through all of my notes, I write down the key takeaways from the year. This is supposed to be a concise list that I can glance back at, reminding me of what I learned in the previous year and what seemed important to take forward. In this way, my reflections turn into actionable behaviors.</span></blockquote>
I'm definitely going to try an incorporate something like this in 2018.<br />
<br />
One of my other problems is getting into too many things at once. Here's a list of a few things on my mind lately;<br />
<br />
1) Expanding my cooking knowledge. As mentioned above this includes way too many websites, books and apps, which is a topic of it's own blog post. Most recently, I just finished up and online cooking course called <a href="https://rouxbe.com/">Rouxbe</a> (i.e. Ruby). It's a 60-day course that outlines both the "why" and the "how" when it comes to a WFPB approach to eating. If you already eat like this and enjoy cooking, then you probably won't get a lot out of the course. However, if this is new to you and you'd like to learn some cooking skills, it's well worth the $200.<br />
<br />
2) Sharing my knowledge. I think part of the reason that we're in a healthcare crisis is that people simply don't realize the impact the foods we eat can have on our health. One of my biggest goals for 2018 is to take all this knowledge I'm acquiring and turn it into a community education class. Ideally, it'd be 2 classes, the first is the "why" and a second is the "how". So basically a discussion class, followed by a cooking class.<br />
<br />
3) Trying to listen to every episode of <a href="http://www.richroll.com/category/podcast/">The Rich Roll Podcast.</a> I can't recommend this podcast highly enough. It's not just about nutrition. It's about being your most authentic self. I never listened to podcast until last winter. I was doing a lot of running in the cold, dark mornings and I spent a lot of time with Rich in my earbuds. I've since replaced listening to the radio during my commute with podcasts. I figure why listen to something that I have no control over (music, conversations, commercials, etc.), when I could listen to the topics I want? I think radio stations should be very worried. Anyway, if you go to the Apple store, you'll get access to Rich's last 50 episodes. But, if you download Rich's app, you'll have access to all of his 300+ episodes.<br />
<br />
4) I'm trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up that will allow me to be the best version of myself. This includes figuring out what's important to me, rather than what society thinks is important for me. Things I'm trying include watching less sports - especially football, not "having" to drink IPAs, meditating more (check out the <a href="https://www.headspace.com/">headspace</a> app), not eating animal products, etc.<br />
<br />
5) Thinking about my <a href="https://www.integrativenutrition.com/">health coaching course</a>, which starts in mid-January, and trying to figure out a business model that will help make my efforts a success.<br />
<br />
Okay, that seems like a lot to chew on, so I'll leave it there for now.<br />
<br />Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412073727859282887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3770084374861886370.post-54762211654991237832017-12-17T17:32:00.002-08:002017-12-17T17:32:25.101-08:00A FEW ARTICLES<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are a few articles I came across recently. As someone who has 2 rescue dogs, I found <a href="https://medium.com/@ericogrey/plants-and-a-rescue-dog-849fd3c107bc">this story</a> really touching.<br /><br />We shouldn't have to defend a vegan or WFPB diet to our doctors, but if you do, <a href="https://drjoelkahn.com/defend-vegan-diet-skeptical-doctor/">this article</a> includes 5 key benefits and 5 concerns to discuss with your doctor </span><div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">An <a href="http://www.cfp.ca/content/63/12/916.1">article</a> from the official journal of the College of Family Physicians of Canada stating "<span style="background-color: white;">The general public and popular media are becoming increasingly aware of the health benefits of a plant-based diet. As physicians, we should not lag behind them. We should acknowledge the health benefits of a plant-based diet, but we should go further, too, and actually recommend its use to our patients."</span></span></div>
Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412073727859282887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3770084374861886370.post-33804096915628754152017-12-17T08:27:00.001-08:002017-12-17T08:27:51.530-08:00FILM: VEGAN 2017My second post on this blog was a brief description of <a href="https://missinglinkhealthcoach.blogspot.com/2017/12/10-food-documentaries.html">10 Food Documentaries</a>. Of course, I encourage you to watch any one of them. However, they are full-length, 90+ minute movies. If you want a short (47 minute) introduction into a Whole-Food Plant-Based (WFPB) lifestyle, please watch the video below that I found over at <a href="https://www.plantbasednews.org/">Plant Based News</a>.<br />
<br />
