A Better Life

A Better Life

Joshua Wilkinson

Utilizing Information in College Writing Com 125

Instructor Melissa Simms-Powell

August 05, 2007

Within the last few decades the world has become more educated then ever. The information we now have on medicine and general knowledge is helping people live longer and healthier lives. Many people seek the fountain of youth, but little do they know it is all about what they eat and how they exercise that prolongs life. Modern science shows us simple steps in everyday life could quite possibly lead to a healthier and longer life. By utilizing both good nutritional habits and exercise can improve ones life.

Nutrition is the relationship of foods to the health of the human body. Proper nutrition means that the body is receiving enough foods and supplements to function at optimal capacity. It is important to remember that no single nutrient or activity can maintain optimal health and well-being, although it has been proven that some nutrients are more important than others. All nutrients are necessary in different amounts along with exercise to maintain proper health. Exercise is also an important part of nutrition. Exercises help tone and maintain muscle tissue and ensure that the body's organs stay in good condition. Healthy eating without exercise will not result in good nutrition and a healthy body - neither will exercise without nutrition. The most important thing about exercise is that it be practiced regularly and is practiced in accompaniment with a healthy diet.

There are hundreds of methods and routines out there that help people of all ages and sizes get healthier by incorporating good eating habits and exercise. Walking may be one of the simplest forms of exercise one can do to better his or her life. According to Julie Upton, "Walking is one of the best ways to help stave off chronic diseases, improve self-confidence and mood plus keep you happy and independentÐ'--at any age." (Upton 2005) She further explains how walking can also reduce stress and help to control body weight. There are many benefits to just walking for an hour a day. Walking has been proven to increase lung capacity, reduce high blood pressure, and even reduce the risk of age related conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Walking is so easy to do now because there are so many ways to make it more fun than boring. People now carry some music with them to keep themselves occupied. People are walking with friends, walking a pet, or even going on nature walks. Anyone can go to a zoo, a museum, an aquarium to walk around. Walking is a part of everyday life and now there are more reasons to walk. Walking is beneficial in so many ways.

Exercise is without a doubt a very important aspect in improving life. With exercise comes nutrition. Exercise and nutrition work hand-in-hand to help better ones life. In an article by Karin Kratina she sates many ways in which eating right is very important. Kratina believes that people do not need diets, but they need to normalize eating and change their lifestyle. She thinks diets are ineffective because as soon as people get off of them the rebound and eventually gain the weight back. She believes that by changing her lifestyle and just eating healthier everyday can lead to a lifelong success in weight management. (Kratina 2004) By utilizing the right foods everyday and doing some form of exercise will eventually lead to a long and healthy lifestyle. Below is a graph depicting the time in minutes it takes for an average person of 150 pounds to burn 150 calories by doing the specified exercises. Kratina suggests following the food guide pyramid and getting more acquainted with what foods to stay away from. By eating the foods suggested in the pyramid, Kratina believes everyone will live a much healthier life.

Nutrition and exercise improve many different areas of life. By eating right and exercising, studies have shown that people feel better and are less stressed. In an article from Environmental Nutrition magazine healthier people have better sex lives. Author Elizabeth Ward states, "If you want better sex, take care of your health. It makes sense, healthy arteries promote maximum blood flow to the heart, brain and genitals, while well-controlled blood sugar levels prevent damage to genital nerves." (Ward 2007) Quite simply if someone wanted a better sex life, they should try to incorporate exercise daily and start eating healthier. When people are happy with their sex lives, stress levels in their body are low. If stress levels are low, metabolism works faster; this in turn helps to burn more calories.

It is hard to say what plan works for every person. This is mainly because there is no plan that works for every person. Every person's body is different. Some work faster than others, some have slower metabolisms, and some are just non-complacent. Some people take supplements to help lose weight while others take prescribed drugs to help increase their metabolism. There is something out there for everyone. Anyone can go hire a personal trainer to help them lose weight. Anyone can go hire a nutritionist to tell them what foods to eat. Some people even go to their family doctor and ask what diet plan is right for them. There are hundreds of products out there to fulfill anyone's dietary needs. From energy drinks to slim fast, from lean cuisines to protein bars, from 100 calorie packs to snack wells, more products come out each year designed to help people with their dietary needs. The problem is finding which products work for each individual person.

In a busy world, most people say they can not find the time to fit in exercise on a daily basis. The American Academy of Family Physicians gives some good everyday little things that anyone can incorporate into their everyday lifestyle. They suggest to, "Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk during a coffee break or lunch. Walk to work or park at the end of the parking lot so you have to walk farther. Walk more briskly. Do housework at a quicker pace and more often (for example, vacuuming every day). Rake leaves, push the lawn mower or do other yard work." (Physicians 2005) Everyone has something in their life that they can do to incorporate a little exercise into. Some exercise is better than no exercise. While watching television one could lift some 10 pound dumbbells to add some exercise to his or her life. Going to the mall and window shopping also can serve as exercise for the day. There are many things anyone