• Running the Right Way - PhillyFIT Magazine

PhysicallyFITEnergizeYour Body!Add Years to Your Life andLife to Your YearsBy Dr. Joey GagliotiAmericans today are seeing more sickness and disease than everbefore. Some of the biggest culprits include cancer, Alzheimer’s,Parkinson’s, autoimmune disease, chronic pain and fatigue andfibromyalgia. People are sick and tired of being sick and tired, andfinding the mainstream solutions to be temporary at best. There aremore hospitals and doctors performing surgeries than ever before,and yet people are still sick! We are in a health care crisis todayand not all of the answers to our problems are found at the hospitalor the doctor’s office. Common misconceptions have us turning todrugs first and foremost, however, we fail to realize that it all startswith preventative care and by leading a healthy lifestyle.As humans, we must advocate our own health care, and educateourselves on the incredible healing capabilities your body naturallypossesses. Most people don’t take the fundamental steps needed toensure good health until it’s too late. Unfortunately we live in a crisis-basedcommunity, and rely on reactive practices rather thanproactive and preventative health maintenance. It is only after illnessstrikes that we start implementing positive lifestyle changes.People should not wait until obesity and diabetes set in before theystart healthy practices. This mentality is no different than waitinguntil you are seventy years old to save for your retirement.Getting older doesn’t have to include constant trips to the doctor’soffice, feeling sluggish and remaining sedentary. A human beinghas the potential to live for one hundred and twenty years. If suchis the case, than seventy should be the new forty! It’s never too lateto start living a vibrant and energetic lifestyle; one that can add lifeto your years and years to your life. Remember, sickness and diseasehappen because we let it happen, and it is due to a lack ofknowledge and proper planning.One of the most common complaints I hear from men and womenwho are approaching retirement, are all of the aches and pains theyexperience daily. Many of my patients come to me complaining oflimited mobility along with pain, poor balance and decreasedstrength. People, who experience these ailments, often become veryfrustrated and mentally discouraged. The pain and stiffness is oftenattributed to arthritis, which is inflammation in the body. We alldeserve to live a much more fulfilling life, rid ourselves of thesetoxic habits and banish all the pain that comes with it. This may14 I PhillyFITMay/June I 267-767-4205 I www.phillyfit.comsound intimidating, but it’s a lot easier than one would think. Thefirst step to living an ENERGIZED lifestyle starts in the kitchen.Learning about the benefits of super foods, and developing betterdietary habits that will reduce inflammation.SUGARS: THE ENEMYWe want to learn how to reduce processed sugars and refinedgrains. When we refine grains we remove all the good fats, protein,antioxidants and fiber. The resultant, referred to as "Frankenfood,"is stripped of all essential nutrients, which in turn creates inflammationthat damages the cushioning in between our joints known ashyaline cartilage. This damage results in pain and stiffness especiallyin the morning.NOT ALL FAT IS BADWe want to swap out the bad fats we consume and replace thosewith good fats. According to the research, it is the bad fats that arereally contributing to heart disease and neurodegenerative diseaseslike Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Some examples of bad fats arehydrogenated oils also known as trans fats (vegetable oils) andomega-6 fats (grain fed animal products, processed salad dressings).We want to load our body up with good high quality fats likecoconut oil, olive oil, and omega 3 fats such as flax, chia, andhemp. Without these good fats we are going to have problemsbecause the cells are under constant attack from free radicals, virusesand bacteria. There’s a constant war on the surface of the cellmembrane, so it’s incredibly important to have a strong front linewith these good fats that keep the cell wall robust, stable and intact.KNOW YOUR MEATSThe conventional meat supply is riddled with steroids, hormonesand antibiotics, which are highly toxic and attributed to many diseasestoday. We want to start eating more organic, grass fed meats,which are completely natural. Those are anti-inflammatory, whichare phenomenal for our joints.PROPER HYDRATIONOne of the most important things we can do to live a more ENER-GIZED life today is simply drink clean, alkaline water. Most peopleare totally unaware that