Scared straight: Kicking the junk food habit

Scared straight: Kicking the junk food habit

When it comes to a reality check, there’s nothing like a blood test to establish a benchmark on the status of your health. That’s the first step in the four-week Coronary Health Improvement Project, better known as CHIP.
On Friday, July 11, those of us who had signed up for the lifestyle improvement program showed up at Maplewood for our first of two heart screens. The second one will take place at the end of the program, Friday, Aug. 8.

The first session got under way at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 14. The group will continue to meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, through Aug. 7, with graduation Thursday, Aug. 14.

Although I thought I knew all about heart disease, I didn’t know as much as I thought I did. Our program director, Jere Clayburn, does a good job of explaining each night’s lesson. Linda Vigil provides food samples and recipes. Each DVD presentation is conducted by program founder Dr. Hans Diehl, who brings to light more and more facts about heart disease and its prevention.

It’s hard to believe that affluent countries have a higher rate of heart disease than many third world countries. Why? Because of our diet. Over and over and over again, scientists have demonstrated a diet rich in saturated fat and cholesterol leads to heart disease. How to reverse it? A plant-based diet and exercise. Interestingly enough, as a country becomes more affluent, its rate of heart disease increases.

Each week Leader reporter Kay Johnson will update readers on her experiences with the CHIP program. Stay tuned.

To read more, see the print edition of the Hutchinson Leader for Tuesday, July 22, 2008.

Kay Johnson is a staff writer at the Hutchinson Leader. She can be reached at johnson@hutchinsonleader.com).