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Healthy Decisions

8 years ago

This is a continuation of a discussion that began in the Appliances forum here: http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/4870887/which-are-the-favorite-brands-in-each-category?n=44

The crux of the conversation is that decisions that we make will have significant impacts on our health and that this also has a major impact on healthcare costs. E.G., the high cost of healthcare in the U.S. (highest in the world I believe) is due primarily to what we put in it - us. We in the U.S. are an overweight and unhealthy lot and we cost a lot more to maintain than someone in Sweden or The Netherlands for example. We in the U.S. have much higher rates of preventable chronic diseases than folks in Europe.

A key question then is what changes can we make to our lifestyle that will keep us healthier, lessen the diseases that we face, and lower our healthcare costs?

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Comments (3)

User
8 years ago
From the viewpoint of an older person who has watched people do all of the right things and end up being bionic and in chronic pain until the end of their lives sorry I prefer to do what I can but enjoy myself along the way. The nursing home comes quick enough when you are older.
bleusblue2
8 years ago
Sure, you can do all the right things and age into illness. But you can enjoy yourself and still bolster the odds that you will be well. First of all, those countries that do better have an inherited culture that endows the population with some sense of what a good life is. I'd say that includes traditions and values that most subscribe to, . Traditions that care about neighbours, and, as far as I know, better nutrition. this is not black and white.

Next, those countries have better health care. It's important to be able to go to the doctor without counting your pennies. Those Doctor visits offer preventive care. An emergency room visit shouldn't be the first time you see a doctor.

Plant based diet, fresh fruits and vegetables, no fried foods, anti inflammation focus.

Exercise -- especially walking. Regular brisk walking.

Care for the environment, chemicals, clean water, bigger budget for the FDA -- which hardly checks any imported food that comes into this country. Look it up if you don't believe it.

There are so many things that are already known to be important to our health. No miracles. Healthy eating and exercise don't automatically translate into a miserable life! Eating anything you want because you've developed cravings for unhealthy food -- chips, etc. doesn't automatically translate into a good life.
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American doctors like to throw synthetic prescriptions at everything. They don't fix the underlying issue. An American doctor poo-poo'd and Swiss medication (prescribed by a Swiss physician) because it was natural...

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