Why do people always tell me that I'm too young to be worried about my health?

[Kiraskrazy180]

I've been a health freak from the time I was exposed to various diseases, eating disorders, and health issues in the 6th grade when my uncle died from diabetes. My uncle was a very lovable man, and he was obese for as long as he could remember. He was always called "big guy" or "fat boy" his entire life and he instilled in my bro and I to eat well and stay active.

I take about 7-8 vitamins a day, vitamin B-12, Vitamin D3, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Biotin, Iron, Cod-Liver pills, and green tea extracts. I eat AT LEAST two vegetables for dinner and I try to eat a fruit for breakfast and/or lunch. I'm a size 4 jeans and I look very young to be 21. I could pass for 13-14 w/o make-up.

People I hang with call me crazy. They think I'm too young to be that concerned with my health and they'll make comments like "you have to die from something", yes its true. That doesn't mean that because I take a lot of vitamins and I'm relatively healthy that I won't die from anything. I've struggled with my weight as a child for awhile and my uncles death taught me a lot of health risks. I remember shopping for husky as a kid :-)

SO what do you think? Am I pushing it too much for my age?

[EPhantom]

With the vitamins and minerals, maybe a little bit, don't worry about those unless you know you aren't getting them from your diet.

I have a liver condition, thyroid condition, and colon condition, all were unpreventable. and I'm only taking a Centrum a day because I was recently diagnosed with my colon issue and am not sure what I can and cannot eat when it comes to fruits and vegetables at the moment, so I know I am deprived of a lot of vitamins and such.

Eating vegetables is good for you, same with the fruits. So far sounds like you're eating a lot better than most people our age (I'm 22 but am told I look anywhere from 14 from some older nurses when I have to go in, and told I look 18-19 more than anything)

When it comes to diet... I would suggest most people just eat some fruits and veges, a little meat to make sure you get the protein you need (we really don't need a whole bunch like most people eat), for vegetarians please get some egg whites or milk or something just to be on the safe side. And keep high sugar content and high fat/grease content foods to occasional, like, once every three days or so. High sugar will mess with the pancreas, and high fat will mess with the arteries, liver, and gallbladder (though generally mono saturated fats and fish fats are better.)

And remember HUMANS NEED TO EAT FAT. My liver is in HORRIBLE condition and has issues with fatty foods, but if I actually went fat free, it would kill me, it would kill anyone. getting some mono/unsaturated fats from vegetables is VERY healthy for the human body. and some animal fats are good too (just not a ton =p).

and PLEASE make sure you are eating enough to keep your body healthy. eat when you are hungry.

And no offense, but the female body is meant to have a little more fat built in under the skin than males.

1) it makes the skin more shiny

2) it makes a protective layer

3) it most likely is genetic to help prepare the female body for pregnancy.

[Kiraskrazy180]

Thanks a lot. A you a in the medical field? I'm in nursing student.

[EPhantom]

Nope, I'm actually going to a university for a degree in electrical engineering. but because of my conditions I do quite a bit of research on the colon, liver, and gall bladder, pancreas, gut flora, and general health issues.

[Kiraskrazy180]

Thats good.

[martyfellow]

Well, be careful about overdosing, esp. on Vitamin D. A lot of MDS thik that can brin gon problmes later on.

If your diet is healthy, you don't NEED extra stff, so why not stop taking it? Maybe right after a cold or flu, to regain strength, they can be helpful, but otherwise, your body is just not using th eextra amounts and a lot of vitamins aren't stored, so...

But you're never too yung to be concerened about yur health. Most young people are damaging themselves, although the damage won't show up for a few years...

It was too late for your uncle, wasn't it? If he'd started thinking about his health earlier, he wouldn't have died so young like that.

[peace-love-couture]

While I feel the "vitamin B-12, Vitamin D3, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Biotin, Iron, Cod-Live pills" is redundant, because you could basically get the same benefits from a good multivitamin from say, One-A-Day or Centrum, AND Cod-Liver tends to be a high source of Vitamin A and too much Vitamin A is bad, I see nothing wrong with taking precautions and beginning at a young age.

