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The Chef’s Rx: Notes on How the Physician Heals Himself by Ihor M agun, M .D ., F.A .C.P. The title of this month’s article may have some readers wondering what all of this has to do with my usual focus on medical topics for non medical people. The answer is quite simple: Doctors are people too and not so different from the patients they treat and advise. And while most of us try to set a good example and encourage their patients to choose healthy lifestyles and eat healthful foods, not all of us practice what we preach and most of us don’t practice what we preach all the time. We are, after all, human and that means we sometimes can’t help indulging ourselves in behavior and foods that are less than perfect for maintaining good health. The basic fact is, as physicians, we are just as vulnerable to disease and health problems as other people. Sometimes we address these problems quickly; at other times, we ignore them just as all people choose to do. On occasion, we overreact, and match our patients in imagining the worst case scenario. Just like our patients, we sometimes get too busy or lazy to exercise or we eat and drink things that are not designed for optimal health. All of this was brought home to me during a recent medical conference where I had the opportunity to meet and chat with a world famous chef. Ever wonder what world famous chefs cook for themselves at home? Do they meticulously prepare meals that are worthy of Michelin's famous stars or do they favor simpler, easier meals and leave the stars for restaurant patrons? I wondered and I asked. The answer I got surprise me and led to some interesting thoughts on healthy living at the dinner table and beyond. The chef I spoke with described his own meals at home and also told me about the typical home menus of many of his famous colleagues. In a nutshell, the foods these famous chefs prefer to make in their own kitchens are simple, healthy, and prepared very quickly. They focus on comfort food in the winter months and an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, invariably local produce, during the warmer months. Simplicity and freshness are the keys, catering to basic human needs and wants rather than something more exotic. One of the reasons for this, I was informed, is that some of the more exotic cuisine is logistically impossible in a home kitchen because it requires special equipment that is seldom useful for any other purpose. Special equipment aside, the physician in me immediately saw his response as a sensible approach to meal planning in any kitchen! Like those famous gourmet chefs, we should all focus on meals that are simple, fresh, and healthy. Good nutrition is one of the most basic and important parts of our lives, and good food choices help protect long-term health. As with previous articles, this one encourages balance— while it is fun and tasty to deviate from set dietary patterns now and again, not even world-class chefs indulge in rich and fancy cuisine every day. The encounter with the chef was a reminder that balance is the key to many other lifestyle choices as well. And much of this “balance” means paying attention to the fact that daily life can be filled with good patterns that maintain optimal health. Balance, for example, means reminding myself (as a physician and as a human being) that there are good, ordinary, and simple things we can all do to take better care of ourselves every day. One of these is to pay attention to what our bodies tell us, ask questions, get routine check ups, and choose lifestyles (and foods) that are healthy. Another is a healthy workout, at any age. It is something I practice as well as preach and I find it is not only an outlet for tension but a great energy booster. Like healthy food choices, it should be a natural part of daily life— for me, it is a choice that says “I want to do this because it will make me feel better and contributes to a better quality of life.” One inherent aspect of being a physician is the unique interaction and communication I have with a patient. It is a give and take process that usually makes both people feel better. But I have discovered that good interaction and communication does not have to be profession specific nor does it have to be limited to words. Sometimes the balancing act means proactive body language. You shouldn't just go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to throw things back. And
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