By Mark Herlinger
“I thought I was a healthy guy,” says Eric Shadle, MD. “Well, maybe I was a few pounds overweight, but I loved to hike and bike.” When Dr. Shadle found himself under the knife for cardiac bypass surgery, it changed his life. “I began a journey to find out what I could do to live a long and healthy life. And that journey led me to confront the foods I eat.”
Dr. Shadle explains that poor eating habits not only affect us in obvious, visible ways—such as by causing unhealthy weight gain—but also invisibly, within our bodies. For instance, plaque buildup from saturated fats causes the arteries to narrow—a condition known as atherosclerosis. This invisible effect of unhealthy eating habits puts us at risk of heart attack and stroke.
“Taking control of what we eat is a first step on the path to being healthy,” says Dr. Shadle. Currently, in charge of CREATION Health for Porter Adventist Hospital, Shadle, a former Seventh-day Adventist pastor, is now preaching his message of health and good nutrition to community audiences who are interested in making positive changes in their eating habits. Shadle developed a live, eight-session course called Pathway to Health and Wellness that addresses a vital aspect of food and nutrition each night. Classes include topics such as Eat More—Weigh Less, Fabulous Fiber, Deconstructing Diabetes, and Controlling Cholesterol.
Dr. Shadle’s says, “Most people get superficial information from the media, but they don’t really under- stand the science behind nutrition. My goal is to help people understand the foods they eat, to make sense of nutrition labels, to know the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats, and much more. As we better under- stand food, we can make smarter choices.”
Dr. Shadle makes clear to his audience that each person will find his or her own path, based on the information provided in the course. “I don’t tell people what to do. Instead, I present scientific facts and offer insights and suggestions. Ultimately, we each have to decide what’s right for us.”
One goal of the course is to help people navigate a world filled with so many unhealthy food choices. Dr. Shadle identifies two important concepts in healthy eating. One is simply the quantity of what we eat: “A serving of Oreos, ac- cording to the nutrition label on the package, may indicate two cookies,” he says, “but how often do I eat only two cookies? I am more likely to eat two rows of cookies!” Shadle laughs. “One of our challenges is to simply curb
the quantity of food that is full of unhealthy ingredients.”
Another concept covered in the course is the difference between whole and processed food. Shadle emphasizes the value of any food that comes directly from the earth, mainly fruits and vegetables. “Whole foods fill us up, make us feel satisfied, give us plenty of fiber, and provide minimal sugars and fats. Processed foods, on the other hand, not only have excessive amounts of sugar and unhealthy fat, but we tend to eat much more of this type of food in order to feel full. How many potatoes do you have to eat to feel satisfied? Not very many. In contrast, you have to eat several cans of Pringles to fill your stomach, and look at how much you’ve loaded up on excess salt, sugar, and fat by eating all those potato chips.” The Pathway to Health and Wellness course was inaugurated in February 2016 at Porter Adventist Hospital with a group of approximately 80 participants. Inspired by Adventist Health System’s CREATION Health program, Pathway touches on all eight aspects of CREATION Health, but places the emphasis on nutrition.
The next step is to make the Pathway curriculum available to churches and groups throughout the region. Those who wish to host seminars for their groups can obtain receive printed materials and videos featuring Dr. Shadle’s presentations.
An extra benefit for any participant is the opportunity to get free health screenings, including blood pressure, height and weight measurements, and a health risk analysis. Blood screens will be offered and arranged by Porter Adventist Hospital.
One past participant noted that weight loss was fairly easy to achieve once junk food was cut out of his diet. “I lost 15 pounds in a few months just by saying no to all the snacks that I used to pick up on the way home each night.”
Participants often comment that benefits are not just physical; they were spiritual and social as well. One man said, “I was challenged to think about my relationships— leading me to reconcile with my son after many years—which is part of my overall health. I never realized that before.”
A woman from the group noted, “They don’t tell me what to do, but they give me good information—and I have the support of the group—to make choices that are right for me.”
If you would like information about starting or attending a Pathway to Health and Wellness seminar in your area, please contact Dr. Eric Shadle’s office at 303-778-1955.
–Mark Herlinger is a freelance writer and owns Mark Herlinger Productions, Inc.