Lauren Au, RD

for Your Heart

October 23rd, 2008

I get up at 5am to jump into a cold, uninviting pool. I wonder what I’m doing instead of sleeping in my nice, warm bed.

For the past 2 months, I have worked in the hospital. This experience gives me great perspective on life - how short it is, how you have the power to prevent heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. As depressing as acute or sub-acute settings may be, I believe it gives me the driving force to promote prevention. To be a role model for others. To show that despite unfortunate genes, you can beat the odds.Imagine all the daughters who have mothers who fought breast cancer or sons who fathers passed away at an early age.  Science is still evolving, but from my studies I have found that preventing illness through proper diet and exercise has more power than your genes. Maybe, it’s just being hopeful, or maybe we’ll find in years to come that the children who are developing diabetes is due more to the environment than their chromosomes.

So that’s why I get up in the morning and jump into a pool. That’s why I walk a few blocks to the farmer’s market and buy fresh produce and vegetables. I want to be happy and I want to live. What are your reasons for a healthy life?

Lauren

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