Publisher’s Points to Ponder: A life-changing analogy

I read about the massive container ship stuck in the Suez Canal a couple of weeks ago. This single ship clogged a vital waterway that halted productivity for various suppliers. This one ship was not only responsible for increasing delays already caused by the Coronavirus pandemic but also for a billion-dollar loss—just one ship.

This stuck ship made me ponder about the arteries in the human body and the impact one clogged artery can have on one’s health. Just one blocked artery can adversely impact your entire body, causing either a fatality or an expensive repair. Our body comprises many arteries and veins that allow blood and oxygen flow to keep us alive. If we fail to maintain a healthy lifestyle, our arteries become occluded, requiring surgery to clear the blockage.

My dearest brother recently had bypass surgery to clear his LAD artery. The LAD is the artery that is commonly blocked and commonly repaired with bypass surgery that is performed more than 200,000 times each year in the United States, according to Texas Heart Institute. This increase may be a result of an aging population or an overindulging population, among other things. I am not a cardiologist, but a medical degree is not required to see that our diet impacts how our heart functions; and our diet has changed significantly during the past 30 years. For example, my brother does not eat the same way he did when he was younger. He is not overweight and does not live a sedentary lifestyle, but his main artery was blocked primarily because of his diet. The thought of losing my brother made me realize the importance of living a healthier life and encouraging others to get on the health bandwagon with me.

The wrong foods increase cholesterol that— along with fat and other substances—cause a buildup of plaque, narrowing the arteries. Food that has high saturated fats contribute to blocked arteries. This includes processed meats such as sausage, bologna and hot dogs. It also includes dairy products such as milk, butter and cheese—oh my cheese!

It is up to you to decide which foods you need to reduce or eliminate from your diet to live longer. I am in no way qualified to offer any medical advice. I am only offering a thought to ponder. Is a longer, healthier life worth the sacrifice?