Where does health begin?

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Health begins in the mind—and the gut! As already described in the February 3rd post, the microbiome of the intestines, as in diversity thereof, is key to long term health. And of course what kinds of food we consume definitely affect the trillions of bacteria living in our gut. But ultimately it is our mind that decides what kinds of food we will consume. Not that food access and affordability are not serious social and economic problems—but that topic is for another post.

For those of us with the means, we do have choices about food. Having good information and being educated about nutrition and digestion is the starting point. But it is also about time management (e.g., for preparation and cooking), and many of us are on the verge of ‘time bankruptcy’. That’s probably the biggest impediment to eating right.

And so, understanding nutrition and digestion, along with good planning and time management, are prerequisites. But even before that, it seems there needs to be a great desire for good or better health, and the belief that it is possible—that we do in fact have some control over our health. The focus here is on preventable chronic diseases, such as diabetes and other digestive disorders, and to some extent cancer and heart disease. Not that genetic heritage is not a factor, but so too is food—for better or for worse.

A great many factors in addition to food affect long term health: genetics, stress management, physical activity, sleep and rest, social and family relationships, mental health and attitude. Some of these factors we have more control over than others, and perhaps the main one is food. My premise is that a quality diet is foundational and helps us manage the other factors a little better.

Caroline McColloch
Chez Nous Farm
cheznousfarm@gmail.com

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