Ben Franklin said it best when he said” never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” This statement applies to so many facets of our life including our health. If we keep saying we are going to get serious about our health tomorrow, we have to realize that we don’t actually know how many tomorrows we actually have left. Research out of Johns Hopkins suggests that dropping pounds while we are young may have a profound effect on heart health. Now is the time to get serious about getting in shape and staying in shape.
Diet While Young
Young overweight mice put on a restricted-calorie diet had substantially improved function once they lost weight. However, mice who were older and had been obese for more years, did not recover better heart function when put on the same restricted diet as the younger mice. Researchers concluded that the longer the mice were obese the greater the risk off permanent heart damage. Although it is too soon to know if the same principle can be applied to humans, it does send a pretty strong message that getting serious about our health earlier in life rather than later is a good idea.
Risks of Obesity on Heart Health
Sadly, 75 million American adults are obese. Extra body fat, especially around the mid section, puts people at a much higher risk for developing serious lifestyle illnesses. Among these are high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and high blood cholesterol levels. Obesity can also put a tremendous strain on joints, promoting degenerative joint 
disease and contributes to other health complications such as gallstones and depression.
Achieving a Healthy Weight
Whether you are young or old, there are benefits upon benefits to be reaped by getting in shape today. Switching from a highly processed food diet to one that is rich in fruits and vegetables is a terrific place to start. Cutting out sugar and refined foods give the body a chance to readjust and heal. Adding in daily exercise only helps push the body further along in the healing process. There is no limit to the number of studies that have clearly identified the benefits of exercise and a healthy diet. Not only will adopting a healthy lifestyle help you look and feel your best, but it will also add years to your life.
What are you waiting for?
-The Alternative Daily