Note: they use the term Vegan, but I prefer WFPB because 1) you can still eat an unhealthy vegan diet and 2) I think there are negative connotations associated with the word vegan. Just saying the word immediately puts people on the defensive.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_274319859"><br /></a>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IxVR53xemSs/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IxVR53xemSs?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
This film does a great job covering the health, environmental and ethical impact of eating meat in a short, concise manner. There are lots of great quotes, but here are a few of my favorite;<br />
<br />
"The U.S. government is responsible for the fast food crisis, the health crisis, the environmental crisis by subsidizing this horrible food, by subsidizing animal agriculture." - Jane Velez-Mitchell, journalist, activist<br />
<br />
"Our tax dollars are being used to subsidize food that kills us." - T. Colin Campbell, PhD<br />
<br />
"It's recognized by the American Insurance Industry that there are only 2 dietary plans that can reverse heart disease. There's no meat in those programs. They're plant-based programs." - Joel Kahn, M.D.<br />
<br />
"If that's all a plant-based diet can do, reverse the #1 or #2 <i>killer,</i> of men and women, shouldn't that kind of be the default diet until proven otherwise? And the fact that it can also prevent, arrest and reverse other leading killers like type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure, it'd seem to make the case for plant-based simply overwhelming." - Michael Greger, M.D. <br />
<br />
[Eating vegan] "is much easier than I thought it'd be." - Craig Robinson, actor<br />
<br />
"The mainstream media will never tell our story, because the advertisers are the meat, dairy and pharmaceutical industries. Those industries stand to lose big if American and the world goes plant-based." - Jane Velez-Mitchell<br />
<br />
"You can't really be an environmentalist and not be vegan." - Simone ReyesChadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412073727859282887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3770084374861886370.post-64374345847132935552017-12-08T15:05:00.001-08:002017-12-08T15:05:12.410-08:00FOOD MATTERS: A PLANT-BASED APPROACH <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
FOOD MATTERS: A PLANT-BASED APPROACH by Chad
Austin<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me start by
saying I’m not a doctor or a nutritionist. I’m just a health coach
wannabe with an avid interest in health and wellness. With that said, this is
an opinion piece, similar to my last
article for <i>RunMinnesota</i> (<i>Food Matters: A Whole-Food Approach</i>) where
I explained
the benefits of replacing processed foods in our diets with whole foods. In
this article, I want to focus on the second half of a lifestyle that is gaining
tremendous momentum, Plant-Based. Notice I didn’t say “diet” as they tend to be
restrictive and rarely work long-term. Instead, think of a Whole-Food Plant-Based
(WFPB) approach to eating as a lifestyle, like running. It’s a lifestyle that
doesn’t involve deprivation, detoxing or counting calories, but is centered on
whole, unrefined, or minimally refined plants. It’s also based on fruits,
vegetables, whole grains, and legumes (think beans and lentils). By focusing on
these foods, it crowds out or minimizes meat, dairy products, and eggs, as well
as highly refined foods like bleached flour, refined sugar, and oil. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Part of the reason why this lifestyle is gaining momentum
is due to the health benefits associated with it, which are almost too numerous
to mention. A whole-food, plant-based diet has been shown to (1):<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood
sugar<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Reverse or prevent heart disease<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Prevent and reverse obesity<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Lower risk of cancer and diabetes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Slow the progression of certain types of cancer<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Improve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
These chronic illnesses are becoming so common
that people think they’re just part of the normal aging process. I’m here to
tell you that this doesn’t have to be the case. In reality, these chronic
illnesses can be directly linked to the Western diet. A WFPB approach
to the foods we eat can improve the overall quality of life – even after these
illnesses arise.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not only does a WFPB lifestyle positively impact or health, but
also the health of the planet. Over 56 billion (yes, billion with a “b”) land
animals are killed <i>every year</i> for
food (2). The environmental impact (namely rain forest deforestation, ocean
acidification, water usage, climate change) and the amount of animal cruelty
associated with killing that many animals is staggering. And that number doesn’t
even include the billions of marine animals killed each year. With the world
population expected to increase from 7.4 billion to 9.7 billion by 2050 (3),
it’s easy to see that the path we’re on is not sustainable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
Generally,
I’m not a fan of placing a label on our eating habits because it typically
causes confusion, leads to arguments, and pushes people apart – rather than
