Trying to Live Like Chris Traeger (From “Parks and Recreation”)
Questioning health fads and sources
Story by RACHEL POSTLEWAIT
Any fan of the television show “Parks and Recreation” is familiar with the excessively positive, health-obsessed character, Chris Traeger, played by Rob Lowe. He firmly believes he will be the first person to live to 150 years old, while also dramatically realizing his own mortality (several times) like when he catches the common cold. While over-the-top at times, his awareness and care for his body is something we could all take notes on.
Care for our bodies comes in many forms: the food we eat, the medicine we take, the way we exercise and care for our minds. The balance of these is what I believe to be the key to longevity, but we must be cautious of what health sources we put our trust in. I have struggled with this and gone into spiraling states of doubt. Consequently, I have become quite a skeptic in regards to people’s health advice.
Do we trust beautiful celebrities who appear to have the key to ultimate health (cough, Gwyneth Paltrow, cough)? Do we trust the doctors receiving commissions from pharmaceutical companies? What about the products that line the shelves claiming to detox you or make you glow? The Paleo diet? The gluten-free diet? Everywhere I turn someone or something is claiming to have all the answers, and it is so easy to fall victim. I don’t have the answers and I don’t believe anyone really does (or at least not for certain).
Many health fads rely solely on anecdotal evidence as opposed to hard science. If someone goes gluten-free, maybe it’s because they have heard positive stories or are trying to lose weight (not because of being diagnosed Coeliac). Then, say they get the results they wanted, attributing it to their new diet. This is an example of the idea of causation by correlation. Just because someone lost weight doesn’t mean it necessarily correlates to what they think caused it; it isn’t a controlled experiment. The things we actually know for certain through scientific consensus are few and far between, especially in terms of health.
What CHAPS me is that people will go to crazy extremes and make drastic health choices based on something flimsy, but then ignore the proven science. Exclusion and restriction of foods may be far more detrimental to your health than beneficial.
Everyone should embrace uncertainty in their lives a little more. It can feel opposing to our human instincts; we want simple answers. We want to know the one thing that will solve all our problems. It’s just annoying to accept this isn’t how it works.
My grandmother, who has struggled with diverticulitis — when parts of the colon become infected or inflamed due to diet — all her life. She recently faced a health scare when she had to have a colostomy. The colostomy was a result of the diverticulitis worsening and the colon not functioning properly. So doctors went in and diverted a piece of the colon to an artificial opening in the abdominal wall and attached a bag for waste (she was not happy about this). Diet directly affects this condition.
Not long after her surgery, I joined her at the hospital during her dinner time and we made our way to the dining room. The menu included an obviously previously frozen fish sandwich, a brownie, some soup with probably no nutritional value and an array of other lousy choices. I tried to keep my cool. Later, she asked if I could get her bottled water from the vending machine, so I began a quest that ended in rows and rows of Coca-Cola products. There were plenty of soda options, but no water. In a hospital — the one place meant to be centered around healing and yet no fresh food in sight! Not to speak on his behalf, but I believe Chris Traeger would feel my pain.
I firmly believe that food has power. I love repeating cliche phrases and annoying my friends,“You ARE what you EAT,” “The greatest wealth is health!” and “Everything in moderation!” For them, it gets old quick. But really, I am reminding myself. Our bodies are crazy, high-functioning powerhouses and with the right fuel, the potential is boundless. Look at bodybuilders or professional athletes, molding their bodies for aesthetic or performance. I’ve heard stories of people reversing chronic diseases through diet change. The things we consume: food, air, information, directly impact our minds and bodies.
My advice: take everything with a grain of salt. Do your own research. Be a little skeptical, but don’t live in fear. Eat a variety of things (mostly plants) and eat what makes you happy. Live a little like Chris Traeger, but throw in some Leslie Knope and Tom Haverford to keep your sanity.