Healthy living, just a book, or three away—June 17, 2011
Do you think you don’t have the time to lead a healthier life, or are you just overwhelmed by the sheer number of health publications that are available? If either of these is true, I might be able to help you.
Most people, at some point in their lives, become concerned about healthy living. For me, this awakening occurred as I was approaching a ‘significant- number’ age, and coincided with retirement from a full time job.
Since I had extra time, I started reading health, nutrition and exercise books. Thus, I can save you some time in your healthful living quest by suggesting books that might be the most helpful.
If you only have time for a few books in the early stage of your quest, check out these three: “Younger Next Year” by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge, M.D., “You on a Diet” by Michael F Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet C. Oz, M.D. (Dr. Oz), and “Ten Years Younger” by Steven Masley, M.D.”
“Younger Next Year” became a sort of health Bible for me. One of the concepts that was especially helpful was the idea that good health is a job, something that you need to spend some time on pretty much every day. According to the authors of this book, “50 percent of all illness and injuries in the last third of your life can be eliminated by changing your lifestyle.” This book will show you how to get started on a healthy living plan, and will motivate you to keep at it. Plus, it’s an entertaining read, and you might like some of the advice, such as: “Never go on a diet again.”
Don’t let the title “You on a Diet” scare you. It is actually an easy to read general health and wellness book. There are eating strategy tips, activity plans, illustrations, and other useful information. The “Twenty-Minute YOU Workout” is one of the best and easiest exercise plans I’ve seen. The last part of the book has recipes that contain food items of which you’ve even heard, and that are fairly simple to make. Plus, this is a fun, entertaining read.
“Ten Years Younger” is a ten-week plan to help you look and feel better, and “turn back the clock.” There are chapters on age accelerators, and important nutrition facts, before the details of the actual program.
If you have more time to spend reading about living a healthier lifestyle, I suggest “Mindless Eating” by Brian Wansink, Ph.D (you won’t BELIEVE how much mindless eating most of us do), “The Best Life Diet” by Bob Greene (a great all round nutrition guide) and “The Spectrum” by Dean Ornish, M.D. (which allows you to choose how healthy you want to be, and gives you the plan to achieve that goal).
If you want to take your better living quest even further, Hastings Public Library has literally hundreds of health and well-being books for you to browse and checkout.
