Health care reform, it's feeling like old news at this point, but the debate and the effort to push through some sort of change or law is still going on. This seems more about one party winning than it does about helping balance the industry as a whole and helping more Americans take charge of their own health. Should we just expect to live unhealthy and not eat a healthy diet (Juice Plus+ helps that cause), and smoke, and eat too much, and drink too much, then when the body starts to break down expect to have all the doctor visits, unlimited diagnostic tests to determine exactly what's not working, then medications and/or sugery that might be the proper course of care (80% of the time not)... all paid for (a large percentage) by tax money that comes from all of us? Enough people are still concerned about the subject, one reason that many believe Scott Brown was elected in Massachusettes.
Imagine a society where the tax rates are 90% or more, and all the money is spread out amongst everyone for health care, loans, transportation, etc. So, there are some people who work hard, put in long hours, try to make a good living, but are only penalized with high taxes so that those who don't work hard, who are lazy, and don't make the effort can be entitled to the same things (or luxuries)? This is where those who work hard and those who feel that they are at a disadvantage (for whatever reason) differ in their opinion and the where the debate starts.
First and foremost, you can choose to live healthy - eating a healthy diet filled with plenty of fruits and vegetables (adding Juice Plus+ too if you don't get enough of those), avoiding fast foods and fatty foods, and avoiding sugar drinks, juice drinks, soft drinks, and getting regular exercise. It doesn't cost any money to take a walk - that's exercise. Eating healthy is a choice. That's where health CARE begins - caring for your own health. Having access to doctors, hospitals, treatment plans that include medications and/or surgeries, does not guarantee you will be healthy or guarantee you will avoid being unhealthy. In fact, you have a better chance of dying just being in a hospital, according to sources. Take a look at odds of dying from some of the most common things.
Per lifetime odds:
Complications of medical and surgical care 1 in 1,313.
Hospital infections 1 in 38
Heart Disease 1 in 5
Cancer 1 in 7
Stroke 1 in 23
Intentional Self-harm (suicide) 1 in 121
Flu 1 in 63
Accidental poisoning 1 in 193
MRSA (resistant bacteria) 1 in 197
Dying from anthrax 1 in 500 million
If more people knew how miserable the final weeks, months in many cases, are for those who have these "cadillac" insurance coverage plans, there might be some second thoughts about demanding 'affordable' health care. That's where the largest percentage of health care money is spent - on the last 6-8 months of life. That is, keeping someone alive in a hospital all because they have the insurance that covers everything to "treat" (more like "keep alive") the patient...basically everything including a complete life-support machine. That's no way to live...or die.
Having a law that requires every individual have some form of "Health" insurance (I put that word in quotes almost always because it's not health insurance or health care, but SICK care - you use it when you're SICK not when you're healthy, and most often you don't need a doctor to get well, antibiotics for infections being one BIG exception)...but requiring insurance is just wrong.
Why not require individuals BE healthy? How? Well, we could start with a company policy that requires each individual use 30 minutes of their work day to exercise (or 45 minutes or an hour). All the details can be worked out with those who have the influence to make change - which should be us, the American people! But this is just one simple change that wouldn't cost much, and would most likely result in increased productivity, an improvement of health, less sick days, and so on.
How about diet? Can we make some sort of change we can count on in the form of required dietary habits? Hard to say exactly how that would work, except to say that assessing a person's health level after the fact is one way. But again, that isn't be proactive but is still a passive approach (you know, trying to correct a problem when it could have been avoided?). So a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables - the most important items in a healthy diet (again, which is why we recommend Juice Plus+, because it contains nutrients from a variety of fruits and vegetables) - is the start of health care.
The change we need, is a change in personal responsibility - that is, more healthy habits that equates to a healthier lifestyle. I've said this before and will say it again, we all need to realize that our own health is 99% our own responsibility. What's the 1% for? For those who are born with or develop a condition that is most likely a result of a genetic 'miscue', who need special medicines or care to save their life and allow them to live a quality life. And that's what health care is all about - having a quality of life that is a result of having good health - all a result of the choices we make, for 99% of us.
So make your lifestyle one that is filled with healthy choices - a diet with at least 7 servings of fruits and vegetables per day (9 or more is best), add Juice Plus+ for nutrients from those foods if you need the extra "help"; drink water for 90% or more of your total beverage consumption (the other 10% for milk, soy, tea, coffee or other healthy fluids); getting some form of exercise everyday (6 days out of 7 is great) - walking for 30 minutes non-stop is a real good start; and just as importantly is avoiding the unhealthy stuff - the three biggest things to avoid: sugary beverages (soft drinks, juice drinks, alcohol), fast foods (those hamburger, pizza, taco places, along with most of the pre-made foods in the supermarket), and finally avoid tobacco products.
It's actually easier to choose those items that are healthy. I won't go into them here except to say that fruits, vegetables, lean protein sources, healthy carbs like sweet potatoes or yams, and of course water.
Reform your health by making healthier choices, and you'll have 99% of the care you need!
Dr. Patrick Havey
The Health & Wellness Institute, PC
Official Juice Plus+ Independent Distributor
Comments