I remember when I was a young boy growing up in Iceland, fearless, always looking for adventures, with my whole life ahead of me. Not knowing what the future might hold, I never thought about some of the questionable decisions I made, or if they had consequences.
Fast forward to 2024. Now, at 51, it feels like every decision I make must be carefully thought through. Life is a series of big sliding doors. You may miss this train and take the next one, but do you ever stop and wonder how your life would have been like if you had caught that train? You can relate this to your health, your body, your relationships, your education, occupation etc. In writing this blog, I am particularly interested in the food and health aspect of these “sliding doors.”
What would have happened if? A big question, and I don’t encourage people to dwell on what might have been, but instead focus on what can happen.
"Think about the future. What will happen if I make this choice instead of that choice."
I recently took on a new role as the first Gentleman of Iceland, and in that role, I am approached by numerous organizations asking me to be their spokesperson, their “guardian,” for the lack of a better word, to enhance the spotlight already being cast onto their cause. The requests are all very different, but many focus on health. A few weeks ago, I received the honor of becoming the “guardian” of the Alzheimer’s association in Iceland and am proud to bring attention to that important health concern.
Many of these requests have made me think of our choices in life. We (and I am guilty of this as well), spend so much time and money taking care of and maintaining our worldly possessions, such as our cars and houses, our smartphones and TV’s, and far less time focusing on our health. Where our health is concerned, we often need to be warned several times before we act.
Thankfully in Iceland we do not allow prescription medication commercials or advertisements, but in the USA there is rarely a commercial break on television that doesn’t show one or more drug ads. The message is clear. You can take a shortcut. Just take this pill and you will be a little bit better. I understand that many drugs are vital to patients’ health and wellbeing, but some drugs have normalized the fact that you are not your best, and by using them, you can be functional. But this seldom takes you on a path to recovery. Why do we accept not being our best when with a different mindset, change of habits and lifestyle, we can become the best, or a better version of ourselves?
I know it is not easy. We are bombarded by messages on how we should look or feel, and at the same time are tempted by foods that are pleasurable to the palate, but high in a combination of fat, sugar and salt that give us instant pleasure, slight depression, and then have us craving for more. In reality, we face a sliding door, or in this case a revolving door - a missed train many times a day, every single day. Constantly making decisions about everything we do, eat or drink, over and over again is enough to make us insane. The decisions must come from your core, your beliefs, and values.
I encourage you to start small and work your way up. Here is my best advice on your journey to a healthier you.
- Eat food that is whole and as close to the source as possible, preferably with one ingredient.
- If you buy meat in the store, make sure it is organic from free range, farm raised without steroids and antibiotics.
- Buy organic fruits and vegetables
- Stay away from sugar and sweeteners
- Stay away from sugary soda and energy drinks
I mentioned Alzheimer’s here, just because it is a health concern that is close to my heart right now. I could also be talking about type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer, and the many other health concerns that begin to come up as we grow older. This can be due to genetics, environmental factors, misuse of alcohol and tobacco, and many other things, but one of the biggest factors that we can control, and will help you to live a long, healthy life, is diet.
I made a conscious decision in 2012 to enroll in culinary school to learn how to cook healthy food from scratch. This decision was not made because I wanted to open a restaurant, but to educate myself enough to provide my family with food that gives them the best possible foundation to be healthy. Your body is more resilient when you are young, but you will soon see the the impacts if you abuse it later in life. I encourage you to really look into the food you are buying. Is the ingredient list longer than this blog post, or is it just one thing? Is it organic or has it been sprayed with pesticide? Is it drowning in sugar or sweeteners that will wreak havoc on your glucose level and your hormonal balance? Many people talk about organic being more expensive. I agree, it is more expensive, but what is the price of good health and what is the cost in the long term? Sliding doors, all day, every day. What if I have an apple instead of this candy bar, or have the salad instead of nuggets and fries for the fourth time this week?
Today is the day! Today is the day to decide to lay the foundation to b your best as you grow older. Today is the day to decide that in the future you’d like to do your best to avoid taking drugs to stabilize any lifestyle diseases that might be avoided by adopting a healthy diet. Think about what your life will be like if you catch the sliding doors that are closing, or if you have to wait for the next train. I promise you that one of the side effects of eating healthier will be more happiness.
For comments and questions on this subject, please send me an email at bjorn@justbjorn.com
