Health and Wellness

Why Your Health Deserves More Attention than Your Car

Many people seem to take care of their cars better than they take care of themselves.

While this may not be true for all people it certainly is true for many. And the most disheartening part is that these same people are oblivious to the extent of their neglect and ignorance.

For all you car owners out there… answer this: Is it wise to use the wrong engine oil? Would you “feed” your car diesel if the manual said to use regular gasoline?

You get the gist of where this is going, right?

That being the case… why would the human body deserve less attention? Why provide inaccurate care/shoddy maintenance for our very existence?

Yet that is exactly what happens when people load up on ultra-processed fake foods. They consume excessive amounts of sugar.

This consumption leads them down the path towards insulin resistance. It also triggers the metabolic diseases that follow.

They drink beverages that have zero value, fueling up on fructose laden detrimental liquids.

They consume more alcohol and added sugar then their own livers can handle.

They eat ultra-processed fast foods that even scavenger birds reject.

Ironically, these same people bring their cars in for regular tuneups and maintenance. They may park at a safe distance from other motorists to avoid dings and scratches. They regularly wash and wax their precious vehicles, often by hand because car washes might produce fine scratches over time. Furthermore, they’ll rust proof the undercarriage before they drive over salted winter roads.

  • Do they think this is excessive behavior?
  • Do they see themselves as odd or obsessive?

No!

But let a “health-nut” point out the harmful effects of seed oils and they’ll come unglued.

So…

Here’s the question…

Do you take care of your car or truck better than you take care of your nutritional and fitness needs? Be honest!

And…

Are you guiding your children (if you have children) towards making good healthy choices?

Surely the human body deserves to be treated with the same respect and dignity as cars and trucks. It should receive this minimal level of care… at the very least.

We don’t come with an owners’ manual…. therefore, many of us abuse the life within ourselves (you know… all those millions of cells and microbes) because of ignorance.

  • We didn’t know that seed oils were producing oxidative stress on our bodies. We were told they were “healthier” than saturated fats. We believed the trusted establishments… the experts. Now many of those experts are retracting their former instructions.
  • We didn’t have all the facts about diabetes (type 2). Visit the American Diabetes Association website and review its recently updated guidelines. They fall short of saying chronic insulin exposure is the primary cause… but they are acknowledging insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia as early contributors to disease progression.
  • We didn’t know that upwards of 70% of the “food stuffs” in typical grocery stores are processed or ultra-processed. But now… thanks to the internet we have access to the facts. It’s easy to do the research. A bit harder to make dietary changes (think of habits to break).

This ‘progress’ is encouraging. Kind of reminds us of that famous 1969 quote…

In other words… health knowledge is power. Knowledge will win out. It brings change.

So, let’s think positively as we press forward towards health and wellness.

While we didn’t have all the facts we should realize that we are responsible for our own health. And the great news… it’s never too late. Eating REAL food, getting moderate amount of exercise, and adequate sleep is within our reach.

Oh… no worries, no one says we need to neglect our modes of transportation. Go ahead… wash and wax to your heart’s content. In fact… it’s exercise. YAY You!

Suzanne writes children’s fiction stories that encourage kids to make healthy choices. Visit her author page for a complete list of her books.

Thanks for the visit.

Children's Health · Health and Wellness · Kids Books · Lifestyle Changes · Parenting

Reviving Kids’ Love for Reading and Health

Only 1 in 3 kids, aged 8-18, say they enjoy reading in their free time. Reading — for enjoyment — is at its lowest point in 20 years. Interestingly, children’s overall health is also at it’s lowest point. (54% of US kids have at least one chronic disease)

This should come as a “canary in the coal mine” warning for parents, teachers and… children’s authors.

Furthermore… according to the National Literacy Trust… many children associate reading with endurance rather than enjoyment. Reading! A drudgery! How is that even possible?

Additionally, it’s not only about how often kids read. It’s more about a lack of motivation and emotional connection with books.

