Evidence from medical research over the past 25 years continues to show that how we live determines, to a great extent, how we will die. No longer do we have epidemics of infectious diseases, but rather epidemics relating to stress, overeating and under-exercising. We dig our graves with our dinner forks. We languish away on our sofas clutching snacks, remotes and iPhones. The top killers in Canada no longer are TB, pneumonia or diphtheria. They are heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. And these chronic conditions are largely self-induced. That’s the bad news — we are committing slow suicide by our unhealthy choices.
Now the good news — we can do something about it. We can turn the tide. We now know that, not only can we halt the progress of these killer diseases, but some can actually be reversed. But this is not by chance. It is by choice. We need to eat less, eat smarter, move more and control our stress. On Friday and Saturday, North Okanagan residents have the opportunity to learn strategies to do just that.
The seasons in nature have similarities to the seasons of life. We enter a season where we begin to see changes taking place within our bodies that we don’t fully understand. We know we have a full life to live, but are hindered by brain fog, mood swings, night sweats, lack of focus and energy that we had enjoyed for most of our lives. We just want to continue to enjoy life knowing we have entered yet another season of joy and not pain, a season of renewal, growth and fresh beginnings. Consider attending a day focused on health and wholeness.
Spring Tune Up for Health begins Friday and features Dr. Sid Kettner, MD, a family physician who has practised for more than 30 years in Creston. Throughout his career his passion has been to challenge audiences in Eastern Europe, Asia, South America and across Canada, to be informed and to become involved in their own health. He has been the Canadian medical director of the Coronary Health Improvement Project since it was launched 25 years ago.
Materials similar to that program will be presented at this weekend’s seminar. In addition, two nutritious vegetarian meals will be served, there will be a “Walk with the Doc” and we’ll have time for questions and answers. Spring Tune Up for Health will be held at the Vernon Seventh-day Adventist Church Hall, Pleasant Valley Road and 45th Avenue, Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Registration and pre-payment of $10 is required. To register, call Christina at 250-545-3969, ext. 2, or e-mail wdcvernon@gmail.com.
Christina Walker is director of Spring Tune Up for Health.
