When you visit your doctor, the first thing he usually asks is, “How are you feeling?” Keeping your list short is essential because he only has about five minutes to spend with you. Then he might ask, “Are you taking your medications?” If you say, “Yes, I am, but they make me tired, and my stomach is always upset. And I’m itching.”  Maybe he can give you something to control the drowsiness and adjust the dose to control your upset stomach. Your daily medication intake is mounting, but somehow, you still don’t feel good. Don’t think about it. Just continue to take your assortment of pills and hope for the best.

Does your doctor ever ask about your diet? Probably not because most medical schools do not teach nutrition and its role in health. Most of the ” tools” he has are provided by Big Pharma. He doesn’t understand how real food affects health.

Do you understand the role that food plays in your health?

Do you ever wonder why your body needs food? Or why some people seem to have more energy than others? It’s all about metabolism! But what exactly is metabolism, and how does it work?

Metabolism is like a busy factory inside your body. It’s the process that helps turn the food you eat into energy. Just like a factory needs raw materials to make products, your body needs food to produce energy. 

 Imagine your body as a car. Cars need fuel to run. Well, your body needs food for fuel. When you eat, your body breaks down the food into smaller parts called nutrients. These nutrients are like tiny building blocks that your body can use. 

 Now, let’s talk about the workers in our body factory—they are called enzymes. Enzymes are like the workers in a factory. They help break down food into smaller pieces so your body can use them. 

 Once the food is broken down, your body can use it for energy. Just like a car runs on fuel, your body runs on energy! This energy helps you do all the things you love, like playing sports, running around with friends, and even studying! 

 But here’s the cool part – even when you’re sleeping or sitting still, your body needs energy to do important things like breathing, pumping blood, and repairing cells. That’s why your metabolism keeps working, even when you’re not doing anything active. 

 Some people have faster metabolisms, meaning their bodies burn more energy quickly. That’s why they might seem to have more energy and can eat a lot without gaining weight. But don’t worry if your metabolism is a bit slower—it just means your body takes its time using up energy. 

 So, remember, metabolism is like a busy factory in your body. It helps turn your food into energy to play, learn, and grow. Keep eating healthy foods,  stay active, and your metabolism will keep your body running like a well-oiled machine!

Eating a diet of healthy foods will do more for your health than the assortment of Big Pharma pills you might be taking. “Eating healthy” is not difficult. Stop buying “dried cereal” that looks and tastes like shredded cardboard or wood shavings. No time in the morning to cook? Get up 15 minutes earlier to cook oatmeal or prepare scrambled eggs and whole wheat toast.

If you have school-age kids to feed, give them something besides a bowl of Lucky Charms to nourish their brains and bodies. They will learn and behave better if their bodies do not crave real food. If you work outside the home, a breakfast of dry “cereal”  will leave you craving coffee and a donut in about an hour. Perhaps that contributes to the health symptoms that your doctor can’t fix.

Do what it takes to control your health. It’s your responsibility, not your doctor’s. You can do it.