Again—as an early warning—kids losing their love for fiction indicates a larger, more serious problem. Could this issue parallel their general declining energy and health?

Question: Why is this growing lack of interest in reading, and declining health among today’s youth happening now?

Too Much Screen Time
  • Digital influences are constant distractions for kids.
  • Bite-size posts and videos provide instant gratification
  • Reading – by comparison – seem tedious and less stimulating
  • To Do: Provide structured environment. Set daily limits, establish screen-free zones (before bed, during meals, face-to-face conversation), physical screen-free-zones (kid’s bedroom), stop non-stop background TV. Encourage new habits. Promote hobbies, sports, encourage reading time. Plan family time, and get outdoors.
Too Hard to Connect With Literary Content
  • Reading feels like schoolwork
  • Books might not connect with their interests
  • Books mean searching and searching takes time and effort
  • To Do: Help kids find books on topics they like. Read aloud, even as they get older. Use, but limit time spent on audiobooks to build vocabulary.
Too Difficult/Too Frustrating
  • Reading requires comprehension and can be embarrassing or frustrating for kids who do not reach their age levels
  • Feeling overwhelmed if content is too complex for their reading abilities
  • Feel defeated before they even start
  • To Do: Let kids pick books they enjoy. Set up a quiet time to read with them. Do not criticize. Instead, celebrate achievements regardless how small. If possible create a comfortable reading space.
Too Busy
  • Kids have schedules and extracurricular activities that compete with reading time
  • Homework takes up valuable time away from reading for enjoyment
  • To Do: Keep interesting books handy. Encourage some reading as part of the bedtime routine. Use car rides as an opportunity to read. Model reading as an enjoyable moment in an otherwise busy day.

Then Factor In The Need for Kids’ Health Awareness

If we want children to understand the chronic diseases that might affect them… Then guess what? Reading is involved. Yikes.

Parents, teachers, and children’s authors must-of necessity-become much more creative.

If regular fiction is BORING and a CHALLENGE to one third of today’s kids, then how can health-awareness fit in?

Additionally, where would fitness guidance, in book-form, fit in?

To Do: Support a Developing New Genre of Fiction for Kids: Health-focused Kid Heroes

Introducing Suzanne Rightley’s Kid Heroes…

Brea

Brea, aka Granola Brea, is a 12-year-old girl who is driven by health. She aspires to become a consumer advocate when she grows up. In the meantime – she keeps busy. She writes a monthly article for her local paper. Brea holds a summer job as a camp nutrition counselor for at-risk teens. She also hosts a kids health-based podcast.

Find Brea’s Books on Amazon: Granola Brea Health-nut Series; The Granola Experience

Nevin Smarts

Nevin, aka Nerdy Nev and/or Smartypants (not his preferred nickname for obvious reasons). Nev has a high IQ. He has several distinct goals, all of which sees him attending university for a few years. In the meantime, high school is providing practical experience in promoting health to his peers. Is it smooth-sailing? Ah… not so much, but nothing keeps this health-nerd down.

Learn more about Nevin on Amazon: “Ask a Nerd” Smarts Health; “Ask a Nerd” Smarts Health Habits

Maxine

Maxine, aka Maxie is dedicated to nutrition and fitness… and for good reason. She’s healthy now – thankfully, but that wasn’t always true. Her story is in developing stages as this blog is being written. Stay tuned for her first book in 2026.

Learn more about Suzanne’s books on her author page.

Health and Wellness · Lifestyle Changes

Becoming Your Own Health Manager: A Guide to Taking Charge of Your Wellness

At what age should you seriously consider being the manager of your own health? Your twenties? Thirties? Forties? Your sixties?

The short answer… today. Today is the day you should firm up your commitment to becoming ‘in charge’ of your health and wellness. If you’re alive… as in breathing, regardless of your age… now is the optimum time to add Health Manager to your resume.

Think of your health as you would a job and begin to reap the benefits almost immediately. No kidding.