bringing them together in an effort to solve our current healthcare and environmental
crises. However, I really like the term “plant-based” because you can broaden
the definition to suit where you’re at on a spectrum. In the strictest sense it
means unprocessed foods that don’t come from animals. But rarely are people
going to switch to a full-on WFPB lifestyle overnight. As you begin to
experiment with WFPB you might start with Meatless Mondays where you exclude
meet one day a week. Another approach is discussed in Mark Bittman’s book <i>Vegan Before 6:00</i>. As you can probably
guess, it refers to only eating animal products for dinner. As a result,
two-thirds of your meals will be plant-based. These are great ways to introduce
more plants into your diet and, chances are, once you see the benefits you’ll
want to continue down the WFPB spectrum. <span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
Let me
take a few minutes to dispel the biggest myth that surrounds a WFPB lifestyle;
protein. The first thing people notice about my food choices is that they don’t
include meat. Typically, this leads to the question, “But where do you get your
protein?” I don’t know if meat eaters are really curious about my protein
intake or not, but it does show the power of the messages we are constantly
bombarded with – messages paid for by the meat and dairy industries, and
supported by the U.S. government. There are lots of possible responses to this
question, but here are a few that I use, depending on my audience.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
<b>Medical:</b> There’s actually a term for protein deficiency.
Do you know what it is? No, because no one ever has to talk about being protein
deficient. The next time you’re at your doctor’s office, ask them how many
people they’ve ever treated for a protein deficiency. My guess is zero. By the
way, the medical term is <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">Kwashiorkor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
<b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">Snarky:</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;"> Where do you g</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">et your fiber? Do you know
that fiber is only found in plants like beans, fruits, vegetables and grains? </span>Fiber isn’t broken down in the body. Instead,
it pushes food through the digestive tract, absorbs water and helps clean the
bowels. Those are all good things when it comes to health. Oh yeah, less than
3% of Americans get the minimum recommended amount of daily fiber (4).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
<b>Logical:</b> Where do the strongest animals on the
planet (think gorillas, elephants, and hippos) get their protein? They’re
herbivores and only eat plants. By the way, cows aren’t standing around
producing protein, or calcium for that matter. Animals get their protein from
the foods they eat. For cows, pigs, and chickens that means plants. I’m just
cutting out the middle man, er, animal, and going directly to the source.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
<b>Truthful: </b>I eat a balanced diet of fruits,
vegetables, beans, lentils, nuts, and seeds. And I never give my protein needs
a second thought – until someone asks. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
<b>Scientific</b>: In
1988 the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics updated its position on plant-based
proteins stating “Plant protein can meet protein requirements when a variety of
plant foods is consumed and energy needs are met. Research indicates that an
assortment of plant foods eaten over the course of a day can provide all
essential amino acids. (5)”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
This last
statement is interesting because it differs from another food myth; most plant sources lack one or more of the
essential amino acids and therefore are not considered complete or high quality
proteins. Technically, this statement is correct, if you look at plants <i>individually</i>. But, as mentioned above,
if you eat a <i>variety</i> of plants and
meet all you caloric needs, you will also meet your protein needs. I can’t help
but think that most of these food myths are perpetuated by the meat and dairy industries
themselves. It wouldn’t be the first time agricultural interests influenced the
nutritional information we receive. As Rip Esselstyn says in his book <i>My Beef with Meat</i>, “The sad truth is
that the information we get about health often has more to do with politics and
money than with science and fact.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
How can this be? Our government must have our
best interests in mind, especially when it comes to health, right? Not
necessarily. To understand, one only needs to look at the responsibilities of
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This government agency has the
duel-purpose of protecting American agricultural interests <b><i>and </i></b>advising us about our
food choices. That’s a huge conflict of interests, especially when you consider
that until they were sued by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
(PCRM), more than half of the USDA’s board of directors was made up of members
from the meat and dairy industries. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 7.5pt;">
I know, I know, this is a running magazine.
