Health.. do you know what you are eating?

So what is going on today with all the hoopla about health care? Do you know? Well, I'm a doctor and I don't know. There are a few things I do know about health care though. One, as a chiropractor I know that health is not a pill, potion or lotion that you were born without. Health is a result of balance, proper nutrition, exercise, attitude, lifestyle, rest and of course, periodic chiropractic adjustments. The spine, you know encases the nervous system via the spinal cord or as I used to call it, Ma Bell. A break down here means a lack of communication within the body and its myriad of biochemical and hormonal exchanges. But this is not a treatise on the many benefits of Chiropractic. I will have more to say about that at another time.
And with that stated I want to say that if you are physically handicapped or suffer from a dis-ease this may be a bit too simplified in your case though it would still apply to some degree.
But for those of us blessed with general good health, I believe more emphasis needs to be placed on education. Education of the masses. Education is what is most lacking in any plausible health care reform that I've heard of. Why is that? Well for one thing.. if people begin to understand that they are responsible for their own health they have to become aware of the daily pitfalls they encounter when making healthy choices. FOOD is by far one of the most outstanding contributors to health, or the lack there of , which is easily witnessed to by the surging epidemic of obesity in this country. Obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, all go hand in hand and are all deadly. America is not fat because she is lazy. America is fat because most of the food we eat is highly processed, refined and gorged with preservatives and chemicals which do not metabolize normally in the body because the body was not designed to metabolize chemicals.
Unfortunately though, this is not really news to anyone but no one has been hollering about the REAL cause in rampant, obesity related disease because the Food Industry, just like the Drug Industry is not really interested in our health or welfare. That is because they are owned and manipulated by huge, self serving corporations and their only concern is Profit.
Real health care reform would start by really informing people of the dangers of the constant ingestion of fast food, microwavable food, highly refined flours, sugars, and oils and also reign in the companies who produce and push their products. They begin targeting children so that they are completely hooked by the time they become consumers.
So, Education,.. that is where we should begin to focus health care dollars, in my opinion. A healthier population would not need health care reform to the degree it does now with this one small, huge, change of focus. This is about PREVENTION and a far cry from the old-- treat the symptom mentality of allopathic medicine.( Supported by Big Pharma) Ask your Dr. if this drug would work for you... every other commercial. Think of the untold suffering that could be avoided if we began here. Thanks for taking the time to read my rant. :-)

(True) Stories from my life... 1)

I went to a little Christmas party over the holidays at my brother's new office and arrived a bit late. As I was making my way around my brother was introducing me to various people. Another chiropractor was there and introductions followed. He off handedly remarked that he had met my parents earlier. Well, it just so happens that my mother passed away in March of 2006. My parents had been married for 59 years and my father had been devoted to her. It was a crushing event for all of us but dad was definitely lost.
My brother and I proceeded to tell him a little story as to how my father at 83 years of age had met his friend. It seems that sometime after my mother's passing my father had been invited to his 65th high school reunion in Washington, Pennsylvania. He passed on the invitation. Apparently the organizer of the event followed up and sent him a list of the attendees and also a general list of survivors, marital status and current residences. Dad has a time share at the beach and was getting ready to spend his week over there. He casually remarked that he was going to be meeting someone who lived close by but would probably be 'dismissed'. I was surprised to say the least. As he explained later it was a girl/lady (that he apparently had liked in high school) but she probably wouldn't remember him.
I had a little time off and spent one day at the beach with him... the fateful day when he would actually meet with Jeanne face to face. They had only spoken on the phone prior to that.
Well, off he went and was gone an hour or two. He came back with some home made cookies and seemed content.
Long story, shortened.. that was in August of 2008. They have been seeing each other regularly for over a year. She just had her 84th birthday and dad is looking at 85 in April of this year. They are both sharp as tacks and it is easy to see that they have brightened up each other's lives tremendously. Jeanne's husband had Alzheimer's for 10 years before he passed away and she had been alone for some time too. They are such a cute couple! They have been on a cruise to the Bahamas and went to a 'special' reunion held in their honor in Pennsylvania... since they were"the talk of the town" among their peers.
The other chiro was impressed and said that is such a wonderful story that I hope you have written this down. My brother and I said no we haven't but that is a good idea... and so here it is, no frills... but because it is uplifting and it is true. Peace and Love... at any age. :)