Marching Towards Nutrition: Celebrating National Nutrition Month!
NORTH DAKOTA – Grab your forks, folks, because March is National Nutrition Month! It’s that annual time when we throw our kale confetti in celebration of making informed food choices and developing those oh-so-sweet eating and physical activity habits. 🎉 But did you know that this month-long observance started way back in 1973 as a shiny new concept called National Nutrition Week? Talk about a glow-up! It took just seven years for the celebration to level up to a full month of nutritional festivities, responding to the nation’s growing appetite for knowledge about nutrition—pun fully intended!
Good Health is Good News!
According to the sparkling Gretel Schueller, Health Managing Editor at US News and, might we add, a nutritional wizard in her own right, the link between diet and health is as clear as a plate of freshly chopped veggies! "We’ve been evaluating diets for 15 years with a team of doctors and dieticians," Schueller noted, "and there’s a big recognition that diet and nutrition are deeply entwined with your health." Who knew our dinner plates harbored such secrets?
Now here’s the kicker: approximately 80-85% of chronic diseases are linked to diet. You can say those cheeseburgers and fries have a bit of a bad rap, (I mean, they might just be taking a byte out of your health). But the good news is simple—what we eat can positively impact our health! So rather than saying “I can’t eat that,” let’s get into a “Sure, I can eat that!” mindset.
Heart Health is No Laughing Matter
Now here’s something that’ll really make your heart skip a beet: heart disease is the leading cause of death in both North Dakota and the rest of the United States. Yikes! But this is a condition that’s largely preventable. According to Schueller, “If you eat the right things, you can lower your blood cholesterol, your blood pressure, your weight, better manage blood sugar levels, and all of these things would reduce your risk of heart disease.” Talk about a heart-thumping, health-saving revelation! ❤️
So what’s on the menu if you want to protect that precious ticker? Schueller suggests making your plate a plant party! Load it up with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and those fabulous plant-based proteins. Forget the party poopers (we’re looking at you, processed foods)!
And here’s a twist: embracing fiber can do wonders. Oatmeal, veggies, and whole grains, oh my! Fiber is like that friend who gets along with everyone and keeps cholesterol in check. Plus, don’t forget healthy fats! They’re not just for guacamole or your grandma’s secret cookie recipe; they’re essential for heart health too. Think of them as your better half!
Feeling Good is No Fad Diet!
Now it’s time to bring in the heavyweights. Meet Craig Kraft, a personal trainer in Minot who believes that once you start nourishing your body, it’s like riding a bike—a healthy bike of course! “Once you get into that mode and eat real good for an extended period of time, energy levels skyrocket,” Kraft enthuses. “You feel better, you sleep better, it becomes addicting, and then you want to stay on that path.” It seems that eating well might just be the best flavor of ‘addiction’ around!
Time for a Healthy Change!
As we take the plunge into National Nutrition Month, remember that making small and sustainable changes to your diet can result in a monumental impact on your overall health—both physical and mental. So why not grab that salad instead of fries? (But hey, no judgment if you opt for both; we believe in balance!) Now is a fantastic time to spruce up your eating habits!
March on into a world of health and nutrition; one delicious bite at a time! Your future self will thank you for it—just like dad always says, “Lettuce turnip the beet!” 🥬🥳 Let’s get healthy, one pun at a time!
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