With Obamacare about to go into effect in a few days, I thought I would write about what I think health reform should have been, and it's not insurance, although some of that did need regulating. Things that health reform should have been about (and I'm probably leaving some things out, as I want to keep things short) are the following:
1. Educate people about nutrition, including mandatory school courses starting very early, and continuing through High School. Include the dangers of fast foods, sugar, fructose, hydrogenated fats, anything artificial in foods, etc.
2. Lower the costs of hospitals, emergency room visits (my brother stepped on a nail, went to the emergency room, got a bill for $1,400), ambulances, etc.
3. Outlaw prescription drug ads (we are only one of two countries that allow this). Prescription drugs are not something you should be shopping for - they are for your doctor to prescribe. They kill over 100,000 people a year in the U.S. - when properly prescribed. They have some very nasty side effects, perhaps worse than the condition you were taking them for. Your doctor is hopefully smart enough to decide if you may want or need a prescription without you asking your doctor if drug X is right for you.
4. Start eliminating environmental toxins.
5. Preferably get rid of GMO foods, but at least make labeling them mandatory.
6. Eliminate the use of antibiotics in farm animals and the spraying of these on all foods.
Thankfully, I educated myself on all the above. Before doing that, here is list of some maladies I had:
1. Measles, mumps, chickenpox, bronchitis.
2. At least 4 colds a year, plus every flu that was going around - some severe.
3. Ulcer, and a few years later, nervous stomach (including nausea, severe cramps, etc.).
4. Dandruff
5. Headaches
After making the changes and adding vitamins and supplements, all of the above are a thing of the past, except I still get sick about once every five years, and no flu for too many years to remember when I had it last.
The above is the health care reform I would have liked to have seen. As someone once said, "who has health, has hope, and who has hope has everything."
I guess the best photo for here would be of healthy people and since Halloween is just around the corner, well...
These people look healthy, no?
TO COMPLETE THE ABOVE STORY:
When I was little, there was no internet, nor any reason I knew to study nutrition. Same for my family. The typical diet back then was margarine, white bread, bologna, salami, soft drinks (what's water, LOL?), etc. Then at college, got on the typical college diet - lots of spaghetti and pizza because they were cheap, 4-6 bottles of coke/pepsi/royal crown soft drinks a day and on and on. Oh - and lots of sugary candy. And desserts. Luckily I have always been active, or who knows how many more health problems I would have had.
When I was 30, I was diagnosed with the nervous stomach. The doctor told me all I could do was stay out of stressful situations. I decided to explore other options. There was a guy I knew from the beach when I lived in Santa Barbara who was the healthiest looking person I've ever seen. I asked him what he did. I figured who better to ask than who practices and lives good health. He told me to get a book, "Health Secrets of the Hunza" and follow their diet. All whole, natural, organic foods. Within 6 months, no more nervous stomach. And many other benefits - less sickness, more energy, etc.
Then several years later started studying vitamins and supplements. And started supplementing for things I might not be getting in my diet. And more noticeable benefits.
This concludes my thoughts on what health care should have been. I would welcome you comments.
