The more high tech we become, the more nature we need. - Richard Louv

Sadly, we have moved indoors and away from nature. Part of living a healthy lifestyle is enjoying the outside world. Unfortunately, for most people it has become unnatural to go outside for an extended time-period.

Here's what you will discover if you go outside for a walk, a hike, or a run. It's great exercise and it is incredibly therapeutic.

I am very fortunate: Within walking distance of my home, there is a national forest and within ten miles there are about eight incredible hiking, biking, walking, and running trails. 

Near your home, take advantage of nature. In the immortal words of Nike: Just do it.

Grow a garden. If you have never done it, you can start with some very simple items - tomatoes, basil, rosemary, oregano, mint, peppermint, green and red peppers. 

The kids will love it and a home-grown cherry tomato tastes like candy. Here's my favorite Summertime dish. 

An Epidemic for Every Body - How did we get so fat, so fast? The debut episode debunks the theory that obesity only affects the “gluttons and sloths” among us and is, in fact, a public health problem that impacts everyone.

Sickeningly Sweet - Dr. Lustig illustrates the overabundance of sugar in today’s processed convenience foods and explains how our bodies metabolize these sugars in the same way as alcohol or other toxins, causing damage to the liver and other organs.

Hunger and Hormones: A Vicious Cycle - Sugar impacts the brain just as much as the waistline. In this episode, Dr. Lustig explains the biochemical shifts that sugar causes, making us store fat and feel hungry at the same time.

Sugar: A Sweet Addiction - Sugar isn’t just sweet, it’s addictive. This episode explores the cycle of addiction that sugar causes in the brain, much in the same way as drugs and alcohol.

Generation XL - An unnerving trend of obese infants is just one indication that obesity can be passed on from mother to fetus. This installment looks towards the next generation, with an emphasis on preventive care and pre-natal health. 

A Fast-Paced, Fast Food Life - The pace of modern life is a key contributor to today’s obesity epidemic. Elissa Epel and Barbara Laraia explain the connection and offer practical and effective solutions that don’t involve dieting and exercise. 

Coming May 25 “Drugs, Cigarettes, Alcohol…and Sugar?” 
Our experts offer a frank indictment of the country’s agricultural policy and food industry, which have made it nearly impossible to avoid sugar in our daily diet, and suggestions for possible remedies.

While Loudon Wainwright's song is hysterical, I prefer Bill Maher's rant about big-Pharma.

My observation in regard to this article - Obesity could affect 42% of Americans by 2030. 

In this country we are obsessed with obesity. As the article states: we have an obesity epidemic. HBO (Weight of the Nation) states: Obesity in America has reached a catastrophic level.

In reality, we do not have an obesity epidemic. Actually, the catastrophe and epidemic is the food. By focusing on obesity and not the food, we have taken the wrong fork in the road. The question we must ask is: "What is the cause and effect?" From my perspective, we can draw a direct line from our horrific food environment to disease. Unfortunately, because it takes many years to experience the negative effects of eating the Standard American Diet (SAD), we concentrate on obesity. 

Obesity is very visual, interesting, and fascinating - think Biggest Loser. Addressing food is boring and controversial. When well-intentioned people make recommendations to reduce the consumption of soda, sugar, fast-food, junk food, processed food, packaged food and more, the name-calling begins. They are labeled the food police  And, we are reminded that it's all about personal responsibility. After all, personal responsibility is the American way.

However, when it comes to food, it's a little more complex. We crave salt, sugar, and fat. Over the past fifty years, our Main Street has been littered with those ingredients. To compound the problem, food manufacturers have fed the monster by adding a tremendous amount of salt, sugar, fat, and poison to our foods. To demonstrate, a recent M&M's commercial stated: "Salty. Sweet. Impossible to resist." Yes, in fact, these foods are impossible to resist. And, many of us are addicted to these over-the-top foods.

One important thing to note: If we changed our lifestyle - stop smoking, eat better, and exercise - upwards of 90% of type 2 diabetes, 80% of heart disease, and 60% of the cancers would disappear. One other thing would go away too: our health care dilemma.

The heavy concentration on the obesity epidemic reminds me of the Street Light parable. So, next time the obesity issue raises its ugly head, let's think in terms of the food.  

I recommend reading this observation from a doctor who works with obese patients. He hits the nail on the head.