What does this have to do with running? Well, I’m 48 years old and every year I
hear about at least one runner, within 10 years on either side of me, dying,
unknowingly from heart disease. That’s way too young! According to <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Alan Gertler, M.D., "Half of the men who die suddenly of coronary
heart disease have no previous symptoms. The first manifestation of a heart
problem oftentimes is sudden death (6)." Those that do survive often undergo
heart bypass surgery or have stents inserted into blocked passageways, followed
by a lifetime of drug treatment. Unfortunately, the truth is that r</span>unning doesn’t make us immune to heart disease.
We can’t out exercise a bad diet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I get it. Beliefs around food often rival that of religion and
politics – and, for runners, training philosophies. But given the current state
of health in the U.S., it’s obviously that the food choices we’re making aren’t
working. We can no longer rely on the government to tell us how to eat. It’s
time we take matters into our own hands and work to change this situation
ourselves. It’s time we become more mindful of our food choices and take
responsibility for what we eat. It’s time to become more empowered and
recognize that we have control over these choices and that they have a profound
impact on our health and the environmental. It’s time, as Gandhi said, “To be
the change you want to see in the world.”<span style="color: red;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With Gandhi’s words ringing in my ears, I’m taking it upon myself
to help people that are plant curious, by creating a community that
supports one another along this journey. Again, I’m not a doctor or a
nutritionist, and I definitely don’t have all the answers. However, I am willing
to share what I do know and provide support for anyone that’s interested - whether
that’s 2 people or 2,000. If you’d like to get involved, feel free to leave a comment here or please feel free to email me
directly at <a href="mailto:chadaustin@charter.net"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">chadaustin@charter.net</span></a><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span>and
I’ll support you any way I can. If you prefer to do some research on your own,
simply google WFPB or check out the <a href="http://nutritionstudies.org/whole-food-plant-based-diet-guide/">Nutrition Studies WFPB diet guide</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> and the </span><a href="https://www.forksoverknives.com/whole-food-plant-based-diet/">Forks over Knives WFPB diet</a> to get
started. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="font8" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
References
accessed December 6, 2017:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="font8" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->(1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.forksoverknives.com/what-is-a-whole-food-plant-based-diet/">What is aWhole-Food, Plant-Based Diet?</a></div>
<div class="font8" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="font8" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->(2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><a href="http://adaptt.org/about/the-kill-counter.html">The Kill Counter</a>.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="font8" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->(3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><a href="http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/2015-report.html">World Population Projected to Reach 9.7 Billion by 2050.</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="font8" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->(4)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><a href="https://nutritionfacts.org/2015/09/29/where-do-you-get-your-fiber/">Where Do You Get Your Fiber?</a>.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="font8" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->(5)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><i>My Beef with Meat: The Healthiest Argument
for Eating a Plant-Strong Diet</i>, Rip Esselstyn<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="font8" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->(6)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.uab.edu/news/latest/item/2051-masked-heart-problems-in-men-could-lead-to-sudden-death">MaskedHeart Problems in Men Could Lead to Sudden Death. </a><o:p></o:p></div>
Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412073727859282887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3770084374861886370.post-86243563496976191522017-12-08T14:53:00.001-08:002017-12-08T14:53:19.378-08:00FOOD MATTERS: A WHOLE-FOOD APPROACH<div class="MsoNormal">
I want to start this blog off by sharing a couple of articles I wrote recently for the <a href="https://runmdra.org/">Minnesota Distance Running Association </a>(MDRA). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
FOOD MATTERS: A WHOLE-FOOD APPROACH – by Chad Austin</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh no, not another nutrition article. Before you turn the
page, let me mention that this article isn’t about pre-race meals, in-race
nutrition, or post-race recovery. You can find plenty of those types of
articles in other editions of <i>RunMinnesota</i>
or with a simple search online. Instead, I want to focus on an aspect of
nutrition that I believe will have a more positive impact on your race results
than just the immediate hours surrounding your event – and a more positive
