Friday, September 28, 2018

LIFE EXPECTANCY & HEALTHY LIFE EXPECTANCY


Did you know that the current life expectancy for Canadians is 82 years?  Although not in the top 10 (11th) we are doing much better than our friends  South of the 49th parallel (ranked 36th) (1)…

According to Employment and Social Development Canada, men were expected to spend 88.0% (68.9 years) of their life in good health, compared with 85.8% (71.2 years) for women. Although women had higher life expectancy, men were expected to spend a higher proportion of their life in good health.

Wow!  In other words you can expect about 10 years of life in poor health.   Yikes!

Taking gender out of the equation, Chronic conditions are the main cause of lowered HALE (Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy.    Of that, Depression is a major cause.  In addition, obesity and stress continues to be on the rise. 

For the majority of people, they can improve their healthy life.

There are no magic pills, no short-cuts, no special diets, machines or routines that will result in “getting into shape”    Even if there was a magic pill – and you could afford it…there are much more benefits to exercise.  Besides adding strength and tone to the muscles, exercise works your heart and lungs.  An exercise “pill” won’t build your self-esteem and confidence you get from a good work-out.  Resistance and Aerobic exercise can improve your mood, add brain power, help your sex life, and change your body for the better.

Your food intake is the MOST important.  -  Proper nutrition is 60% of the effort in building a healthy strong body.   Follow a properly balanced Nutritional eating schedule.  “Eat the Rainbow” – lots of Fruits and Vegetables (NonGMO), Beans, Legumes and Fish.  Cut back or eliminate Meat, Chicken and Dairy – they are NOT needed for being healthy.  Learn from the Centenarians!  And of course stay away from sugar, processed and fast foods.  Do not fall in the Diet Trap and become part of the yo-yo phenomenon.  You can’t stay on a diet forever. 

It is important to create a lifestyle that works for you and that you will maintain for healthy life.  The best results come from a long-term strategy involving permanent change in both eating and activity habits.  
You can live your life in good health – it’s your reality - start now!



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