OBESITY, THE SOLUTION OFFERS NUTRITIOUS GUIDELINES FOR HEALTHY LIVING

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Obesity - The Solution, by Max Sturman (Do It Naturally Foundation, San Diego)

 

Book Review by Dennis Moore

February 20, 2011 (San Diego)--There is no more timely or urgent message than that found in Max Sturman's Obesity - The Solution. A February 1st story in the San Diego Union-Tribune states, "In a new attempt to help an overweight nation slim down and improve its long-term health, the government released new dietary guidelines that called on Americans to eat less, cut down on salt, bulk up on fruits and vegetables, and try water instead of sugary soft drinks."

 

Sturman, a 93-year-old San Diego author, has been delivering this message for years in fitness and healthcare books through his Do It Naturally Foundation, a non-profit that he founded.  His longevity is no accident--but, he believes,  the result of healthy living and a diet based on natural foods.

 

Sturman says that it is up to us to learn how to eat healthy and to do it naturally, and that his mission and life's work is to change the eating habits of our people and eliminate obesity for good.

 

His cardiologist, Dr. Dennis Goodman, states in the foreword to this book: "A tenet of his diet is avoiding all processed sugar. I cannot agree with him more. This in conjunction with eating fresh fruits and vegetables (he has his own organic garden), moderate amounts of carbohydrates, fat, and protein, plus daily exercise and an overall positive approach to life is a fresh recipe for good health." The La Jolla cardiologist commends Sturman for his "wonderful, simple approach. It's an honor to be his cardiologist. It makes my job with him so easy 'like an early morning walk in the park' with a 'juicy fresh watermelon for breakfast.'"

 

In Obesity - The Solution you'll discover:

 

* Why the Japanese have a lower rate of obesity than anyone else in the world;

 

* Which foods are the primary culprits in causing obesity;

 

* Some of the more subtle causes of obesity;

 

* How to read nutrition fact labels on foods;



* How to put together an eating plan you can follow for life.

 

In Obesity - The Solution, you will also get recipes for promoting good health and healthy eating, such as Max's Chicken Vegetable Soup, Max's Vegetable Soup, Poached Fish with Almonds, and Coconut and Sweet Potato Pudding. (See recipes).

 

Sturman practices what he preaches in his everyday life and in his book. He promotes a healthy diet, exercise program, stress management, and good communication with health care providers. He looks 20 years younger than his age and epitomizes a healthy, well-balanced senior citizen who sets the standard for us all, no matter our age. When I have gone by his home, he invariably offers me fruit grown from his orchard, which is typical of his simple, practical approach not only to weight reduction but more importantly an overall healthy lifestyle.

 

 

The MCT News Service story published in the San Diego Union-Tribune states: "Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who unveiled the guidelines with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, said three-quarters of every health care dollar is spent on chronic diseases related to diet - imposing a huge financial cost on business, governments and household budgets."

 

Clearly, Sturman is on the right path with the advice offered in his book. As a matter of fact, Sturman has been in communication with first lady Michelle Obama in regard to this matter, references her in his book, and has received a congratulatory letter from her.

 

A letter to Sturman from the White House, Office of Policy and Projects, dated April 14, 2010, states: "Mrs. Obama believes that people like you are vital to our success on this issue, and she urges you to stay active and continue to lead efforts to improve the health of children in your community."

 

This is typical of the letters of support and encouragement that the author receives from our legislative leaders and everyday citizens from all over the country, which also includes a Certificate of Appreciation from the Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District.



 

Sturman states in his book: "According to the U.S. Surgeon General, obesity will soon take over as the number one cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, over 324,000 people die each year from illnesses directly caused or worsened by obesity."

The author sees education, emotions, exercise and eating as the basic solutions to obesity. He says it all begins with education, which is why he continues to write books about a healthy, natural lifestyle.

 

Obesity - The Solution is chock-full of information and statistics from doctors and healthcare experts, giving us all pause for concern of this rising crisis. Notably, first lady Michelle Obama recently joined forces with the retailer Walmart, to address the issue of obesity, in her own "Let's Move" campaign. In a low-income section of Washington, the first lady joined Wal-Mart executives as the retailer unveiled its "Nutrition Charter," a five-part program designed to tackle the problem. I am sure that is music to the ears of Sturman and validation for his efforts.

