Real Health Care Reform Begins in the Kitchen

The debate about health care rages on, with both sides weighing in at a level of lunacy I have never seen. Conservatives are screaming about death panels, government takeovers and socialism, and extreme liberals are screaming about the ignorance and close mindedness of the conservatives. And in the middle of this circus? You and me: with our over-the-top insurance premiums, inadequate or lack of insurance...and little in the way of a comforting explanation of the far-reaching effects of this bill. Our congress can take all the time they choose to carry on this way; they have coverage.

It's time to have an authentic, no bull discussion about this. Real health care reform begins in the kitchen. No one, not one person at the core of this debate, is talking about taking care of our health as the foundation of health care.

With Americans knowing how to make healthier food choices, why don't we? We must choose food that serves the purpose of our lives and supports health, not steals it. Then we could avoid this cold sweat panic over health care reform, because by virtue of being healthy and fit, we'd prevent most of what has created the exorbitant health care costs that threaten to bankrupt us and break our spirit.

According to Dr Dean Ornish, more than 75% of all health care costs are spent on what we now call 'lifestyle diseases:' obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and even some cancers. That's a staggering number, considering we spend more than $2.1 trillion on it...but what's even more staggering is how quickly we could turn these numbers around if we just chose to eat food fit for human consumption.

In all the screaming that has become the health care debate, no one seriously addressing the role of lifestyle factors. Health care reform talks a great deal about who is and isn't covered and not about what it takes to be healthy and avoid becoming a statistic.

The 'EPIC Study' (concluded on 23,000 people) revealed that people eating a diet rich in whole grains, beans, vegetables, nuts and seeds and low in animal food; exercising regularly, not smoking and maintaining a healthy weight reduced their risk of most chronic diseases; 93% of type 2 diabetes, 81% of heart attacks, 50% of strokes and 36% of all cancers could be prevented! Why isn't that part of the debate? Or even a part of the bill?

We can continue to simply increase coverage for drugs and surgeries on ever-skyrocketing numbers of people, but until we address the root of the problem, health care costs will continue to soar and this plan to cover all will crack under the sheer weight of the need.

How do we create our own personal health care reform policy? Prevention, pure and simple. Not preventive care, like physical check-ups (although they are wise) or getting your teeth cleaned (also wise), but by working to prevent disease in the first place.

I'm talking about putting down the fried chicken, grilled chicken (un-think that, KFC!), donuts, burgers and stuffed crust pizzas. It's time to follow the examples of societies that have created health and longevity for people around the world.

For many people, eating a plant-based diet can be foreign, esoteric; just plain freaky. Let me simplify it. Think Mediterranean. It's alluring, familiar; we've heard about it; we know it's good for us. It's that terrifying little word: 'healthy' that lacks appeal, right? So think azure seas, leisurely meals, Greek Isles, Italian villas, Leonardo Di Caprio and Sophia Loren. Think sexy. Now I have your attention.

For thousands of years, inhabitants of the Mediterranean coasts have enjoyed this delicious style of eating, along with regular physical activity. Centered on whole grains, beans, fruits, vegetables, olive oil, some fish, nuts and seeds, this humble style of eating isn't considered a diet. It's a healthy, delicious lifestyle that can lead to a long life virtually free of the types of chronic diseases that plague us.

Eating a diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods provides thousands of micronutrients, macronutrients (fat, protein, carbohydrates), vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, essential fatty acids and other compounds that can protect the body from disease.

And it gets better. Because the Mediterranean Diet is high in fiber from all those veggies, grains and beans, digestion is slowed, 'preventing wild fluctuations in blood sugar, reduces insulin resistance and improves insulin sensitivity' http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-mediterranean-diet which helps prevent obesity.

Research continues to mount indicating that consuming an unprocessed plant-based diet (along with being physically active) is absolutely key to controlling weight, reducing blood pressure and heart disease, reducing the risk of diabetes and stroke.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why every single American isn't eating a healthy diet. I can't believe that there's one person who wants to be fat, at risk of disease, lethargic, foggy and achy. It doesn't get easier or more delicious than the Mediterranean approach. You can even transition slowly if that helps.

Start by substituting whole grain products for bread, pasta and grains (like brown rice for white). Choose nuts, seeds and beans for your protein (for those of you eating animal products, go for wild fish, but seriously, you can skip it and be just fine...remember, cows eat grass; gorillas gorge on berries and nuts); get rid of the saturated fat that's clogging your veins and arteries. Drizzle olive oil or other mono-unsaturated fats in place of butter. Skip the meat and dairy. Your heart will be grateful and not attack you!

I could go on for days about all the reasons to eat healthfully. But for some reason yummy, delicious food is not enough. Robust health is not enough. We who promote healthy eating beat our heads against the wall daily to inspire people to eat well and still, Papa John wins the day. WTF?

Bill Maher recently talked about this very subject: America's obsession with junk food and being unhealthy. He said that we had few role models for healthy living and used an example. President Obama's designee for Surgeon's General, America's 'doctor-in-chief,' Dr. Regina Benjamin is overweight and actually served on the nutritional advisory panel for Burger King, helping the junk food giant to 'promote balanced diets and active lifestyle choices.' Are they kidding? I agree with Bill Maher that her advice to them should have been simple...stop selling food! While she resigned the position, it makes me wonder about her judgment.

