 |
|
|
|
Reviews of books by some of the hottest writers working today, exclusive author interviews, literary news and criticism.
 |
|
|
|
|
Fill out your email address
to receive our newsletter!
|
|
|
|
|
 Get new reviews the instant they are posted to the site with RSS
What is RSS?
|
|
| Search Box (type in author's last name or one key word) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 In The Culprit and the Cure Dr. Aldana has gleaned research from around the globe covering the areas of diet, disease, lifestyle, and healthy behaviors to provide a practical guide to making the changes science has proven will lead to better health and longer life. In this interview, Dr. Aldana talks about what makes up a healthy lifestyle, and the barriers and benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
Interview by Jamie Engle
Jamie: You're uniquely qualified to write this book. Can you tell us your background?
Dr. Aldana: I earned undergraduate degrees in mathematics, geology, and physical education before I received my master’s degree in exercise science. A few years later I completed my Ph.D. in heath promotion and have been in university settings ever since then. Currently I’m a tenured professor at Brigham Young University. In addition to my teaching, I’ve published over 50 scientific papers and several books on the connections between healthy living and chronic disease prevention.
Jamie: Your research method for The Culprit and the Cure was to take a sabbatical and “read just about every scientific article ever published on nutrition, physical activity, and chronic diseases.” Please describe this process.
Dr. Aldana: During my sabbatical I had time to read many studies I did not know about either from my own research efforts or from my education. My understanding of the science discussed in the book developed over my entire professional life, but it intensified during my sabbatical because I was able to review the science from many disciplines, not just from the exercise or nutrition sciences.
Jamie: What really stood out or surprised you?
Dr. Aldana: Regardless of the discipline (pediatrics, neurology, cardiology, ophthalmology, geriatrics, oncology, etc) there is considerable research that connects a poor diet and sedentary living to a variety of chronic diseases. It is as if good nutrition and regular physical activity are the common denominators of good health.
Jamie: What is a healthy lifestyle?
Dr. Aldana: I do not wish to downplay the importance of emotional health, spirituality, stress, and many other less understood components of wellness, but an objective view of the literature shows that most of the poor health in the industrialized world is due to three things: tobacco use, a poor diet, and physical inactivity. A lifestyle that avoids tobacco use, includes a prudent diet, and regular physical activity will lead to good health. Very few Americans (less than 20%) adhere to this lifestyle; consequently very few Americans are enjoying the health benefits available to them.
Jamie: Why do so few people get the nutrition and exercise they need?
Dr. Aldana: What we eat is largely determined by the cost, taste, and convenience of foods. Some of the reasons we eat so poorly is because of these three factors. Unhealthy foods are generally high in sugar and fats, or highly processed. This makes these foods relatively inexpensive, very tasty, and convenient. Add to this the extremely aggressive advertising and marketing tactics used by food manufacturers and you create an environment that makes is almost impossible to avoid unhealthy foods. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution man has worked to avoid any form of labor by the use of labor saving devices. Automobiles, escalators, and riding lawn mowers are examples of labor saving devices that keep us from moving around. To a large degree, America’s poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyles are an unfortunate side effect of our capitalistic society. Despite our unhealthy food and exercise environment and the advertiser’s pressure to be unhealthy, there is hope. For those who are willing to make improvements in diet and become physically active, life is extended and most chronic diseases are avoided. Even though most Americans do not enjoy these benefits, the number of people who take action and are adopting healthy lifestyles grows steadily. In the 1940’s half of Americans smoked, now that number is down to 22 percent. The same change is occurring with the number of adults who are eating healthy and living actively. Healthy living is becoming more common.
Jamie: What are the benefits of a healthy lifestyle?
Dr. Aldana: Published research shows that a healthy lifestyle will reduce known risk factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol and will provide protection against cancers. These reductions in risk help prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and many other chronic diseases including Alzheimer’s. If these primary killers don’t develop, life span is extended and the quality of life a person has is improved. A healthy lifestyle can add 10-20 years of high quality life.
Jamie: In your book, you draw a direct line from nutrition and exercise to chronic diseases. Seeing such a direct line from nutrition and exercise to chronic disease made quite an impact on me. One benefit I received from the book is a different mindset. Why are mindset and motivation so critical to making lifestyle changes?
Dr. Aldana: Rather than tell people what they should eat I’ve found that if I educate them about why some foods promote good health and why some threaten good health, they are in a much better position to make wise choices. I feel that it is important to empower people with good, accurate information and let them govern themselves. The USDA has been telling people what they should eat for years, which is good, but this message would be even more effective if people could see the evidence for themselves and understand why our bodies do much better with a healthy lifestyle. Many times I get asked how I can be so devoted to eating well and getting exercise. I respond that if they knew what I know, they would probably do the same. Knowledge is a powerful motivator.
Jamie: You’ve written other books on the connections between healthy living, weight loss, and disease prevention. What makes this book different?
Dr. Aldana: My other books are textbooks. They read like textbooks. This book is written for the public. If I can’t get people to read and enjoy the writing, there is no chance anyone will change behaviors. There is also a considerable amount of science that has come out in the past few years and it’s included in this book.
Jamie: You’re on “tour” for this book, but it’s not the typical book signing-at-bookstores tour. Please explain.
Dr. Aldana: For our book tours we are speaking in public meetings at town halls and libraries, doing presentations at universities, and to employee groups as part of their worksite health promotion programming. Most companies have employee wellness or health promotion programs so the information from the book is a natural fit for adults already trying to adopt healthy lifestyles. We are also doing television appearances, radio talk shows, and helping with content for print media.
Jamie: What do you hope people take away from this book?
Dr. Aldana: I hope that people realize that I’m nothing more than a messenger, Yes, I have conducted some of the research that is reviewed, but the majority of the information comes from the best scientific minds in the world. This book can close the gap between what is known about good health and what most Americans actually do. If the book can convince individuals and families to change their diets and become more physically active, I will feel rewarded.
Jamie: What's next for you?
Dr. Aldana: In The Culprit and the Cure, I just scratched the surface on what is known about helping children adopt healthy lifestyles. There is also an enormous amount of information available on seniors and the ability of seniors to experience dramatic improvements in health when they adopt healthy lifestyles. I’ll also be spending a little more time in my large garden.
About the interviewer: Jamie Engle is a freelance writer, book reviewer and book columnist. You can reach her at jamie_engle@comcast.net.
|
|
|
|
|
|
