Holistic Life Coach/Design Your Life
Health, Happiness, and Well-Being
America’s healthcare is in need of a change. Consider a new healthcare paradigm.
By Kim Woods
Right now, our healthcare paradigm seems to be: we get sick, we go to the doctor, the doctor diagnoses and treats us (usually with prescription drugs) and we go home. According to statistics this does not appear to be effective. Our health as Americans is not as good as it could be and Indiana is no exception.
According to Trust for America’s Health, the state of your health (healthyamericans.org): In Indiana the percentage of adults with asthma in 2004 was 13.2% and 13.2% for US. In Indiana the percentage of adults with diabetes in 2004 was 7.7% and 7.0 % in US. In Indiana the percentage of adults with obesity in 2004 was 25.5% and 23.2 % in US. In Indiana the percentage of adults with hypertension in 2003 was 27.0% and in US is 24.8%. Estimated cancer cases in Indiana in 2005 was 31,900 and 1,372,910 in US.
The new healthcare paradigm I am presenting is: Let’s take responsibility for our own health and that of our families by making healthy choices in food and lifestyle, first and foremost. The last part of the paradigm will be go to the doctor to get diagnosed and treated, if needed. When the doctor diagnoses and treats us, it should be centered on finding what the problem is and develop a focused, healthy plan of treatment to correct the root of the problem.
Taking care of ourselves should not be called preventative healthcare, but healthcare. Healthcare should be called Healthcare. Let’s not blame our poor health on the doctors. Optimal health starts with us making healthy choices in our food and lifestyle. According to the World Health Association, "many costly and disabling conditions i.e. cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases-
are linked by common preventable risk factors. Tobacco use, prolonged, unhealthy nutrition, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use are
major causes and risk factors for the conditions."(revised October, 2002 fact sheet N 172).
Indiana alone spends millions on cancer prevention, diabetes control, etc. If we took responsibility for our health and our health improved, Indiana and America would have millions of dollars to spend on something else and we would be feeling healthy and happier and looking better. Consider what this new healthcare paradigm could do for America. Think of all the extra money America could have to put toward health insurance if we are well. With all this extra money the healthcare insurance companies could cover additional services that promote optimal health like massage, nutrition consultations, holistic health practitioners, colon therapy, energy work, acupuncture, etc...
We can make a huge positive difference in the world by starting with our own health and that of our families. What we spend our money on also makes a huge difference. When we buy only healthy high quality organic products we are healing ourselves and our planet. Money talks. If we stop buying unhealthy products, companies will stop making them and start making healthy products.
Imagine a world where we all have vibrant health and living lives we love, Where disease is a thing of the past...
Nutrition
What is your ideal diet? What may be right for one person may not be right for another. Some people do better on a vegetarian diet and others do better with meat in their diet. There have been studies of cultures on both sides that were healthy and did very well. The only one that knows your ideal diet is you. As a board certified nutrition consultant I assist you in finding the ideal diet that is right for you, along with some really good basic dietary guidelines for optimal health.
I start you out with a computer assisted nutrition analysis. Is your health at risk? Your body tells you what you need and if you are deficient in some areas, your body is telling you through the symptoms you may be experiencing. This analysis will point out some areas in your diet you may want to work on. It may be to drink more water or eat more vegetables, etc.. it is customized to what your body is telling you. You will receive a personalized printout in a binder for you to take home with you in your first nutrition session.
Optimal health occurs when you get in touch with your own body and take responsibility for your health. There is a lot of conflicting nutrition information out there. It is hard to know what is real and what is just advertising for food companies. A lot of things you thought were healthy may not be healthy after all.
As a board certified nutrition consultant I will assist you by taking the confusion out of what optimal nutrition really is. If you choose to eat meat or choose to be a vegetarian, always eat high quality fresh, certified organic foods, local when possible. Choose foods that are in season when possible.
Why go Organic?
Why go organic? There are many different reasons to go organic, here are just a few really good reasons. Organic food tastes better and has more nutrients in it. Studies have shown some fruits and vegetables on the market had little or no nutrients in it because it is grown in depleted soil, used up of its rich nutrients and not replenished. When growers are not responsible to the land, using the land over and over again and not replenishing the soil with natural rich fertilizers etc. the plants end up being deficient in nutrients. On top of this, they dump more and more pesticides on the plants and into the soil that does further damage to the plants, soil, our environment, and our health. The soil is depleted, and raped, from its minerals and nutrients. How can a plant be healthy and be nutrient rich when it is being grown in deficient soil with no respect?
Organic produce is grown in rich soil that is properly cared for. It is rich in nutrients with no harmful man-made chemical pesticides. Organic companies have respect for the products and our environment. When plants are grown in rich healthy soil, they are healthy, and healthy plants have more nutrients allowing them to fight off bugs and diseases naturally, Removing the need to use toxic chemicals that can make us sick.. Doesn’t it make sense to go organic? Not only is organic products purer and healthier, but organic supports our health and the health of our environment and planet as well. We would also be supporting companies that respect life. Isn’t it worth it to pay a little more to support your health, the environment , and support ethically responsible companies?
Did you know, the fruits and produce on the market may be genetically altered and there are no government regulations that say it has to be labeled. When you do not buy organic, there is a chance that you are buying genetically modified foods. We do not know how these genetically altered foods will effect our DNA, in the long run, when we eat them.
Genetically modified foods also do not have seeds. We do not even know how these foods will effect our ecological environment. It could throw off our ecosystem. We do not know the wide range effects genetically altered foods could bring on. It is alarming. We can do our part by voting with our dollars by only buying and supporting organic products. Do not support genetically altered anything by not buying it. Go to the website www.truefoodnow.org to check out the growing list of genetically altered foods.Our buying power is a powerful voice that gets heard. It can make or break companies. Yes, you can make a huge difference by supporting and buying high quality organic products. Organic may cost a little more, but think of it this way. You are not dumping potentially harmful chemicals into your body (may save on doctor bills), you are getting more vitamins for your buck, your are supporting the environment, and you are supporting ethical companies.. The products are also healthy, pure and a joy. Go for quality not quantity.
Call to start your journey to vibrant health Today.
Kim @ (317)409-4981
email:kwdesign@sbcglobal.net
