As a physician, my mission is your Optimum Health. Then, as I consider the best health-care approaches for you and others, I ask two questions: 1) How healthy are you now? And 2) If there are concerning trends among individuals, what can I do about it? These compelling questions had me research the top causes of death in America. Here is what I found… There are 4 diseases, frequently driven by poor nutrition, that kill more people than all other causes combined! I call these the “Deadly 4”…
Nutrition… just what is it and why does it matter? This is absolutely the core question that MUST be answered if we are pursuing optimum health and optimum weight. Nutrition is, by definition, the nourishment necessary for health and growth. My passion is to apply nutritional concepts that empower people to achieve optimum health. The reason and core method is simple. Everyone can achieve and maintain improved health if they consume essential human nutrients in proper amounts. Let me explain… Read more
We hear the word “metabolism” frequently. And, if yours is “sluggish”, it likely impacts you daily. Although we have a general sense of what metabolism is and how it affects us, few people can accurately define it. Metabolism can be thought of as the body’s chemical processes that allow 3 crucial aspects of life to occur:
These areas of metabolism have in common a demand for an energy source, i.e. calories! If any one of these 3 aspects of metabolism is impaired or sluggish, negative consequences are inevitable, often including weight gain! Read more
Appetite goes far beyond the stomach-growling ache we know as “hunger”… you know, the gnawing feeling when our stomach is “crying” for food. Appetite is actually any motivation or desire to put calorie-containing substances into our mouths. It is increasingly rare for us in the U.S. to be so “hungry” that our stomach is in pain. Since food is literally everywhere and readily available, we choose to avoid that feeling by eating in advance.
Calories (the measure of energy contained in food) are the ONLY source of power for humans. In fact, calories energize human metabolism and human function in all its glory. Whether building muscle and bone, thinking thoughts, growing hair, or fighting disease-causing viruses and bacteria, only calories can meet our energy needs.
I value the real life experience of health (including feeling great!) as much or more than anyone I know. Although I think all would say they value health, some rarely take intentional steps to pursue it. Sure, they may take common prescriptions to treat disease symptoms, to lower blood pressure, to ease pain or discomfort or to adjust mood (or you may know some who simply complain about not feeling well, ugh!). However, I believe there are essential health “truths” that will systematically and reliably move us toward health and feeling our best. It may not happen overnight, but progressive movement toward optimum health and “feeling fabulous” can be an achievable and realistic goal for almost everyone reading this article.
I love and appreciate health, don’t you? And, I love seeing people pursue health. It’s a wonderful thing, and it warms my soul. Particularly since “health seekers” are almost always successful, at least when they are empowered with effective tools and strategies. It turns out that improved health is not that hard to achieve for most people, most of the time. The human body is an amazing creation, with a remarkable ability to heal and be healthy even if ill or abused or neglected for a season.
Rick Tague, M.D., M.P.H. & T.M. is an honors graduate of Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, with an M.D. degree and a Masters in Public Health degree. He is board certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Family Practice. He is also a member of the AOA Honor Medical Society.
