Does an Apple a Day Keep the Doctor Away?
The phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” was first coined in 1913 and was based on a Pembrokeshire proverb originating in 1866. The original quote: “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread” was first published in Notes and Queries magazine. Although research shows that eating more apples may not be associated with fewer visits to the doctor, adding apples to your diet can help improve several aspects of your health.
Nutrition and lifestyle are key players in boosting the body’s natural healing powers. Quite simply, nutrition is about eating a regular, balanced diet. Lifestyle is defined by the choices we make about our health according to our beliefs, values, and attitudes. Good nutrition and lifestyle fuel the mind and body. The foods you eat supply the nutrients your body needs to maintain your brain, muscle, bone, nerves, skin, blood circulation, and immune system. Proper nutrition helps keep energy levels up and protects against many age-related illnesses and diseases like heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer, and diabetes.
It is widely agreed that there is no “one size fits all” diet, and there are many factors that need to be considered regarding one’s diet. Supporting the coaching rule of thumb that the client is the expert in their own life, a health coach views a healthy diet to be a personal choice by the client. Choosing a healthier diet doesn’t have to mean avoiding all the foods you love. Referring back to the CDC’s philosophy on health, quality of life is an important part of being healthy. The key word is moderation.
In the spirit of a health coach not telling you what you should eat and what you shouldn’t eat, here are two credible sources on a diet to consider, US Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate and Harvard’s Healthy Eating Plate. Though the two models differ, they both emphasize the importance of a diet including unprocessed whole foods, lean proteins, adequate fiber, healthy fats, and an intake of vegetables and fruits.
Be well,
Sarah
