It's never too late to bet on a healthy life
December 5 is the last day to run the virtual race the SCIENCE of a healthy par life Explore RM North, which is a sporting event that invites citizens to prevent chronic diseases. This challenge of 2 and 5 kilometers can be the first step to improve health and quality of life.
Currently, we are not only facing the COVID-19 pandemic but also a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet, that bring as consequences chronic diseases such as obesity, Diabetes, Diseases Cardiovascular, cancer and other, that's why the Explore Northern Metropolitan Region Project - from the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation-, led by the University of Chile through the Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and its executing unit the Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS ), invites the entire city to participate in its virtual race "The SCIENCE of a Healthy Life", taking into account that numerous scientific studies have shown that living a healthy and active life is the best way to prevent disease.
However, there are many people who suffer from inherited diseases or who simply already suffer from a chronic disease, which are incurable and can only be treated through medicines, a healthy diet and physical activity, this is the case with Marcelo Corral, amateur runner (47 years) who was saved from death with changes in his habits and Maria Ignacia Montt (24 years), high-performance athlete, who is insulin-dependent diabetic from the age of 10.
Chile is the most obese and overweight country (74% of the adult population), beating Mexico (72,5%) and United States (71%). In the case of schoolchildren, half of children are obese or overweight (52%), according to the latest data from the Junaeb Nutritional Map 2019.
Mary and Marcellus use the same medicine, sport
The athlete Maria Ignacia Montt 24 years old, live with type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent) since childhood. She started playing sports at age 10 and at age 11 was diagnosed with diabetes., this led her at age 15 to opt for high-performance sport and successfully., in 2017, took second place in relay 4×100 at the South American Under-23 Games in Ecuador and in 2019 qualified for the University World Cup in Naples (Italy).
"When I was diagnosed with diabetes for me it was normal, because my two brothers are also diabetic. Diabetes is a condition and not a disease, you can lead an ordinary life on a proper diet with the right medication. For me, sport is essential, not just because I'm a high-performance athlete, but because of my diabetic status sport helps me to have much more stable glycemia levels," said Maria Ignacia.
He also added that, "Practicing physical activity became my main remedy, the days I'm tired or don't have workouts I keep walking, I try to do at least 10,ooo thousand steps a day, because I know those little things are critical to maintaining a stable level of blood glucose, no need to train 4 hours - as I do almost every day- to help my body stay stable.
High-performance sport forces you to be disciplined and that, No doubt, ends up being a great motivation for me to worry about having well-controlled diabetes, because I want to perform in sport much longer", added.
To finish, the renowned high-performance athlete sent a message to all people who have recently been diagnosed with diabetes "don't be discouraged, it's not the worst thing that's ever happened to them., it's not the worst thing in the world, it's just a test, this condition is not fatal, having diabetes means you have to change your habits and have full control of your body. I hope my story inspires many people to play sports and live healthily; the hardest part is leaving, once you're already active the body asks for it. I hope a lot of people run in this virtual run, because sport is the best medicine", highlighted emotionally Maria Ignacia Montt, high-performance athlete.
"Type 1 diabetes, is a disease that in conjunction with type 2 diabetes, affects 12,3% of the population 15 years and older, according to the National Health Survey 2016-2017 of the Ministry of Health".
On the other hand, Marcelo Corral, Industrial Civil Engineer told us about his experience from another side of the monera. For a long time, Marcellus lived a sedentary life, preferring an unhealthy diet with fast food, red meats and alcohol, these customs are very common in our population and according to the latest Public Health survey, sedentary lifestyle is a major cause of obesity in the country, since an 86,7% of Chileans do not perform physical activity. Of this figure, 90% of women are sedentary and 83% of men over 15 years of age.
"In 2014 when I was 41 years old, led a sedentary life and with disorderly eating; thinking that my father who suffered a heart attack at age 46, I had a medical test and the results were lapidary, triglycerides and cholesterol in the clouds. My doctor and cousin told me "you're going to die" if you don't make changes in your life and that was the phrase that led me to make a radical change... I started walking 2 Kilometers, gradually I increased distances and rhythms; A short time ago I ennoteed in my first 5KM race with some cousins and my uncle. I lost 15 kilos (thanks to sport and changes in food), my triglycerides and cholesterol went to normal levels and I continued to move forward and running became my sport, my new lifestyle," marcelo Corral told, who is currently an amateur runner -You are advised by a physiotherapist and nutritionist, competes in several tests, even marathons-.
"Feeling really good, I decided to sign up for a marathon in 2018, but from the background I did new full checks and there it appeared that the high level of cholesterol I had previously presented, left damage to my body and despite all the changes, my coronary arteries had been left with a 90% blockage although my stress test was normal... on that date I had an angioplasty and there the obstruction was confirmed and I was put on 2 coronary stents. Today I can say that I am alive thanks to sport, to the food changes and the responsibility I had to perform the necessary medical checkups on time", added Marcelo runner Full Runners.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Chile and about 30% of the country's mortality. "80% of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease could be prevented with a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, decrease saturated fats, sodium and alcohol consumption, abandon the cigar and perform constant physical activity", According to the World Health Organization.
Explore RM North invites you to run for a healthy life
The run "The SCIENCE of a healthy life" culminates this Saturday, November 5 at 14:00, however you can still sign up for free by logging in HERE.
How to close the activity, during the morning of Saturday 10:00 am, a zumba workshop will be held virtually, which will be broadcast on the social networks of par Explora RM Norte (Facebook) And then, will receive three researchers who will offer a marked conversation in the prevention of chronic diseases.
The activity will be led by Dr.. Lorena Lobos, Biochemistry and researcher at the University of Development School of Medicine and the Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS ), who will talk to dr.. Claudia Bambs, Head of PUC's Department of Public Health, DRA. Andrea Huidobro, Academic University of Maule Catholic University, both ACCDIS researchers and the MAUCO population study, the conversation will also involve Dr.. Camila Corvalan, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology at the University of Chile (INTA).