Robert Garner - New Horizon Wellness
www.newhorizonwellness.com
As we continue into the New Year the health care battle rages on in Washington. On both sides of the argument, emotional speeches are made without either side fully comprehending the proposed health care bill. While this fight continues the largest segment of our population, the Baby Boomers move toward retirement with concern as to affordability and medical access. They worry about a health care system that is producing fewer geriatric doctors and private care physicians. They worry about access to a system that is broken.
It’s time to side step the argument. There exists ample evidence that there is an alternative to our broken system of health care. There is also abundant evidence that this alternative system has a high success rate in preventing disease, reducing its impact and even eliminating illness. Below the blaring noise of endless pharmaceutical ads there have been voices for a new direction. Doctors like Walter Willett, Harvard University, Department of Nutrition, and T. Colin Campbell, PhD, professor of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University and one of the directors of the China Project continue to provide evidence for a difference approach. Doctors like Dean Ornish and Mark Hyman have side stepped the old system and provide guidance to new therapies. Dr. Andrew Weil talks about a new tier of health practitioners call health counselors that provide nutritional, diet and lifestyle coaching that can deliver improved health and vitality. Can it be that adjustments to our diet will eliminate disease? Will the elimination of certain foods and addition of others cure illness, increase energy, and improve the quality of life? The data supports a new direction, a side step from a broken system.
In New York Times best seller, The Blue Zone, Dan Buettner writes about his journey into societies or zones that do not have access to the same sophisticated technologically laden medical systems that Americans have. The Blue People approach diet and lifestyle in a simpler fashion. While there is a continued focus on science and technology the Blue Zones continue to produce a very large number of centenarians. People that live beyond 100 years of age. If asked if you would like to live to 100; how would you answer? Having seen the impact of disease and its toll on seniors, would you want to live that longer? The Blue People do not spend their senor years infirmed. They live lives that are vibrant, engaged, and fulfilled.
Ultimately our bodies have to cure themselves. And given half a chance they will do just that. The data no longer support methods that only mask symptoms. When we bring into our lives the elements that provide real nourishment we thrive and live healthy vibrant lives. There can always be a need for medical intervention but not at the sacrifice of making sound health decisions. When our knees hurt should we ignore the extra weight we carry and opt to cut out the pain with surgery? When our child asthmatically wheezes for air should we over look a possible connect between dairy and just have another ice cream cone? Our bodies will not lie to us. Which message do we listen to… a headache, stomachache, bloating, inflammation, or do we wait for serious disease. One way or the other our body will stop us if we are moving our health in the wrong direction.
Last year was seen as a year of contraction and scarcity. We become entrenched and looked to hold onto the things we already own; sometimes that included poor health. Many didn’t want to rock the boat. Some just wanted to get through 2009. I see 2010 as an opportunity for vibrant health and abundant lives. This is a time to give up limiting concepts of health and happiness. Let’s expand our concepts and attract a live that is full of adventure, a diet that sizzles and health that is energized.