impact on your health. I’m talking about our day-to-day nutrition. What we
choose to put in on bodies, day after day, has tremendous long-term impacts on
our fitness and our health. Yet, from what I’ve seen, few people stop and ask
themselves some important questions. Why do I eat the way I do? How did I
develop these eating habits? Are they really right for my health and fitness?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even though runners tend to be fitter than the average
American, I know nutrition is on our minds. I hear my running partners talk
about their muffin tops (and I’m not referring to food) and complain about not
being able to lose 10 pounds. Then in the next breath they’ll talk about eating
ice cream every night and going to McDonald’s after our long run. This leads me
to believe that people underestimate the impact the food they eat has on their
body. If you don’t think there’s a strong correlation let me share two
documentaries that highlight the correlation in opposite directions. First,
most people are familiar with <i>Supersize
Me</i>, where Morgan Sperlock decides to eat three meals a day at McDonald’s
for 30 days. I won’t spoil it for you, but needless to say, the impact on
Morgan’s health was not good. Second, in <i>Fat,
Sick and Nearly Dead</i>, Joe Cross starts out overweight and on multiple
medications. He’s able to shed the weight and the meds by going on a diet of
fruit and vegetable juices. Of course, these are both extreme examples, but
they do show that what we eat has implications on our health. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although it may take longer to shows its effects on our
bodies, the Standard American Diet (whose acronym, not surprisingly, is SAD) is
no different. I’m not talking about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
MyPlate or Food Pyramid recommendations, I’m referring to what we’re actually eating;
foods high in calories and low in nutrients, saturated fat, sodium, and sugars.
In short, we’re eating too many processed foods, which are crowding out fruits,
vegetables, whole grains, and fiber. The result: four of the top-7 leading
causes of deaths in the U.S. are linked to diet; Heart Disease, Cancer, Stroke
and Diabetes. And it’s predicted that today’s kids in the U.S. are the first
generation <b><i>ever </i></b>to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. Think
about that. In the history of the world, no generation has ever lived less than
their parents, yet that’s the path we’re currently on. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me be clear, it’s not my intent to try to convert you to
a certain camp, whether it’s High Fat/Low Carb, Low Fat/High Carb,
Mediterranean, Vegan, Paleo, etc. These labels tend to push people apart and
cause more confusion, which is something we already have enough of when it
comes to nutrition. And quite frankly, confusion is exactly what the food
industry wants because the more confused we are as consumers, the more likely
we are to just throw our hands up in the air in frustration and continue doing
what we’re doing. And clearly what we know and what we’re doing aren’t working,
given that in 2012 nearly 1.4 million deaths were attributed to the four diet-related
diseases mentioned earlier. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over 2400 years ago Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy
medicine and medicine be thy food.” This comes from the father of medicine, who
we’ve named the Hippocratic Oath after. More recently, author Michael Pollan
added his advice; “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” And by “food” they
both mean <i>real</i> food, not sugar-coated
breakfast cereals, fast food, TV dinners, or anything else created in a lab.
Interestingly, there’s no doubt that the various diets mentioned above have a
wide-range of beliefs when it comes to food choices. However, there’s one thing
they all agree on; processed foods are not doing us any favors when it comes to
a healthy diet. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That sounds great, but how do we start to reduce processed
foods. The first step is to simply become more conscious of our food decisions
and be on the lookout for processed foods. Given that they currently make up
54% of the SAD, it shouldn’t be too hard to pinpoint them. Once we’re aware of
all the processed foods we’re eating, it becomes easier to take responsibility
and make better choices. As a result, we become more empowered and recognize
that we have control over our food choices. I know, on paper, reducing
processed foods sounds simple, but it’s not easy. Scientists have designed
these foods to be addictive and cause cravings. In addition, they’re extremely
convenient, which appeals to our time-crunched schedules. See the <b>SIDEBAR</b> for some tips that have helped
me. <span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the onset of this article, I “promised” you’d see a more
positive impact on your race results by focusing on your day-to-day eating
habits. I firmly believe that by reducing processed foods you’ll start to shed
those unwanted pounds and reduce that muffin top. I don’t know if any
scientific studies have ever been done regarding weight loss and its impact on
race times, but one theory I’ve heard is that you run 2 seconds per mile faster
for every pound lost. While that might not sound like a lot, if you do the math
on losing 10 pounds you’ll see that it equates to running one minute faster for
5K, shaving 4:30 off your half marathon, and nearly 9 minutes off your marathon.
