Cook County Hospital Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Terry Mason, will lead Chicagoans in the tenth annual Restart4Health, a program that provides information and support to improve eating and lifestyle habits. Five weekly group meetings (open to the public) will be held at 6:30 PM on Tuesdays - January 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31. The first three sessions will be at Trinity Church of Christ, 400 West 95th Street, Chicago.
Dr. Mason, a lifetime advocate of healthy living, believes many of the health issues afflicting the Chicago community are best addressed with TLC - "total lifestyle change." Each year in January, after what he calls the "season of gluttony" (Thanksgiving to New Year's), he goes on a meat fast - not eating anything that "walks, hops, swims, flies, slithers, has eyes and a mother and father." Through Restart4Health, he shares his expertise with others.
The benefits of the dietary and lifestyle changes promoted by Restart4Health include weight loss, lower blood pressure, better health and longer life. This year, there will be an increased focus on helping people to stop smoking, which is at the root of twenty percent of American death rates.
The first session of Restart4Health 2012 (January 3) will discuss historical and civil issues that contribute to the African American community being disproportionately affected by heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other chronic illnesses. A clip of the movie "Forks Over Knives" will be shown.
Session two (January 10) will feature a screening of the documentary film "Unnatural Causes" which addresses the idea that "where you live matters" when it comes to health. That will be followed with a discussion of how the body works and processes foods.
Session three (January 17) will be a cooking demonstration led by Monica Moss who will teach participants how to prepare tasty vegetable based meals.
Session four (January 24) will meet at Soul Vegetarian restaurant at 205 West 75th Street, Chicago, for a presentation on "the business of food," including how it is produced and sold for mass consumption. Advice will also be offered on how to stop smoking.
Session five (January 31) will meet at Malcolm X College, 1900 West Van Buren Street, Chicago, where instructor Roy Walker will teach simple techniques that can be practiced at home to maintain fitness.
For those unable to participate in group meetings, the Restart4Health website contains valuable information that will help people engage in the program "virtually." There is information about healthy eating food choices, recipes and a downloadable "Five2Thrive" booklet with guidance for women, men, young people, babies and seniors.
For more information , visit www.Restart4Health.com . There is also a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Restart4Health/
