Healthcare Reform - What Does It Mean to You?

There are many presumptions about how these new healthcare reforms are impacting the extent and quality of care for our country. While no approach to medical care is going to provide the one-size-fits-all solution that we would love to have, many of these changes will alleviate the burden for the consumer. In addition, they are asking more of the insurance companies and easing businesses into meeting certain standards to keep their employees receiving good quality benefits. Ultimately this lightens the load on the taxpayers, the states and the federal government.

Many of the reform measures will not take place until 2014. There are a few key areas that have brought up debate, but what is happening is really quite black and white.

* At no point will you be forced into a plan you don't want or have to choose a doctor that you do not want to work with.

* There will not be any subsidies for illegal immigrants to purchase health insurance.

* Our current administration will not be compiling a federal health record on citizens. There will, however, be incentives offered to doctors to record and report certain vital statistics so as to facilitate a greater understanding of national health trends.

* What is happening to our health care system is not socialization. In fact, the new law relies heavily on private insurance companies and employers to provide coverage. This will increase competition among insurance providers and likely give customers lower premiums.

* By 2014 all plans will have to meet minimum requirements and large employers will have to provide coverage or pay significant fines.

* There are certainly increases in premiums that have already been occuring as a result of concommitent increases in health care costs. Insurers will now be required to cover preventive care without cost-sharing which may play a minor role in increases for next year. However, this reform has energized federal and state officials to force down large increases that insurers are working hard to push through.

* There seems to be a scare that Medicare benefits will be sharply cut when in fact this is not the case at all. The new law is designed to slow down the rate of increases in payments to health care providers. The only possible change to benefits will be to beneficiaries of subsidies for things such as gym memberships or dental care.

* It is feared that the law will force states to expand their Medicaid programs. However it will be the federal government who will be picking up the bulk of vulnerable Americans who are not covered. Having some means of insurance coverage for these individuals is important, as the state and taxpayers will have to bear the burden of costly emergency room visits without it.

* A few of the most beneficial aspects of the new plan is the lack of cost-sharing for preventative treatments which encourages individuals to seek help for minor health issues before they are significant and costly. Young adults who cannot find employment can stay on their parents plan so they remain protected. And lifetime benefit limits are gone.

These measures have in fact helped in the bigger picture. Don't take our word for it, look at it for yourself to see what is really happening.

How to Make That Healthy Diet Happen!

A healthy diet is the one that we apply to our daily routine that nourishes us both physically and mentally. Our relationship to food can be one that truly enhances our health, but the sad reality for too many is that this relationship has a disconnect. As Michael Pollan impresses upon us in his book, "In Defense of Food", we will benefit from making food choices that bring thoughtfulness and pleasure back to eating. And his overwhelming message is to "eat food". The meaning of this is that we consume food that is grown by caring farmers in healthy communities without the interjection of food science. Fresh whole foods should be the choice we make and it is prepared with good intention and shared with loved ones in a spirit of gratitude and enjoyment. Not tossed to us through the window of a fast food restaurant.

We know that this paradigm shift in our relationship with our food is huge and that this process of change may need to take place slowly. So if we decide to embrace this approach, what are the steps to take that make this a reality? First and foremost, you must envision that your health is a priority! The steps you need to take will only follow if you hold this belief to be true in the process of making change!

* When we are making dietary changes to add more fresh fruits and veggies, there is a period of time to commit to that will get your taste buds over the hump of trying something new. Rather, your brain starts to make a different association to the new and healthy food that will allow you to enjoy these new flavors more after a period of time. Give yourself at least 1 month before you try a small nibble of the forbidden food that you used to crave whether it's fat or sweets.

*Start to view food in a different light. Find gratitude for each meal you eat and view the healthy food as your bounty rather than seeing the sweets you aren't eating as deprivation. Our brain function is intimately and powerfully associated with our consumption of food, so tap into the positive association that helps us make better choices.

*Are you aware that at least 20 percent of digestion occurs before food even hits our stomach? This is called the Cephalic Phase of gastric secretion and it results from the sight, smell, thought or taste of food. What this means is that the slower we eat our food, the better we enable our digestive system to process and ultimately assimilate nutrients. Enjoying food with loved ones in a slow and thoughtful manner does more than just provide socialization, it actually nourishes us better.

*When we can't afford the time for preparation, use a night or weekend to prepare extra food that you can bring with you for lunch or eat on a busier evening. Making crockpot meals are easy and leave you with quite a bit of left overs for later. At this time, you can also make packs of healthy snacks to bring with you to work or on outings with friends and family. But don't sacrifice the time you should take in eating it mindfully.

*Practice, practice and practice. Preparing different recipes will give you a repertoire of different meals to choose from and the process of preparing for yourself will become more joyful over time. Use the following link for a cancer dietician who will give you outstanding tips and recipes that will make your cooking easier and more nutritious.

http://rebeccakatz.com/

Should you fall short at any time in the process, return to step one...prioritize and believe in your health!

10 of the Healthiest Foods - Preventing Disease

In certain circles it seems that it is understood that the diet plays a crucial role in increasing health and longevity. However, the attitude that no matter what you eat you will get sick still has a strong foothold. This is particularly true when the topic of cancer comes up. Disease never has one definitive cause, but we have come to understand with the tremendous quantity of research available that what we ingest has a profound impact on both the incidence and course of a disease. This should not come as a surprise, since our history as a species was to live alongside the plant kingdom that we have developed such synergy with. In the spirit of prevention, enjoy these 10 fabulous foods that are bound to improve your health and help you fight and ward off disease!

1) Cruciferous vegetables which includes broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, arugula, cabbage, bok choy and radishes

2) Green tea

3) Berries of all kinds

4) Citrus fruits

5) Asian mushrooms which includes shitake, maitake and reishi

6) Spices such as turmeric for controlling inflammation and cinnamon for controlling blood sugar

7) Nuts and seeds and particularly walnuts, almonds and chia seeds

8) Garlic and the other veggies of the allium family such as onion, shallot and chives (cut these veggies up 10 minutes before cooking to get the greatest benefit)

9) Legumes

10) Dark leafy greens such as kale, collards and beet greens

BPA - In Your Mouth?

Bisphenol A or BPA is a chemical used to make plastics and is known to be an endocrine disruptor. This means it causes a shift in the balance of estrogen by attaching itself to estrogen receptor sites, leaving your bodies own estrogen without a place to bind to and creating elevated levels in your blood. This is a known risk factor for developing reproductive cancers. So why is this chemical in our mouths?

Well...it may not be, but if you have had dental sealants at some point then the chances are good that you have had some exposure through this route. Derivatives of BPA are found in dental sealants and even though BPA is rarely used itself, it may be present as a by-product of other ingredients used to manufacture these dental composites. Blood levels are known to spike to 88 times higher than normal levels immediately following a procedure. The good news about BPA in sealants is that it does not continue to contaminate the body for long periods after they are placed. However, we don't truly know what level of exposure is the threshold for developing problems later in life. So it is wise to take precautions when going to the dentist. This is particularly true for children, as their developing bodies are highly susceptible to cellular disruption. Follow these basic guidelines to decrease exposure if sealants are absolutely necessary.

- Ask the dentist to use a sealant that is made with bisphenol GMA rather than bisphenol DMA.
- Avoid using them during pregnancy.
- Have your dentist wash off the surface of the filling after it is set or wipe it with a cottom swab to prevent the chemical from entering the saliva.