“Those who think they have no time for healthy eating, will sooner or later have to find time for illness.” – Edward Stanley
Over 2 BILLION people on the planet are overweight, and over 600 MILLION people are obese. The World Economic Forum estimates that over the next 20 years, we will spend $47 TRILLION on chronic preventable illnesses like diabetes, heart disease and obesity—all diseases caused by the western diet and lifestyle.
Most people don't want to think about wars, but if you open your eyes and tell yourself the truth about what is happening in our society, it is painfully obvious that we are in a war for the health of our minds and bodies. Look around at how the people in your life are ageing whilst eating garbage every day, and not exercising. Think about your parents, family members, and friends. If you could have the best-case scenario for your health, are those the results you want?
Witnessing the slow and painful deterioration of someone you love is excruciating. To see them lose their spark, their vitality, their light. It's a kind of heartache that cuts deeper than any physical pain ever could. And yet, here I am, watching my own mother fade away before my eyes. Watching her struggle to do even the simplest tasks like walking. Watching her lose her cognition, physical body, ability to move around with ease and be pain-free. It breaks my heart. Especially because a lot of this can be prevented if we do the right things for our body.
Unfortunately the harsh reality is that most people won't.
Most people will have to see their loved ones suffer in a similar way my mum is.
Most will be left with this agonising reality, where every day is a battle against time and decay. Even if it is only for the later decades of your life, suffering is still suffering. And the more time you spend suffering the less you'll want to live.
BREAKING THE CYCLE
For me, this pain of seeing the way the people around me were deteriorating was the catalyst for change. I don't want to leave this earth as a burden to society and my family. It drove me to learn everything I could about nutrition and how to live a healthy life. And boy was this a long journey. Have you ever tried asking google for nutrition advice? It's like trying to find your way through a hall of mirrors - every turn presents a new reflection of reality, but it's hard to tell which one is the truth.
Every day there's a new fad diet or miracle superfood that's supposed to cure all your problems. But the truth is, it's all just noise. I know because I've put a lot of it into practice. I've followed all the latest trends and buzzwords, only to find myself more confused and frustrated than ever before.
It wasn't until I took a step back and asked myself this question, what would this look like if it was easy? That's when I was able to start making more sense of the nonsense. It led me to unlearn so much of what I thought I knew about nutrition, and it wasn't easy. It was a long five-year process to develop the healthy habits I have today. But let me tell you, it was worth it.
And to answer my earlier question, if this was easy, I'd simply be eating the foods humans have the most experience eating. Humans literally spent hundreds of thousands of years specifically adapting to eat real, natural foods. It's not rocket science, it's common sense. And yet, so many people still think my eating habits are out of the ordinary. They're shocked when they see me chowing down on fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. But the reality is, this is just how we're supposed to eat.
Think about it. You wouldn't give a plant Coca-Cola to drink, would you? Of course not! Plants need water to thrive. And in the same way, our bodies need the nutrients that come from whole, natural foods to function at their best.
So if you're feeling lost and overwhelmed in the world of health and nutrition, take heart. You're not alone, I'm here to help you. The first step is to go against the grain. In fact, the only way to be healthy in this society is to go against the grain. Do the opposite of the norm. Because when it comes to our health what's normal in todays world is what's making everyone sick.
This is your actionable step: observe the eating habits of the people in your life.
What are they eating?
Do they look healthy?
Do you want the same results that they are getting from their diet?
Awareness is the first step to competence. You can't change issues you're not aware of.
Make yourself see with your own eyes the connection between the things people eat and the effect it is having on their overall health.
Everyone's a role model. They can be good role models or bad role models. The people you see with the garbage health that you don't want, don't do what they do. You can get pretty far in life just by avoiding the common mistakes most people make. The road less stupid. To start with just be less dumb than everyone else.
If you happen to find some positive role models with eating habits that you'd like to emulate, learn from them. Ask them for tips and advice.
If you have no one to follow like I did, I've got you, everything you need to develop better eating habits is in this nutrition mastery series.
Make no mistake we are in a war for our health. Everyone you know and love is probably going to die sooner than they needed to. And suffer more than they needed. To an illness that could have been prevented had they lived a better lifestyle.
It's on us to rise up as outlaws, armed with knowledge, determination, and a burning desire for a better future.
It's on us to refuse to accept mediocrity or settle for a life of sickness and fatigue.
It's on us to be proactive about our health, reclaiming our bodies and reclaiming our lives.
Together, we can rewrite the narrative and create a legacy of what it means to live long, healthy, fulfilling lives. So let us stand united, supporting and inspiring one another, as we march forward in this war for our health. Embrace the power within you, make empowered choices, and remember, victory awaits those who persevere.
Always remember, you were born to be the hero of your story.
Free you outlaw.