Taking Responsibility for our Health

Many clients coming to me for help with physical pains such as neck or back often have a long history of other health issues. These range from diabetes, fibromyalgia, heart and circulation, lung problems and much more. They ask for advice on topics such as exercise, supplements nutrition and diet. I am not a doctor and make no claims as a health expert but I have acquired a certain amount of knowledge over my thirty plus years of pursuing better health. I have attended countless hours of seminars not only on massage but energy medicine and nutrition as well. I subscribe to numerous health publications and newsletters and read voraciously. That is a double edged sword because if you read enough material you will invariably read a great deal of conflicting advice and theories from experts in their fields. It can be exhausting and confusing. Much of what I've learned has been through trial and error of personal experience.

My goal is to share with you in these pages what has worked for me and provide some suggestions on healthy alternatives for conditions you may dealing with. I also want to plant the seed as mentioned in the headline that we need to take responsibility for our own health and not put ourselves at the mercy of the United States healthcare system. We spend two to five times more on healthcare than almost all other civilized countries, an average of $8,608 for every man woman and child. Healthcare spending accounts for almost one sixth of our economy yet our rank compared to other nations continues to fall.

Two examples. On life expectancy we rank 26^th out of the 34 nations studied, down with Poland, Mexico and the Czech Republic. We were 46^th out of 48 nations for healthcare efficiency. The un-affordable health care act is not going to improve that ranking.

Doctors prescribe a pill for every problem and we as patients gladly pop them. I admit a pill at first glance may seem easier than eating whole unprocessed foods, making diet changes, reading labels and avoiding Big Macs and sugar. You will find however that your taste buds will quickly respond to the taste of real food. In the end, relying on pills and advice coming from big pharma rather than making lifestyle changes and healthy choices will simply give us old years rather than golden years. 

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