Embrace your inner Captain Kirk

I recently noticed that there are no overweight or obese people on Star Trek. Why?  They sit most of the day in front of computer panels, have relatively no commute on the ship that is their home/office/recreation space for years on end and they get beamed from their space ship to planets or other ships through a process that requires little or no exertion.  On the other hand they have no access to fast food, no one smokes and no one appears to drink.  Perhaps the Enterprise provides an ideal, evidence-informed environment that contributes to optimal health, free from negative consumption habits.  

If Gene Roddenberry can envision it, we can certainly duplicate it, right?  There are already segments of our population who resemble the crew of the Enterprise; astronauts and military personnel.  We prepare these individuals for the demanding work they do through intense physical training, a controlled environment and instilling an acute awareness of the potential and limits of their body’s abilities. 

But before we get too excited about creating future Captains like James T. Kirk, let take a closer look at how we are building our future space travel.  General Foods (Tang) and Pillsbury (Space Food Snacks) have already contributed to space food development and now a number of companies such as Virgin Galactic  have privatized space travel.  Keeping on this path, our Enterprise will likely be sponsored by Coke and McDonalds and our captain will more likely resemble Rob Ford or Chris Christie as our poor eating habits follow us into space.  How can we expect a future that isn’t commercialized when we are so attached to our unhealthy commercialized habits here on earth?  

We are not all going to be astronauts but we can learn from them. 

As Astronaut Chris Hadfield so eloquently said “Don’t let life randomly kick you into the adult you don’t want to become”.  Focus on those things that you can control.  Accept those things you cannot control.  Set goals.  Identify the person you want to be and don’t lose sight of it.  Control your environment don’t let it control you.  Be intentional. Be aware.

It is exciting that we will soon have access to Star Trek gadgets like the Tricorder in the next few years (if you haven’t heard about the Tricorder X Prize and the $10 million contest, you will soon as the developers rush to bring versions of this device to market).  But it is only a device that will measure how healthy your body is, you have the ultimate control over the choices that will make you healthy.  This is the difference between Captain Kirk and Captain Crunch.   This is about lives well lived.  This is about legacy and mentorship, role models and real life inspiration. 

It’s your health.  It’s your health information.  Manage it well.