My mom bugs me about taking supplements and exercising and whatnot, but I see the way she and my father are with their ailments and I'm like "I don't want that." Not to say that my multivitamin, fish oil supplements and ground flaxseed will necessarily help with arthritis, but, it's worth a shop to maintain my internal health.

And my mom also gets onto me for being health conscious with my food. For instance, I don't drink cokes, ONLY water. She mocks me because of that. But at the end of the day, my father has diabetes and she has high cholesterol and I definitely want none of those things.

In the end, it's your body and your health. You only have one life and sometimes health can be the make or breaking factor.

[Anonymous]

It's probably the vitamin thing doing it for ya. It's better to get it all from food anyway so if you're really concerned, just focus on eating the right things at the right time and getting regular exercise. Beyond that, don't worry about what people say. They are probably concerned that you may be taking it too far but when it comes to food, it is quite personal, people aren't watching you 24/7, sometimes your family gets you wrong too.

You can see a nutritionist, I'd take their advice over family & friend advice when it comes to health.

If you don't want to draw the attention from people, try not to talk about food if you can. Or keep it on the down low to the ones who critise you for it.

[Prof_Don]

As much as the USA population suffers overall health-wise, you would think that people would SUPPORT you, not condemn you, about your efforts.

I see nothing wrong with those supplements at all. In fact I eat three teaspoons of green tea leaf myself (is a natural antihistamine and I'm an allergy-sufferer). :)

If a person wants to obsess about ANYTHING...choosing your health is the best possible choice, Kira. Like I told my sister (who ironically is a user on this site)...to be a healthy person in this country, you have to be a dietary maverick and accept ridicule from others.

Keep doing what you're doing, Kira. You look absolutely awesome! :)

[martyfellow]

Well, be careful esp wth overdosing on Vitamin D...some MDs thik that can bring on problems. If your diet is healthyyou don't need all that extra stuff, so why not stop taking them?

But you should be thinking of your healthat any age. For your ucle, hey, it was too late, right? Never too early to learn about a healthy lifestyle.

[funkadelic5]

Young people are idiots in general. You should definitely keep it up. You're ahead of the curb. I take a daily vitamin and fish oil, and people think I'm weird. I have friends a couple years younger than me, and they sit around eating sh*t food and chain smoking and f***ing in people's trucks. It's quite sad.

[Kiraskrazy180]

Its good to know that someone my age takes care of their body. I hate it when young adults say "I'm young, I could eat whatever I want". Think again. Diabetes, Obesity, high blood pressure hits you at any age.

[funkadelic5]

Yeah - everyone needs to keep healthy. Do you have a higher metabolism at a younger age? A little bit. But losing fat is just one small aspect of staying healthy!

[Kiraskrazy180]

I have no idea. I lose weight relatively quick and I occasionally work out when I have the time to.

[funkadelic5]

I wasn't asking you personally hahahah. It was a generalized statement. That's why old people say you can eat "whatever you want" - because when you're younger its a little easier to burn fat. But that's one very small component of maintaining health.

[curiouschica]

I don't know about all those vitamins (am not sure how necessary they are), but I think it's admirable for you to care about your health. Honestly, these days I feel as though not enough people care. And some might feel guilty for not caring more when they see your example. So keep up with what you are doing!

[ambertaylor]

Think about it this way, you'd rather be too health concious then not at all so keep it up, you're not doing anything wrong and it will all benefit, right? No worries, it's good that you have this knowledge.

[Kiraskrazy180]

Thanks Amber. I'll stick to it.

[ambertaylor]

You're most welcome! You can never be too healthy in my opinion, you'll be fine. Who cares what everyone else thinks, do it for your own piece of mind and that's what counts.

[Anonymous]

Girl, your fine! I'm right behind you on the health kick and things! I've just started this health kick on losing weight and eating the right vitamins don't let your friends bring you down girl!