You’d have to put in some serious training to see those kinds of results
otherwise.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you don’t think these results are likely, I encourage you
to just try focusing on whole foods for as little as 2-3 weeks. I think that’s
all you need to start seeing results. As part of my prep for writing this
article I signed up for a 5 week community education course on whole foods.
With an increased focus on eliminating processed foods, I was able to lose 7
pounds during the class. Before I get hate mail regarding weight loss not being
the key to being healthy, let me say I approached this community education
class, and this article, as a way of increasing health by reducing processed
foods. Weight loss was simply a by-product of the process.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, I’ll close by saying that I realize that we’re all
in different places along the food-choice spectrum and that no one can make us
change. Like anything else, change has to come from within, when the time is
right. If you’re not ready for change yet, I hope this article will at least
plant the seed that will someday germinate. For those of you ready to become more
mindful of your eating habits, especially as they pertain to processed foods,
don’t be surprised that better health will soon follow. Along the way you may
even shed some pounds and run faster.<span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>SIDEBAR<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Drink a Salad<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For me, the easiest change to make was to replace my
morning cereal with a smoothie. They’re a great way to consume leafy greens
without even thinking about them. Plus, smoothies are an easy way to include
all those superfoods we’ve heard so much about; chia seeds, flaxseed, goji
berries, spirulina, tumeric, cacao and more. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Focus on the
Possibilities<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Think about all the things you can have, instead of what
you can’t have. One trick that helps me is to tell myself that I already know
what an Oreo taste like, so why should I eat another one? That helps me reach
for new fruits and vegetables, and to try new recipes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Learn More<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">Watch <i>Forks Over Knives, </i>perhaps
the best known food documentary ever made<i>.</i>
Dr. Oz said everyone needs to see it and Roger Ebert called it “a film that can
save your life”. If you</span></span>’re into podcasts, check out <i>The Rich Roll Podcast</i>. His focus is on
becoming the best version of yourself and a lot of his discussions revolve
around food choices, endurance training, and peak performance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Progress over
Perfection<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Understand that, like running, food is a lifestyle and
it’s about the journey, not the destination. Therefore, never let perfection
get in the way of progress. If you miss a meal or a day, it’s not a total loss,
just resume again tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>Simplify <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The good news is that there are tons of websites, apps, and
cookbooks to help in your journey. The bad news is that sometimes the amount of
information can also be overwhelming. My suggestion is to pick 2 or 3 resources
and focus on exploring them thoroughly, rather than subscribing to 15 different
sources without ever using any of them.<o:p></o:p></div>
Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412073727859282887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3770084374861886370.post-42970591621238455852017-12-08T14:19:00.002-08:002017-12-08T14:19:57.724-08:0010 FOOD DOCUMENTARIES<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Review of 10 Food Documentaries<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I truly believe that education is the key to change
and, unfortunately, we need to educate ourselves when it comes to eating
healthy. Here’s a quick review of 10 food documentaries that have helped with
my education.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Food Matters<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">This documentary takes a deep-dive into the sub-par
food we eat, from (lack of) nutrients in the ground, and in the food, all the
way up to the medicines we take, claiming we have “a pill for every ill”. We
think we're eating food, but we’re really just filling our stomachs. Most of
the stuff we're putting in our bodies is dramatically removed from the stuff
that grows in the ground or is hunted. In fact, the stuff on shelves is filled
with so many artificial flavors and additives, and lacking nutrients, that it's
contributing to an epidemic of Western malnutrition and chronic diseases. <i>Food Matters </i>exposes this health
dilemma—along with pharmaceutical companies' interests—and tells us it's not a
trip to the doctor that will solve our health problems. Rather, it's the foods
on our plates; we just have to be conscious of our eating habits and make
better choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><b><u><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></u></b></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<em><b><u><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Forks Over
Knives<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Forks
Over Knives</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> is perhaps the best
known food documentary ever made. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times called
this documentary “a film that can save your life,” and Dr. Oz said everyone