To Do…

Get Educated

As with any employment, being well educated means being better qualified. When it comes to your health…acquiring the best and most comprehensive education is vital to your overall performance. Thankfully, the resources are plentiful and easily accessible… think Internet. (YouTube videos are very informative)

Focus on the Key Components of Your Education

There are several ‘courses’ to choose from and the sky is the limit when it comes to acquiring an education in all things health. Consider the following key aspects…

A Healthy Diet

  • The quick and lazy method would have you accepting the basic food guidelines provided by the so called ‘experts’.
  • However, a more thorough search, which does require your time and enery, would expose the errors, misconceptions, and possibly the deceptiveness of these guidelines.
  • Do your ‘due diligence’ here and you won’t regret it. Don’t allow the sheer number of diets and diet plans to overwhelm you. Choosing low carb, carnivore, keto, mediterranean, and so forth will come easier once you’ve taken the time to understand the basic food groups, which are: protein, carbohydrates, and fats.
  • Get familiar with how these food groups help establish your health and wellbeing. Understand how they benefit the body and learn to prioritize according to your body’s basic needs. Hint: carbs shouldn’t dominate the day. So prepare yourself (give yourself a mental headshake)… cut the cookies, donuts, crackers, bagels, and other ‘fun’ stuff that you’ve come to rely upon during coffee breaks. It takes time, but well worth the effort.
  • Quick tip: If what you want to eat comes wrapped with a lengthy label…odds are that this ‘food’ is not actually ‘food’ but an ultra-processed substitute. So… focus on real food and … wait for it … learn to cook ‘real food’ at home!
  • Renowned functional medicine expert, Dr. Mark Hyman, has the following to say…

Consistent Exercise and Movement

  • Contrary to popular opinion, exercise does not need to be a drudgery or a painful process. Well…okay…there can be some pain (sore muscles) but not the torturous pain designed to kill you.
  • The benefits of exercise are..well.. phenomenal. No joke! Many more doctors have come fully onboard and they’ll tell you that regular exercise is super important towards achieving health and wellness and a leading method to decrease all cause mortality (that word alone makes a person shiver).
  • Exercise ranks higher than pharmaceuticals when dealing with depression and studies now show that regular activity helps cognitive improvements and greatly lessens the likelihood of developing various forms of dementia in later life.
  • Prominent physician and longevity expert, Dr. Peter Attia says it well…

Sleep and Relaxation (aka… meditation)

  • Getting your Zzzzs can’t be overemphasized. Research has shown that many necessary bodily functions occur when we sleep, including a major cleaning… really! It’s like your brain is so busy during the day that, like a busy office, the garbage collects. During sleep hours, the cleanup crew get their shot at setting the place to rights before the next busy day begins.
  • Quality sleep helps in many ways: corrects and stabilizes immune function, disease resistance and overall well-being, including mood.
  • Mindful breathing calms the mind and body and may alleviate depression and anxiety by promoting relaxation and stress reduction.
  • Deep breathing may enhance focus and cognitive performance; it may positively impact mood and happiness, and… mindful/deep breathing may lower blood pressure, improve overall cardiovascular, better lung function to oxygenate the body.
  • Quotes from Matthew Walker’s book: “Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams…

In conclusion:

Metabolic related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and obesity, to name a few, are steadily increasing. These types of problems are so widespread, we’ve almost come to the point of acceptance, as though it is inevitable to develop some sort of chronic disease.

But this need not be the case.

Those who choose to become managers of their own health – those who make their own fitness and wellness a lifelong job will undoubtedly reap benefits far beyond their expectations.

If you do not have ‘personal health manager’ on your life’s resume, the time couldn’t be better to begin the process of self-improvement.

You won’t regret it.

Suzanne Rightley is an author of childrens’ fiction. Her books are written for independent readers, ages 7-15 and can be found on Amazon. Her Granola Brea Series is an ongoing effort to enlighten today’s youth to make positive health and wellness choices for themselves.

Thanks for the visit.