Carole Carson--
Forks and Feet: The Ultimate Healthcare Solution
When Cassius said that 'the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves,' he wasn't referring to causes of life-threatening medical problems, such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. But today's research seems to confirm Cassius's philosophy. That is, many of the most serious health problems we may face as individuals and as a nation are a function of our daily choices of what to eat and whether to exercise.
According to the following studies, the decisions we make with our forks and feet determine our medical destiny:
Sugar Consumption Linked to Chronic Disease: Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health confirmed a strong link between refined carbohydrates and diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Refined sugar has over 50 aliases, including sucrose, lactose and corn syrup, and is hidden in many surprising foods, such as frozen vegetables, instant hot cereal and pasta sauce. To reduce sugar intake, read food labels, eat fresh foods, eliminate or cut back on processed foods and cook meals at home.
Tummy Fat Increases Women's Risk for Osteoporosis: Previous research suggested that a few extra pounds helped prevent osteoporosis. Now, however, scientists are rethinking this conclusion. Harvard researchers are finding that premenopausal women who store fat in the midsection have lower bone mineral density and are at greater risk for developing osteoporosis later in life than women with less or no visceral stomach fat. Stay tuned for more insight if these findings are confirmed.
Diabetes Threatens to Overwhelm Medical System: Half of all Americans will need treatment for diabetes or prediabetes by 2020 if the current trend continues, according 'The United States of Diabetes,' a working paper prepared by UnitedHealth Group's Center for Health Reform & Modernization. If the prediction holds true, treatment for diabetes will cost nearly $500 billion annually, or 10 percent of all healthcare spending. Lifestyle changes, including healthful eating and regular exercise, can reduce factors that lead to the disease, but the willingness of Americans to adopt those changes remains an open question.
Cancer May Be Preventable: Along with diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis, cancer may also be preventable through lifestyle changes such as proper diet and exercise. Researchers at World Cancer Research Fund International assert that healthful changes in lifestyle could prevent 340,000 cases of cancer annually in the United States.
During a recent conversation with a prominent spokesperson campaigning for obesity treatment, I was not surprised to learn that the impetus for losing weight is shifting from vanity to health concerns. No doubt this change is partly a function of the rising cost of medical care. But it is also in large part due to the steady flow of research confirming that our lifestyle choices have consequences. If enough of us make the connection between choices and consequences, we may be able to reverse some of the current worrisome trends.
Dubbed 'An Apostle for Fitness' by the Wall Street Journal, Carole Carson was the inspiration behind the Nevada County Meltdown, where more than 1,000 people lost nearly 8,000 pounds. Carole is the author of From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction and serves as the national coach for the AARP Fat to Fit Community Challenge, a free weight-loss program welcoming all ages.
Is There a Link Between Surplus Pounds and Breast Cancer?
30,000 Premature Cardiovascular Deaths Per Year--Preventable
Copyright (c) 2006-2011, Basil & Spice. All rights reserved.
To view this article at basilandspice.com, click here: http://www.basilandspice.com/healthcare-issues/22011-the-ultimate-healthcare-solution.html
