Source: Fox News
Summary
Experts say that Americans need to return to healthier habits from earlier centuries, such as walking, eating seasonal foods, and spending more time outdoors. Dr. Marc Siegel and Dr. Kenneth J. Perry note that Americans have moved away from these habits, leading to increased rates of chronic disease, obesity, and stress. They recommend reviving habits like walking, getting morning sunlight, and eating whole foods. Studies have shown that these habits can improve health outcomes, including reducing the risk of heart disease, metabolic disorders, and mortality.
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The advice sounds familiar.
Experts have been recommending a return to healthier habits for years, but it seems that Americans are still struggling to adopt them. The call to revive habits from earlier centuries is not new, but the emphasis on the importance of these habits for modern health outcomes is. The recommendation to eat seasonal foods, for example, is not a new one, but the reminder that Americans are now getting more than half of their daily calories from ultraprocessed foods is a stark one.
The emphasis on the importance of walking, getting morning sunlight, and eating whole foods is also familiar. These habits have been shown to improve health outcomes, but it seems that Americans are still not prioritizing them. The reminder that intermittent fasting has been shown to contribute to decreased obesity and better glucose management is also noteworthy.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of this article is the emphasis on the importance of community and social connections for health outcomes. The reminder that communal meals were once a routine part of American life is a powerful one, and the suggestion that eating a meal with a group of people can help improve lives is a compelling one.
The advice to take pride in repairing our own houses and to share kindness and goodwill with each other at community meals that are non-political is a welcome one.
It seems that Americans are still struggling to find a balance between the demands of modern life and the importance of prioritizing health and well-being.
Author: Evan Null
