Interpersonal Essay: You Are What You Eat?

As the old saying goes, "you are what you eat.” A few years ago, this would have meant I was a combination of various meats, dairy products and pastries. If you can imagine, my health was not at it’s best at this point in my life. As my diet affected my daily life more and more, I naturally started cutting out these foods that seemed to damage my physical health. As a young child, I had the freedom to eat whatever I wanted. As a mid teen, I learned from experience, that foods that are overly processed and include additives such as sugar, chemicals and preservatives were deteriorating my health. I would get everything from headaches to indigestion all because of the poor food I ate. Over the last few years, I have noticed that the shift from

Personally, I would say the most influential socio-ecological barrier in health is at the interpersonal level. By stepping away from traditional and social foods that don 't help my health, I have had to say “no” to many foods. At first it is hard to decline from things that your friends, family and social networks are doing, but it gets to be routine after time. An easy way to introduce this discipline is to educate yourself on the foods that you consume. If it 's not helping your health, chances are it 's hurting. There is a socio-ecological model that represents the existing interwoven relationship between the individual and their environment (3-4). Individual behavior is determined to a large extent by social environment, such as the community, norms and values, regulations, and policies. Starting from the individual level, truly educating yourself about your health outcomes will create a strong foundation for challenges that may arise working up the ladder at the community and societal

When you first start eating a healthy diet, you might be surprised at how quickly you feel better. You 'll notice that your energy levels are consistent throughout the day, that your moods are more stable and that you can focus more effectively. You 'll start sleeping better, feel more alert, see an improvement in your mental condition, which will bring positivity and confidence in your life. On the long term scale, the benefits of a consistently healthy diet really adds up. You are less likely to develop cancer, arthritis, memory loss, dementia and macular degeneration. You 're at a reduced risk of getting heart attacks, blood clots, of sustaining falls and fractures, of getting diabetes, and of having nutritional deficiencies that otherwise become more difficult to treat as you age. COMMENTARY You 're also likely to live longer, and be happier and more active than people who have eaten a less healthy