Suggestions To Obama on health care

As a health professional, mother, wife and daughter of seniors, what worries me most about the healthcare system in our country is that it has created a disease culture. The major topic of discussion in many of our homes and social circles relates to some form of health care — my MRI, getting an appointment, finding another doctor, what the insurance will or will not cover, drug reactions & interactions, surgery, screening, biopsy and diagnosis. We are sick, have been sick, or soon will be sick. We live lifestyles that move us from chronic disease to chronic disease. Most people over 40 years old average 2.5 pharmaceuticals or more. We are extending life due to medical advances, however the quality of life for many is not good.

Our young people think old age and sickness come bundled together into an inevitable fate. I believe that old age and sickness are not synonymous. It is clear why no one wants to get old.

A paradigm shift to a healthy lifestyle culture must be a critical part of the healthcare solution. All the facts indicate that 70% of the chronic diseases in the U.S. are preventable and are lifestyle related. This means that intervention can be made! We the people can change our minds and start taking better care of our families and ourselves. We can be motivated to do so!

We must also consider the nations food supply. As Hippocrates said, “Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food “. Our food supply in general is great in volume and availability, however the nutritional quality is questionable and must be seen as the first line of defense for disease prevention and good health. More regulation and oversight will be needed to encourage the food industry to be more responsible for the 3000+ calories of food it produces for each American per day.

And finally, we need a new team of wellness and disease prevention experts to work in parallel to the existing infrastructure. If the horseshoe maker had been asked to develop the model T automobile, it would have never happen. We cannot ask the medical community to eliminate or reduce the demand for its services.

Our solution to the healthcare crisis must be one that helps the sick regardless of their ability to pay and develops a strategy for a healthy America. We cannot just throw more money at a broken system, which will provide a small band-aid at best and does nothing to eliminate the disease culture in which we find ourselves. Good health is common sense and common sense is not expensive.

The Best Gift You Can Give

The best gift you can give to yourself and to others is a healthy you! All other gifts are symbolic, but in no way compare to the time, thought, and presence that comes with you being the best you can be.

Giving a healthy you is a perfect gift that you can give to the people you care about and to those that depend on you. This gift is priceless. It extends the time for everyone to benefit from your vibrant energy and zeal. It allows people to learn and experience things that can only come from your unique personality and purpose.

Everyday we live impacts the quality of the health gift. Daily investments are needed in order to preserve and protect these bodies from disease and aliments that rob us of quality living. Start now, one day at a time, working on a plan to give the gift of your good health.

To prepare yourself for giving, take an honest assessment of your current lifestyle. For many of us, if we continue our current lifestyle we will never see our grandchildren. If we do live, we will be remembered as the feeble, sickly one who had no energy or passion for living.

Whatever your state of health may be at this time, there are lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent degenerative disease and sickness. A healthier you will not happen instantly. It takes approximately four to six weeks to develop new habits. So be patient. All changes require sacrifice and planning, but it’s worth it.

The best gift you can give is absolutely a healthy you!       Merry Christmas

Nutritional and Lifestyle Consultations  contact: Zima Health

Comments are always welcome.

New York Obesity Tax

The proposed obesity tax for the state of New York is in theory, a good idea. However it must be implemented in a more equitable fashion. In order to explain, we have to look at refined sugar as a scientific element. Refined sugar has been stripped of its nutrients due to the refinement process. As a result, the body no longer sees it as a food. It is treated as a chemical. Sugar in its simplest terms is therefore a recreational drug of sort. Not a necessity but loved and cherished (170 lbs of sugar for the average American every year). Sugar is also habit forming.

Sugar is in fact partly responsible for obesity among many populations but also other chronic diseases, like diabetes. In some research, it has been determined that sugar is the food of choice for growing cancer cells. Other research has linked mineral deficiencies and related diseases to the over consumption of sugar.

Perhaps a more equitable implementation of the obesity tax would be to first determine if a “food” item is mostly sugar. If so, than it should be taxed. This potentially broadens the scope to include several other industries, like candy and baked goods.

Do you think companies should take some responsibility for the obesity crisis? Please comment.

Cooler Days and Ginger

We live in a very old house. It is not as energy efficient as we would like it to be. When the temperature falls the house is often colder inside than the actual temperature on the outside.

One of my faithful remedies is fresh ginger. It is great for circulation and warms the hands and feet! Simply grate about a tablespoon of ginger and place it into your favorite mug. Fill it with boiling water (3/4 full). Let it steep for 2 to 3 minutes. Add your favorite sweetener or lemon and enjoy ….. You can spoon the ginger out however, it normally settles at the bottom of the cup.

Now for some other uses of ginger:

Adds a heartier flavor – many of us use a combination of fresh garlic, green (or red) bell pepper and onions. Add fresh ginger and presto! It provides a meatier taste to your dishes.

Good for Digestion – most of the commercial “ginger ales” contain little to no ginger. It is the carbonated water that provides some temporary relief to an upset stomach. Make your own brew for a real digestive aid. Recipe (vegan)

Cookies – there is no comfort food better than a cookie made with fresh ginger, molasses, and other natural ingredients. Recipe (vegan)

Zima Health … good health is a lifestyle

Organic Fruit More Flavorful

This morning, I had an appointment in Delaware. While driving North on I-95, I reached for the beautiful pear that I had rinsed and wrapped in a towel on the way out of the door. I took a bite. The flavor was so intensely wonderful! It was my first of the season. For a few seconds, I forgot that I was driving! It was organic and as pure as a piece of fruit can get these days. It was so flavorful and energizing. The energy I felt was the equivalent of a cup of coffee without the let down.

Two things (I feel) made it so tasteful: 1) It was organic (grown and harvested without chemicals) and 2) It was fresh, ripened to perfection and in season.

Bottomline: Organic produce is going to be more flavorful (and contain more nutrients). Has that been your experience?