Those battling chronic illness know what a long, difficult battle it is to get well again, understanding all too well that old sentiment, You don’t realize how important your health is until you lose it. Today, too many Americans live sick. They’re fighting rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, diabetes. Many are battling cancer and heart disease. Their days are filled with doctor’s visits and pill bottles, aches and pains. Chronic illness has become the norm rather than the exception in American life. Roughly 194 million adults report living with at least one chronic condition, including 6 in 10 young adults, 8 in 10 middle-aged adults and 9 in 10 older Americans, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis published in 2025. The share of young adults with chronic conditions rose significantly over the past decade, a sign that poor health is no longer confined to old age. Patients need to receive clear guidance on how diet and lifestyle changes can help. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Wednesday released a new food pyramid that fl