Healthy Living in Connecticut Blog

It seems like everyone is protein obsessed these day. People seem to think that if they focus on protein alone, they will lose weight, gain more muscle, feel better, etc. In the process, people have forgotten about the vital nutrients we also need, that many of us are not getting enough of.

For example, a lot of people are lacking fiber. Did you know that fiber can help protect you from colon cancer and many other diseases? Check out this video from Dr. Greger to learn more about it. Calcium is another thing that a lot of people get wrong. They think that the calcium in dairy milk will give them all the calcium they need. Did they ever stop to think about where the cows got the calcium in the first place, from the plants?

Yesterday, my car was getting a tune up. It was rainy, the kind of day most people would not want to be outside. The technician at the car place told me that it might take an hour or an hour and a half.

In the waiting room, the TV was playing the typical political news in the background. Ugh, I'd rather not just sit there and listen. Of course, everyone else was sitting there patiently.

I started my plant based journey for health reasons. Of course, since then, I became vegan too, as my compassion for animals and concern for the environment grew. But today, I had my yearly physical and had a reminder about why I am plant based... a clean bill of health.

I never liked going to the doctors. I had such phobias when I was a kid, and it was part of the reason why I avoided going as an adult. It wasn't until 2012 when I had my first physical that I really started getting over my anxiety (although, admittedly, it's still there!). When I found out I was pre-hypertensive and that my cholesterol was elevated, it was a huge wakeup call.

Yesterday, my physical therapist did a reassessment and said I probably only need one more appointment in a few weeks. The exercises he gave me seemed to do the trick as my knee is so much better. The swelling is gone, no more pain going up or down the stairs and I can actually run again.

When I injured my knee after a race on November 28, I'll never forget the excruciating pain I was in. My knee was swollen and I could not put any weight on it without the pain.

I did heal pretty fast but still had problems with the stairs. I felt pain when I was going up and down. My knee cap wasn't moving right in my left knee. But the physical therapist said I would be as good as new if I did the exercises.