Quaker Oatmeal
4
Some years ago, not knowing much about my genetic history, I went for a physical and was told that my cholesterol was higher than it should be. Not high enough to start taking medication at that point, but something I was going to need to watch in the future. I was astonished; while I've admittedly abused my share of alcohol and other problematic chemicals over the years, I've also worked out regularly with weights (never touched a steroid, might I add) and ran pretty regularly. At the time of the physical I had slackened off the exercise program for awhile (I was going out with my neighbor at the time, and figured, "Ah, she loves me like I am...why do I need to stay in shape?" Needless to say, we broke up not too long afterward), but was still chagrined by the diagnosis. I stupidly asked the doctor, "What causes this?" My doctor, a blunt guy who didn't mince words, replied, "Shitty genes. Look, step up your exercise, take a baby aspirin every day, and watch what you eat, and we'll see." So I did. I began eating salmon, watching the amount of crappy food I ate and decreasing it, consuming oatmeal, virgin olive oil, etc. Oatmeal, to me, is tasteless gunk, but a little milk and honey (literally) can "spice" it up, at least somewhat. A year or 2 later, I was contacted by my genetic mother and the re-union has gone great, but it turns out the doctor was right. Rather than list the diseases I'm genetically susceptible to (at least on my maternal side; my genetic father's family health was basically sound, but he smoked and drank too much over the years and died before I could meet him), it would be easier to list those I'm not susceptible to. Put it this way; besides high cholesterol, I'm susceptible to diseases I've never even HEARD of before (my late grandfather's sister, still alive and well and mentally sharp, has a condition that causes too much iron in her blood and she has to get it drawn out every month-- this is the kind of thing I might have to deal with in the coming years!). The good news is I recently went for a physical and everything seemed pretty good. I got a blood test, and haven't heard back from anybody, so I'm proceeding on the assumption that no news is good news. Whether it's the oatmeal, the accelerated jogging, the weight-lifting, the decrease in drinking and...well, other things, salmon, a better diet overall, or whatever...it's seems to be working, for the time being anyway. I'm pretty sure the oatmeal isn't alone responsible, as I don't eat a ton of it, but I'm sure not going to stop eating the quantity I do eat now. Just have to remember not to forget the milk and honey.