Her work with the underserved and poor rural regions of the country is admirable and amazing and she is to be honored for that. But now she will be giving America guidance on what a healthy lifestyle looks like. The person doing that job should look like they know what they are talking about and live the lifestyle they are promoting.

Now there are those who are arguing that Dr. Benjamin looks 'just like us' and works hard. So she may not have the time to work out and take care of herself. That is just not acceptable. I don't want a Surgeon's General who is just like most of America. America's doctor needs to be better than us, a role model to emulate.

If the Surgeon's General doesn't have the time to take care of herself, to show us that it can be done in the midst of a busy life, then how can she give America the hope and inspiration it needs to get off the coach, work out and make the healthiest food choices we can?

Rich, poor, educated or not, eating well is not an elitist fad, but the birthright of every human and the only way to ensure a future of healthy vital well-being with health care that actually cares for our health.

 

 

Comments

[DrCharlesMartin]

Here's another vote for the Mediterranean diet. Research published in a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine compared results from people who followed one of three diets for two years. The diets were a low-fat regimen, the Med diet and a low-carb plan. Of the people in the study who had diabetes, only those on the Med diet had a significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose levels.

We write extensively about related issues at http://dentistryfordiabetics.com/blog, especially the links between elevated blood sugar and gum disease that can interfere with diabetes control and significantly increase risk of serious health events such as heart attack, stroke and blindness.

- Charles Martin, DDS
Founder, Dentistry For Diabetics

[RMankovitz]

I agree with you that primary prevention is critical to a sustainable health care program. As a research scientist, I have written three books on the subject of nature-based illness prevention.

You make the point that you can't figure out why every single American isn't eating a healthy diet. It is my contention that one reason people are not eating a healthy diet is that the so called experts in the field have yet to agree on one. Here is an example.

You pose the Mediterranean diet as a model for a healthy eating plan. This diet is characterized by fruit, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts, seeds, olive oil, dairy products (principally cheese and yogurt), fish and poultry consumed in low to moderate amounts, zero to four eggs consumed weekly, red meat consumed in low amounts, and wine consumed in low to moderate amounts.

However, in your article, you greatly revise this diet by suggesting one should skip the dairy, meat and fish; and eggs and wine are not mentioned at all. This is further in contrast to the link you provided on the Mediterranean diet, which states " Choose fish, low-fat dairy, poultry, nuts, and legumes to satisfy your protein needs (include some lean meat as well)."

Confusion? You bet. Who should you follow? How about Nature - she evolved us.

A discussion and references on what nature intended humans to eat can be found in "The Wellness Project".

Roy Mankovitz, Director
http://www.MontecitoWellness.com

[PlaceboStudman]

This really is the key to why America will never be able to successfully transform into a "european" Health Care system (there is no one system, btw, each country has their own version). Our country is just too addicted to the quick fix of fast food and starbucks. We DO care about money more than life. If we ALL scaled back our work weeks and implemented a European lifestyle, where we have 2 hour lunches, and take our time and enjoy our time together as people, and generally just relaxed, we would be in much better health. Remember, Europeans, even though yes they do have McDonalds, they don't have "super sizes" (yet). They eat in moderation and walk and get their exercise.

We can change our diets and our lifestyle, and it is happening slowly, but we are fighting against the raging tide of quick and easy fixes that cater to our greedy selfish tendencies of human nature

[mlaiuppa]

I come home after a nine hour day and it takes me an hour to cook, then I eat, and then I'm so tired i don't have the energy to clean up. And I have to make my lunch before I go to bed. And I have to be in bed early so I can get up early and do it again.

It's easy to say forego processed foods and cook everything from fresh produce. But it's harder to practice when you put in long hours and are trying to get a full 8-9 hours of sleep. And eat healthy. What suffers? I spend my weekends cleaning up the mess I made during the week. Plus I have to shop.

Unfortunately we no longer live in a world where Daddy goes out and works and Mom stays home and cooks all day for Hubby and the kiddies. I'm single. No one takes care of me. I have to work AND cook. And do laundry and take care of the house and clean up the mess from the cooking.

Frankly, I'd rather sleep than eat.

[DrP]

Partially right. For some of us, grains, fruit, and nuts are too high in carbohydrate and we need animal fat and protein to survive. Check out Dr. Jay Wortman.
But you are right about eating fresh, unprocessed food. It is not difficult nor expensive.

[HSC55]

If we try to regulate things like diet, exercise etc...it would be considered interfering with our precious freedoms. That is why we have to put a big tax on anything containing lots of added sugars...high fructose corn syrup etc.... and increase the tax on cigarettes even more. What about high fat foods too? Then the only people having to pay for their poor choices are the people making the poor choices. I eat right, walk every day, don't smoke, yet my taxes will be going up to pay for other peoples 'freedom' to be diabetic.

[bthechangeyouseek]

Taxing the suppliers/­manufactur­er's of those foods would be better than taxing those who make the choice to buy what's available. Nutritious food is expensive. Those without much money purchase what they can. Mfg's of highly processed foods and those with high fructose corn syrup in the first five ingredients, make sure those foods are not only available but inexpensive, and provide coupons. Putting nutrition education back in schools would be a good start to healthier eating for many, making nutritious foods available and affordable for everyone is necessary to improving health.