I can’t tell you how many people I’ve heard echo that sentiment. When asked about their lifestyle and the food choices they make, their answer is: “well, something is going to kill me in the end, I might as well have fun in the meantime.”

I think people often don’t realize the enormous power they have over the way they feel and the state of their health. For many, life is something that happens to them and they go to great lengths to make the most of opportunities and enjoyment without worrying about the long-term consequences. They believe that they are given a certain number of days here on earth, and they are going to make the most of it, even eating whatever they want because it tastes good and they crave it.

Well, sorry to disagree. After giving up coffee and chocolate for Lent, I allowed myself Easter Sunday, the official end of the “fast.” Ooh, that first cup of coffee tasted good, and so did the second. Sure, I enjoyed it at the time, and what the heck, I deserved two pieces of chocolate cheesecake for dessert after going so long without sweets, but let me tell you, Monday morning I felt like I was hungover. I was slow and out of it all day.

I know what sugar does to the body, but I didn’t care, and boy did I pay for it the next day. My brain chemistry was so messed up that I began to wonder what was wrong with me. Fortunately, I had enough common sense to make healthy food choices on Monday, so by Tuesday I was able to think clearly again and realized how badly I had thrown my body’s balance out of balance with that day of “to hell with that” mentality. . I kept thinking about all the people who spend every day like this, because surely they are not going to deprive themselves because “they are going to die anyway”.

It saddens me to know that so many people live like this day after day. Unconsciously or consciously, they ruin their health by the bad decisions they make. Yes, you’re going to die anyway, but why not feel good until that happens? Even if you’re older and feel like you’ve earned the right to eat whatever you want, wouldn’t you rather be pain-free and energized while you’re still here? I know of a number of elderly parents who are currently taking anywhere from 7 to 29 different medications for a myriad of conditions, many of which could be remedied through nutrition, but damn, they’ve earned the right to eat whatever they want, and they will enjoy as long as they can. Therefore, they prefer to trust doctors to prescribe another pill every time a new symptom and pain appear, rather than simply changing their eating habits.

I plan to live a long time (God willing) and will do everything I can to make sure my body has a chance to stay healthy and feel good. Sure, I’ll indulge here or there, but I’ll most likely make a quick recovery because my body is for the most part in a healthy balance. The way I see it, I’m going to eat what sustains me, because “I’m going to live anyway.”

If you, on the other hand, live in the reality of “I’m going to die anyway”, I have a little challenge for you. For a month (which is like the blink of an eye in the grand scheme of things), commit to making healthy choices. Cut down, or better yet, eliminate coffee and soft drinks, and drink half your body weight in ounces of water every day. If you weigh 160 pounds, drink 80 ounces of water. Eliminate most of the sugar and refined white carbohydrates. Choose alkaline foods (acid/alkaline food charts can be found online) and try to get some exercise every day. After the 30 days, see how you feel and decide if you would rather not live to live than live to die.