needs to see it. The movie makes no bones about linking </span></span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">America's meat- and
dairy-based diet to the rampant metabolic health crisis. Their solution is
simple; a whole foods, plant-based diet that’s devoid of processed foods and
oils. While this movement seems to be gaining more followers, when the film was
released in 2011, it’s ideas where shocking. <span class="apple-converted-space">The
film takes an aggressive stance against both the meat and dairy industries. Not
only does the film claim a plant-based diet free of processed foods is
necessary for optimal health, but they go so far as to say that most
degenerative diseases can be controlled or reversed by ditching animal-based
and processed foods.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Food
Inc</span></u></i></b><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This movie dives into how our food is made, including everything from
the meat industry to large-scale production of veggies and grains. It details
how the food and agricultural industries have cheapened and quickened food production
over the last 50 years, which happens to be great for business. The film also
reveals the laws that are in place to protect the food industry so they can
place profits above everything else, including your health. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hungry
For Change</span></u></i></b><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As the title implies, this movie is about change. If you're tired of
feeling tired and ready to make a shift toward clean eating, <i>Hungry For Change</i> is the documentary
that will show you how to make it happen.</span> The film explores how
processed <span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">foods
aren't designed to provide nutritional benefits; they're designed to make us
addicted to them. They also show that we can’t trust the diet industry either. If
you're not convinced that giving up processed foods will make that big of a
difference when it comes to your health or weight, this film will change your
mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Vegucated
<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes it helps to see how people similar to us can be impacted by
what they eat. The next 3 films do just that. First, <i>Vegucated </i>follows three omnivores as they attempt a six-week vegan challenge
to eliminate meat and dairy from their diet. Along the way the filmmakers expose
the harmful practices of the livestock industry and showcase the long-term
health benefits of eating vegan foods. In addition to tracking the weight loss
of the omnivores, we hear how a plant-based diet also improved how they felt.<i> </i>If you’re vegan-curious, the film<i> </i>does a great job of explaining what
"going vegan" really means and the difficulties and benefits of
making this big lifestyle shift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Super
Size Me<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Who hasn’t heard of <i>Super Size Me</i>?
It’s one of the first food documentaries (2004) and is still a classic. If
you’re not aware of the story line, Morgan Spurlock decides to eat at McDonald’s
three times a day for 30 days. One of his rules is that anytime the cashier
asks if he’d like to supersize his meal, he has to agree – hence the title.
Spoiler alert: his physical and mental health decline as the month progresses.
Even his doctors are shocked by the effects of his fast food diet in such a
short time-frame. Yes, eating any fast food for 90 straight meals is extreme,
however, even the adage “all things in moderation” seems like terrible advice
when it comes to fast food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fat,
Sick & Nearly Dead</span></u></i></b><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the other end of the supersize spectrum, is <i>Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead </i>during which<i> </i>Joe Cross embarks on a 30 day juice cleanse. The fact that he’s
100 pounds overweight and suffers from a debilitating autoimmune disease is the
impetus for his journey. Rather than just sitting at home while he makes this
movie, Cross puts his juicer in his trunk and travels across the country
sharing his story with the overweight people he meets along the way. As a
result, the film includes a number of inspiring stories of individuals who were
inspired to redesign their diet and exercise habits and earned a new lease on
life. If you enjoy this movie, be sure to check out <i>Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead 2.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fed
Up<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This film takes a hard look at the government’s role in our current
healthcare dilemma. For example, did you know that Congress counts pizza as a
vegetable? It’s true: In 2011, Congress passed a bill that said two tablespoons
of tomato paste was a vegetable, thereby qualifying pizza as a
school-lunch-approved meal. The film explains how something like this can
happen. Hint: the agra- and sugar-industry lobbyists are extremely powerful and
they prevent any meaningful legislation that protects our health from passing. Remember
when the weight loss industry pointed the finger at fat? The food industry was
more than happy to develop fat-free products. In the process of removing the
fat, they simply added more sugar. This Katie Couric-backed documentary looks
at our staggering rates of obesity and puts much of the science-backed blame on
the sugar industry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cowspiracy
<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Simply put, you can’t call yourself an environmentalist and eat meat. <i>Cowspiracy </i>examines animal agriculture
