2008 HEALTH STORIES

Even though some of this advice seems obvious (exercise and eat right, for instance) it is clear from the state of "health" care in this country that many people either do not know what is healthy or do not choose to make good choices.

Lifestyle changes are inexpensive and effective. Prevention is the most cost-effective solution to both escalating health care costs and rates of diabetes, heart disease and cancer, etc.
Eat healthfully, choose whole foods as opposed to high-fat, high-sugar processed products (no pre-packaged foods in a box or bag), exercise, get adequate sleep and keep stress at bay :]. Do not smoke and do not drink excessively.

Balance intestinal bacteria. The digestive system shapes the body's health in more ways than most people think. It is considered the center of the immune system. When it gets thrown off balance (from too much sugar, regular use of acid-suppressing medications, taking too many antibiotics and/or using antimicrobial products for personal hygiene and cleaning) the gut gets thrown into chaos. The resultant lack of good bacteria allows unhealthy bad bacteria and other "critters" to take hold and wreak havoc on our entire immune system.
Trust your body to get healthy if you give it the right tools: healthy food, perhaps probiotics. Fix indigestion by eating right... get rest when you are sick so your body can fight infection naturally... and do not get taken in by marketers who want you to believe a sterile environment is always better.

Medicine is a business. Not only drug companies, but hospitals and doctors need to generate revenue. Even researchers and the academic medical centers they work for need funding, which they often obtain from those who stand to benefit from a particular kind of research finding.
Weigh the profit motive behind all advice you receive-for diagnostic tests, drugs and even, sad to say, articles published in medical journals. That caution is not meant to invalidate what you are told, but do not just assume "they" have your best interests in mind, it's not always the top priority. When you hear about new research affirming a breakthrough drug or treatment, evaluate with healthy skepticism and the awareness that someone, somewhere probably stands to make money on it. If that's who funded the study... well, keep that in mind.

Be a liver lover. Incidence of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, believed to be a direct result of a diet high in sugar, processed, fast and fatty foods, is on the rise and it can lead to serious liver problems. As the gatekeeper to health, responsible for so many aspects of healthy functioning (including digestion, metabolism and filtering waste), the liver is finally getting the long overdue respect it deserves.
Advice: Following a healthy diet and exercising regularly are the best strategies for maintaining a healthy liver, along with a healthy everything else. Avoid excessive alcohol, fatty and processed foods and fried anything. Remember that even OTC drugs can have a negative impact on your liver. If you need to take any drugs on an ongoing basis, be sure to check with your doctor. Take a liver cleanse 2-4 times per year.

Vitamin D is vital. Vitamin D is the "do-it-all vitamin." Research links insufficient D to an ever-longer list of diseases, medical conditions and health complaints such as kidney disease, back pain, a tendency to fall, colon cancer and Parkinson's disease. Our D-deficit is part dietary, part the result of an indoor lifestyle and, ironically, our diligence in applying sunscreen. By filtering sun rays, doing so can reduce the body's natural ability to manufacture vitamin D.
What to do: Spend time outdoors -- aim for 10 minutes a day, with no sunscreen.

Exercise more. This advice rings as true now as ever, if not more so. Lack of activity is quite literally killing Americans, as we continue to eat more and do less. Obesity, even among small children and the elderly, is growing and contributing to rising rates of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, asthma, orthopedic injuries... and on and on. Research shows that even a little bit of movement makes a difference. Also, losing as little as 10% of your body weight can have a measurable impact on your health.

West meets East. From the Chinese medicine focus on energy... to the Tibetan way of integrating environmental elements, each has wisdom to contribute to and complement the Western way of practicing medicine.
Be open to incorporating assorted medical methodologies to help you maximize wellness -- there's wisdom in every approach. Find people you trust and respect, who are experts in their field. Keep everyone involved in your care informed. And don't ever forget, ultimately the person responsible for your health and well-being... is you.