Writing Workshop - Sherlyn Aldas

Exercise: Learning Log on Resident Dr. Blair Heinke's lecture on diet and exercise.

On Wednesday a resident, Dr. Heinke, came by to discuss diet and nutrition with the group. She asked us how we exercise and she gave us some ideas on how to continue. An example was using a pedometer and to make a goal in order to encourage exercise. She also told us that when making goals, to be sure to make them realistic goals. Fore example, we can not expect to lose 20 pounds in a month and if we do and fail, it will only make us give up. Another topic Dr. Heinke informed us of was about artificial preservatives and trans fats. Artificial preservatives are chemicals placed in foods in order to prevent spoiling, which can usually happen a lot quicker without it. However, these chemicals are very foreign to our bodies so it makes it hard to break them down. Trans fats are also similar; they are added in order to make food taste better but they are also hard to digest. Dr. Heinke recommended eating more organic food and healthier food as well such as vegetables and fruits or whole grain break. Even though Dr. Heinke gave us lots of information, I wish to learn about the chemicals and other things added to fast food which makes people addicted to it.

Writing Workshop - Sherlyn Aldas

HealthTopics: Diet & Exercise

Prevention: An Apple-a-Day Isn't Gonna Cut It

by Naomi Freundlich
December 11, 2009

There is much to be hammered out before a final health reform bill emerges from Congress. Disputes over the public plan, abortion, financing and when reforms will actually take effect continue to delay progress. But on one thing, apparently, there is broad consensus: Nearly everyone supports prevention. In fact, a recent poll found that 71% of Americans favor increased investment in disease prevention and believe it will save money in the long run.

Prevention is a broad concept, encompassing everything from flu shots to prostate screening to smoking bans to confronting racism...

...Because the truth is, prevention does not always pay off—both in terms of health consequences and in economic terms. You can invest in community health centers and send out a legion of health educators to tell folks about diet, exercise, quitting smoking and having safe sex—but you might only have a minor impact on preventing disease. If there is nowhere to exercise safely in the community, if fresh produce is expensive and hard to find, if people are unemployed, suffering mental distress, facing the threat of losing their homes, confronting language barriers or cultural incompetence from providers, these interventions will have limited effect...

HealthTopics: Diet & Exercise