How can focusing on what I eat and drink support my Whole Health?

Making healthy choices about what you eat and drink is a powerful way to help care for yourself.  Food and drink give our bodies the fuel used to work properly, stay healthy, and fight disease.  The right foods help you not only to live, but to live well.  People often do not realize that their food choices affect the way they feel, both physically and emotionally.  Choosing foods that nourish rather than harm your body may help prevent chronic conditions and the need for certain medications in the future.  Food can also be used to help treat some health conditions. 

How much do the foods and drinks I consume really make a difference in my health?

Each person’s body is different.  Therefore, how particular foods and drinks will affect your short-term and long-term health is unique to you.  However, in general, research tells us that your risk of developing a number of diseases can be affected by both what and how much you eat and drink.  These diseases include type 2 diabetes,^1,2 heart disease,² stroke,³ obesity,⁴ breast cancer,² cancer of the colon and uterus,⁵ gall bladder disease,² and asthma.⁶

Eating certain foods may help improve conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),⁷ chronic back pain,⁸ fibromyalgia,⁹ autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis,¹⁰ mental health,¹¹ and sleep.¹²

There is so much information on healthy eating.  Where do I begin?

All the news and advice available on food and drink can feel overwhelming.  Also, new information is being learned all the time.  To make this self-care task easier and more helpful, focus on how you can use facts about food and drink to help you reach your personal goals.  You can start in the following ways:

• Think about why you want to consume food and drink that is healthy for you.  Why is that important?  Changing any habit can be hard.  It may involve changing long-standing beliefs and actions.  Keeping your life goal in mind can sustain you as you take steps to change your eating habits to help improve your health.  For example, you may find it easier to eat in new ways if you keep in mind that healthier eating may help you be well enough to attend your grandchild’s graduation or wedding or to go on your dream vacation in the future.