Do we want to embrace prevention?  Sometimes it seems not. How much motivation is necessary to encourage us to improve our prevention habits? I don’t know the answer to these questions, but I do know the numbers tell us that it’s worth our efforts to choose preventive practices.

The other day I was on the elliptical machine at the gym and next to me was a man walking on a treadmill. The man has had a heart attack and is on his third pacemaker; he’s not old, but for some reason his pacemakers have not held up well. In front of us was a television show that someone else had left on. Shortly after arriving a commercial started; it was for some gadget that made desserts. The ingredients were atrocious. I said to the man walking on the treadmill, “None of that’s very good for you, right?” He said, “There’re many things I no longer eat.” Then the irony of what we just said hit me – I was stunned by our two-sentence interchange. I thought, “Is that really good for anyone?” Sure I think a treat now and then is fine, but eating those fudes/food-like substances are in actual fact, not good for us. My thoughts took me to thoughts of prevention. It is a little strange that so many of us eat so poorly until something drastic happens, then some of us change our habits, while others would rather die than change; they say it, they mean it. Sometimes I read stories about people who turn their lives around. But sometimes I read or know someone who doesn’t get the chance to make new decisions. The damage is done.

Once you’ve had a debilitating stroke, or have cancer, or a heart attack it’s often difficult to deal with results of prior habits. If we’re lucky enough to internalize the need of preventive health, we may be able to avoid a considerable amount of pain and suffering. I really believe the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” For some it takes an announcement from the doctor (you have ‘X’) or enduring the loss of function to get us motivated. The motivation problem is not new; a Catalan Proverb is translated into: “From the bitterness of disease man learns the sweetness of health.” This proverb may explain part of the problem; we just don’t value our health until it has been taken from us.

Speaking of prevention, just recently I read a new Tufts University study led by Adela Hruby, PhD, which found a correlation between diets rich in magnesium and slower progression to diabetes. It’s published in Diabetes Care. What’s extra interesting is that the study found that those at the greatest risk of developing diabetes benefit the most; so that may be a substantial motivator, if you just happen to know the ravages of diabetes upon a human body – you know you want to avoid having diabetes.

The study focused upon singling out magnesium to find the link between magnesium and a lower risk of developing diabetes. (Nutritionism, using one player to explain the success of a whole team, lives on, in even good scientific circles). Although the researchers tried to single out magnesium, many of the foods that are high in magnesium are also high in many other nutrients, including potassium, fiber and antioxidants. It’s hard to know if magnesium is working together with other nutrients in the magnesium-containing foods to cause the overall benefit. If I were to make the call, I’d say eat the foods and forget taking magnesium supplements.

It’s almost comedy to read the list of foods that are high in magnesium. The list includes: seeds; ready-to-eat bran or shredded-wheat breakfast cereals; nuts and nut butters, dark chocolate (more than 70% cocoa); fish; cooked green leafy vegetables; whole grains, like oats, quinoa, and brown rice; and beans. Why do I think it’s so funny for me to read the list of foods high in magnesium?  Remember the articles on the Mediterranean-style of eating? These list of foods containing magnesium and the list of Mediterranean-style foods coincide quite closely.

If we want to prevent diabetes and all of it’s resulting effects, why not just enjoy fresh foods and the Mediterranean-style of eating? Think about what would motivate you to move toward a healthier eating style. Maybe just envisioning yourself at a relatively old age still being able to do the things you enjoy. Staying vital for many years is a real motivator for countless persons.