You've certainly heard the expression many times, "You are what you eat." Have you ever really thought about what it means? And do you think about it when you're making food choices?

You've certainly heard the expression many times, "You are what you eat." Have you ever really

thought about what it means? And do you think about it when you're making food choices?

In some ways, we do become what we eat, literally. Have you ever seen an example of your blood

plasma after eating a fast food hamburger? What was previously a clear liquid becomes cloudy

with the fat and cholesterol that's absorbed from eating a high-fat hamburger.

And when you think about it, we also become what we don't eat. When we switch from eating

meat to a vegetarian-based diet, we become less fat, less prone to many types of cancers. Our

cholesterol can improve. When we're leaner and eating fewer animal products, then many other

health and fitness issues are reduced. The incidence of Type II diabetes is reduced. Blood

pressure falls into normal ranges. When you're healthier, you're taking fewer medications. Even if

you have a prescription drug benefit in your health plan, you're still saving money with fewer

co-payments on medications.

If you have a family history of high cholesterol or high blood pressure, then it's particularly

incumbent on you to revise your eating habits. Moving towards a more vegetarian diet has been

shown statistically to reduce the incidence of so many of the diseases of industrialized countries.

Vegetarians are statistically healthier than omnivorous persons; they're leaner and live longer.

Isn't it time to think about what you want to be and to eat accordingly? Do you want to be

sluggish and fat? Do you want the risk that goes with eating animal products, with their high fat

content? Or do you want to look like and be what vegetarians are? Leaner and fitter with a longer

anticipated lifespan. It's never too late to change what you're doing and increase your chances

for a longer, fitter life.