(PIC)'Healthy, Wealthy and Wise' as the old saying goes. Without good health, the rest doesn't really matter. Scotland County's 2nd to last placing in the State's latest Health rankings is but one more sign that we're headed in the wrong direction and change is needed.

Are more government funded consumer education programs the answer? Should government pass more rules? Do we need additional government regulation?

The fact is Good Health largely depends upon decisions we as individuals make each day. Healthy lifestyle choices are only a few keystrokes away, as the Internet is filled with great information, articles and tips on how to live healthier, longer and for less money.

Between the time the captain (of an ocean going oil tanker) orders the helmsman to change course and the desired change is achieved, the ship will have traveled at least six miles. If calamity is to be avoided, the captain must think ahead, have a plan and implement it.

It's no different for us. We must first desire to become healthy, then we must develop a realistic plan and implement it. Lastly, we must give it time to succeed.

Obesity is the number two cause (behind smoking) of many of life's most debilitating and catastrophic ailments. Fortunately, our weight is almost 100% dependent upon the number of calories we take in each day, versus the number of calories we expend. If we take in more than we expend, we will gain weight, if the same, we will maintain our weight, if less, we will lose weight.

If we are slightly overweight our plan may take just a couple of months to reach its goal, but if we are obese or morbidly obese, it could take a year or more. Slow and steady will get the job done.

Diets, especially fad diets, are rarely successful. Lost pounds tend to come right back, often with a vengeance. A healthy dietary plan will shed those extra pounds and keep them off.

Only 21% of shoppers read <strong>ingredient labels</strong> before purchasing grocery items. Sugars (of any kind), including high fructose sweeteners, are believed to be the single most important factor leading to obesity and diabetes, and are suspected of promoting the growth and spread of cancer.

It's not just about our sugar intake from outside sources either, many foods such as pastas turn into sugars during the digestive process.

Diet sodas and other 'diet' foods don't help either, as our body continues to crave the energy it needs until satisfied. Some evidence even suggests that ingredients commonly found in many 'diet' products could be responsible for the explosion we're seeing in Pancreatic Cancer, which is largely fatal within months of diagnoses.

Visit our <span style="color: #0000ff;">Healthy Living</span> section to learn more and follow the latest trends and breakthroughs. There's never been a better time to be alive, and it's never been easier to enjoy good health.    <span style="color: #0000ff;">
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