and explains how it is the leading cause of deforestation, water consumption
and pollution, is responsible for more greenhouse gases than the transportation
industry, and is a primary driver of rain forest destruction, species
extinction, habitat loss, topsoil erosion, ocean “dead zones,” and virtually
every other environmental ill. He sits down with people from leading
environmental organizations (Greenpeace, Sierra Club, Rain forest Action
Network, Oceana, etc.) only to discover what appears to be an intentional
refusal to discuss the issue of animal agriculture. “<i>Cowspiracy </i>may be the most important film made to inspire saving
the planet.” – Louie Psihoyos, Oscar-winning director of <i>The Cove. </i>If <i>Cowspiracy</i>
made you think, be sure to check out <i>What
the Health </i>from the same creators. This time they find collusion and
corruption in the government and big business and its impact on the healthcare
industry. Also, check out <i>What the Health</i>
which was made by the same people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Plant
Pure Nation<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you
watched <i>Forks Over Knives</i>, you’re
familiar with Dr. T. Colin Campbell. This documentary takes over where FOK left
off, as Dr. Campbell’s son, Nelson, attempts to introduce a bill to the
Kentucky Legislature. The bill calls for a pilot program designed to use a
plant-based diet in a state with one of the highest childhood obesity rates in
the nation. Surprise, the bill gets turned down. Not to be deterred, he takes
his program to his hometown and encourages people to participate in a 10-day
“Jumpstart” program. Included in the film are the biometric test results for
participants of the program. You’ll be surprised at what happens in just 10
days on a plant-based diet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every time I
watch a food documentary I think “Why don’t we know this information?” The
answer to that question deserves its own blog post. However, I do think it’s
important that we take matters into our own hands and educate ourselves. These
documentaries are a great place to start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412073727859282887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3770084374861886370.post-88886237873004860372017-12-08T14:10:00.001-08:002017-12-08T14:10:12.660-08:00QUICK RE-INTRODUCTIONHi there, I thought I'd start by introducing myself - or re-introducing myself since I created my first blog probably 10 years ago. As you can imagine, a lot has changed since then - probably with you too. And probably with the popularity of blogging and it's ability to generate an audience. When I first started blogging there were only a handful of blogs that matched my interests. However, the number quickly exploded as everyone wanted to share their story and we rode the blogging wave together for a number of years before things began to die down due to new social media platforms becoming more popular - besides, you can only write about running so much before you run out of things to say.<br />
<br />
I'm sure you're thinking, "Why the new blog?" Good question. Like I said, a lot has changed in the last 10 years. Yes, I'm still running, but much less competitively. I still love to run, but find the urge to race waning. The main thing that's changed over the years is a much greater interest in things like health, wellness, nutrition, and mindfulness. I've become so interested in them that starting in 2018 I'll be working on earning a health coach certification through the Institute of Integrated Nutrition (IIN).<br />
<br />
I have a few goals for this certification. First, at the very least I'd like to use it to create a community education class to help educate people on the benefits of a whole-food plant-based diet. I think it's pretty obvious that our current healthcare system isn't working. We're the wealthiest nation on the planet, yet we have the sickest people. What we eat has a huge impact on our health, yet we continue to eat our way to dis-ease. Second, I'd like to create a health coaching practice that allows me to work one-on-one with patients. The IIN's program take a holistic approach to healthcare, so it'll be more than just focused on diet. Ideally, this would be my "side hustle" and allow me to earn some money on the side. My final goal would be for my coaching practice to be so successful that it leads to a complete career shift that will allow me to get out of my cube and corporate America.<br />
<br />
Goal #1 is feasible. I've already started compiling notes that I plan on using for a community education class. I'm not so sure about goals #2 or #3. Part of me can't help but be skeptical and think the program could be a scam. However, like I said, our current healthcare system is a mess and I believe the country/world needs more health coaches. While your doctor can tell you to eat better and exercise more, they don't have the time or education to help educate you on how to do those things. So I'm willing to go with my heart, follow my passion, and invest in myself. Worse case scenario, I spend four grand on a year's worth of classes that I find really interesting.<br />
<br />
Part of the training includes the business side of being a health coach, like how to set up a website, do health screenings, market your services, etc. However, this doesn't happen until about halfway through the program. So, my plan is to use this blog as a repository to store content that could possibly be used as part of my business. Maybe in the process I'll generate a client or two - if anyone still reads blogs in 2017.<br />
<br />
<br />Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08412073727859282887noreply@blogger.com0