Finding the True Underlying Cause Behind Many of the Chronic Health Problems of Today with Nutritional Coach Travis Zipper

While diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases may feel they are completely different conditions and unrelated, there is actually a boat load of extensive evidence to suggest that they all correlate directly with a person’s lifestyle choices. From smoking to eating a poor diet and a lack of physical activity, there are various preventative measures individuals can take to mitigate their risk of developing almost every chronic health issue of today.

As a professional nutrition coach and functional practitioner Travis Zipper has worked with over 2000 nutrition clients in both a functional and conventional medicine setting. As the Founder and Owner of the newly founded Wellfitz Mentorship, Travis Zipper wants to speak about the underlying causes behind many of the chronic health problems, and how you can start to immediately address them.

Fighting Chronic Illness

According to the World Health Organization, chronic diseases are the major cause of death and disability worldwide. Travis Zipper explains that chronic disease includes cardiovascular diseases (mainly heart disease and stroke), cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and others (including bone and joint disorders, oral diseases, genetic disorders). Most of these chronic diseases are correlated with lifestyle choices and are considered preventable. A major part of that prevention is going to require instilling certain lifestyle habits into your life, the first of which is exercise.

Regular Physical Activity

Regular physical activity helps improve your overall health, fitness and quality of life. Travis Zipper explains that whether you are engaging in high intensity interval training (HIIT), aerobic activity or muscle strengthening, a regular regiment of these types of strenuous exercise can reduce your risk of heart disease, arthritis, cancer, and diabetes. Regular exercise can lower your blood pressure, help maintain a healthy weight and reduce cholesterol. Research has found that taking a long walk after eating a high-fat meal or even high-carb meal can actually help reverse damage to blood vessels. In addition, studies show that exercise is a safe and effective way to reduce pain and stiffness in people suffering from arthritis, as a lack of exercise can actually to the exact opposite and accelerate the disease.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that regular exercise may lower your risk of certain types of cancer. Fitness can also play a major role in maintaining normal blood-glucose levels and in reducing or postponing many long-term cardiovascular complications. Another great preventative measure that can be employed to do the same is a healthy change in a person’s diet.

Proper Diet and Nutrition

If there was one diet that everyone agreed on for better health and as a preventative measure against chronic illness, there wouldn’t be as much confusion as there is today. Dietary beliefs aside, almost all nutrition and dietary experts will agree that an increase in plant-based foods and the reduction in all highly processed carbohydrate-containing foods and sugars is a great place to start. Travis Zipper explains that sugar and carbohydrates will trigger the elevation of blood glucose levels, which can cause inflammation in the body and also cause insulin-resistance, which can lead to diabetes and other chronic health issues if not managed properly. As an example, while fruit is often thought of as a healthy food, a lot of fruits today are a lot sweeter than those of the past, as we have selectively bred them to be this way. For example, one cup of grapes is equivalent to half a can of Coke in terms of sugar content. So, even though fruits have tons of health benefits, it should be also used in moderation and the focus should be on eating more vegetables, legumes, nuts, healthy fats, and a healthy serving of protein 1–2 times per day.

Lastly, a person should avoid any external toxic substances such as alcohol or smoking, as these can have a major impact on a person’s health for the worst. Tobacco, for example is the single largest avoidable health risk and most significant cause of premature death worldwide. Despite their overall negative health impact, these habits can also make it more difficult to adopt a healthy eating and exercise regimen. All important points to keep in mind when embarking on any form of a health journey