How healthy is your family tree?

Thanksgiving and your family’s health

It’s November and Thanksgiving Day is only a week away! I love Thanksgiving. It’s a day for family and friends to get together, share stories, enjoy a wonderful meal, and give thanks for all that’s good in our lives.

This year, though, when you’re sharing stories with relatives, you might also want to ask some questions about the health-history of your family.

Why? Because your family health-history can be important to your health and the health of your children and grandchildren. That’s why the U.S. Surgeon General has declared Thanksgiving Day – the day when many Americans are visiting with relatives – to be National Family History Day.

Family members who are blood-relatives share the same genes. Sometimes, too, they share the same behaviors, lifestyles, and environments. All those factors may affect their risk of developing health problems. There is a free web-based tool called My Family Health Portrait that can help organize all the information you collect. Check it out here

Ok, so now that you are aware of a bit of health-history on the branches of your family tree…

What can you do to reduce your risk?

  • Regular check-ups with your family physician are a great start. Share your family-health history so your doctor can help you understand your risks and help you take steps toward prevention.
  • Follow a well-balanced diet and get fit! Diet and exercise can help keep you and your family healthy and can help reduce the risk for numerous diseases, both environmental and genetic.

Thanksgiving dinner is ready? Ok, Ok…go enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner with your loved ones, but don’t forget to take note of important conversations about your family health-history.

As we head into December and toward the start of a new year, there’s no better time to reassess our habits and make a renewed commitment to healthy food choices and to a regular exercise routine.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving!

Yours in Fitness,

Colleen Ketchum, Founder of the BeyondBarre Method
& Owner of the BeyondBarre Method Flagship location – Pilates In Motion Fitness Studio