 

Sturman also warns of the dangers of salt in our foods. He further states that it is time for the public to play a more active role in what is put into the food, and research should be undertaken to develop new foods - foods that will contribute to our health and not to our detriment.

 

This is certainly food for thought in a book that I highly recommend. After reading this book, I instinctively find myself thinking of my food and nutrition consumption, each time that I eat.

 

Dennis Moore is a member of the San Diego Writers/Editors Guild, and a freelance contributor to the San Diego Union-Tribune Newspaper. He has written for LifeAfter50 Magazine in Pasadena, California, and the Baja Times Newspaper in Rosarito Beach, Mexico. Mr. Moore can be contacted at contractsagency@gmail.com or you can follow him on Twitter at: @DennisMoore8.


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Comments

CDC: CHILD OBESITY RATE DROPS

First evidence of national decline for low-income preschoolers is noted in 18 states, according to an Associated Press story by Mike Stobbe. For many years, doctors have been wringing their hands as more and more U.S. children grew fat. Now, that may be changing, with the first evidence of a national decline in childhood obesity.

U.S. LOSING GROUND IN FIGHT AGAINST OBESITY

In a dozen states, more than 30 percent of adults were considered obese in 2010, according to an Associated Press story in the San Diego Union-Tribune Newspaper, July 8, 2011. We're getting fatter. In 1995, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent. Now, all but one does.

An annual obesity report by two public health groups looked for the first time at state-by-state statistics over the last two decades. The state that has the lowest obesity rate now - Colorado, with 19.8 percent of adults considered obese - would have had the highest rate in 1995.

The study, based on 2010 data, says a dozen states top 30 percent obesity, most of them in the South. Mississippi topped the list for the seventh year in a row, with Alabama, West Virginia, Tennessee and Louisiana close behind. Just five years ago, in 2006, Mississippi was the only state above 30 percent. California's rate was 24.8 percent.

TALK SHOW HOSTS TRASH EACH OTHER - Beck & Huckabee

Fox News' Beck and Huckabee lock horns over first lady's anti-obesity initiative. Mike Huckabee on Thursday criticized fellow Fox News Channel host Glenn Beck for calling the former Arkansas governor and potential White House hopeful a "progressive" for supporting first lady Michelle Obama's anti-obesity efforts. Beck on Tuesday referred to GOP's Huckabee as a "progressive," a term that Huckabee said Beck has likened to cancer and Nazis. Beck singled out Huckabee's support of the anti-obesity initiative.

SANDAG grants aim to promote healthy living

Grants totaling more than $1 million have been issued countywide by the San Diego Association of Governments to promote healthy living - with nearly half the money going to encourage bicycling and walking to schools by creating safe roads. The funding is part of a nationwide campaign to combat obesity by increasing access to healthy food and encouraging physical activities.

The grants approved by the SANDAG board of directors went to government and nonprofit agencies and tribal governments across the county.

San Diego-Made Anti-Obesity Drug Contrave

In Surprise Move, FDA Includes San Diego-Made Anti-Obesity Drug Contrave in Conditional Approval Given to San Diego-Researched Anti-Lupus Drug Benlysta. The FDA states: "Neither one seems to work on black women." That is the story in the March 24, 2011 San Diego Reader. The story further states: "African-American women are 60% more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic white women.

Barnes & Noble Authors Event - Grossmont

Max Sturman is scheduled to be one of the authors, along with TJ Johnson and Joshua Graham, at an Authors Event at Barnes & Noble - Grossmont, on April 9, 2011, at 1:00PM, in which the authors will be discussing how to get published.

San Diego Writers/Editors Guild

Max Sturman will have his books on display at tonight's monthly meeting of the San Diego Writers/Editors Guild.

Did You Know Walnuts Lower Blood Pressure?

Today in a Health Alert by Smokin Joe Jones Barbecue, it is stated: According to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, after eating 18 walnut halves and taking one tablespoon of walnut oil daily for six weeks, study participants had lower blood pressure when exposed to stressors than participants who did not consume walnuts and walnut oil.

Obesity - The Solution

This is a very comprehensive review by Dennis Moore. He has convinced me that I should check out this book and learn how to eat healthier. Linda Loegel