Tag Archives: healthy living

Minorities hit hardest by arthritis

Posted on April 15, 2010 by continuum wellness| Leave a comment

If the following article, below, is true, then don’t wait to be a statistic. What are willing to do, to make a difference in your life? Start now to change your diet, begin now to exercise more and walk more. Surround yourself with people who also want to live healthier, create a support team. Claim your power to live in ways that produce well-being.

Minorities hit hardest by arthritis

The burden of arthritis is greater for African Americans and Hispanics, despite lower prevalence among these groups according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report published in the May issue of Preventing Chronic Disease. According to the Arthritis Foundation, these findings suggest a critical need to expand the reach of effective strategies aimed at arthritis prevention and management, particularly among groups bearing a disproportionate burden.

The report finds that the prevalence of activity limitation, work limitation and severe joint pain are significantly higher among African Americans and Hispanics. These two groups are nearly twice as likely as whites to have severe joint pain and work limitations and 1.3 times as likely to have activity limitations.

“Arthritis is a debilitating disease that profoundly impacts the lives of millions of Americans on a daily basis,” said Dr. Patience White, vice president of public health for the Arthritis Foundation. “The effects of the 46 million Americans with arthritis on the economy are enormous; the direct and indirect medical costs of this disease are estimated to be $128 billion each year.” With the aging of the baby boomer population, the prevalence of arthritis is expected to rise significantly from 46 million Americans to 67 million Americans by 2030, adds White.

Fortunately, there are simple steps everyone can take to prevent and decrease the pain and disability of arthritis. Small amounts of weight loss and physical activity can make a big difference. For example, for every one pound of weight loss, there is a four-pound reduction in the load exerted on each knee. In addition, safe and effective self-management education programs are available. People living with arthritis can benefit from participating in one of the Arthritis Foundation’s exercise or self-management programs, such as the Arthritis Foundation Walk With Ease Program, Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program, Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, and Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program.

Posted in African American, arthritis, Health, health disparity

Tagged , , , , , ,

National Health Care, Why?

Posted on July 24, 2009 by continuum wellness| Leave a comment

One of the odd things about insurance is that organizations that provide it generally do not want their customers to use the product. Regardless whether it is home insurance, business, auto, or health the typical claimant is not particularly embraced with open arms. Premiums are paid monthly for a product you hope you never have to use. Highly paid mathematical whiz types calculate myriad ways to offset risky policy holders and the “losses”, they could produce, so the bottom line stays healthy.

Television commercials, offer insurance products to individuals say, over age 60. A payout benefit of $50,000 or so is guaranteed. I wonder where does the money come from? The individual has not put that amount in. How is the system structured to pay the benefit? Is it some kind of scheme?

Honestly I haven’t been too engaged in listening to the debate. In my humble view, we are asking the wrong questions. The players, meaning the doctors, hospitals and perhaps the government seem to have agendas. Health, is in my view, precious and shouldn’t be bandied about in any kind of one up manship. The public is advised to poo-poo anything out of the mainstream, when it comes to health care. All of the dollars are for drugs, pills, surgery, vaccines and high tech medical devices. The health care model is not focused on health. It thrives on people being sick. This model hasn’t produced the most healthiest citizenry. And it is so expensive. Some Americans live longer now. Women still live longer then men. But with the health care system currently in place, Americans are fatter, diabetes is epidemic and juvenile diabetes is growing, more people are depressed and the drugs are showing up in the public water supply. The only health approach suggested is check-ups and vaccines. When a healthy diet is suggested food industry groups lobby because they don’t want anyone to say for example avoid dairy milk, or drink less milk or eat less cheese, sugar or any other commodity. How as a nation can we be healthy when we want to corral people into being mindless automatons?

Instead of national health care, why not promote national responsibility? Why is our food supply always being tampered with? Instead of debating insurance coverage, let’s debate responsibility. Why not allow the public real choice? Provide the public with real food from healthy soil.

Posted in healing, healing philosophy, Health, health care, healthy body, healthy eating, wellness

Tagged , ,

Components of Healthy Food

Posted on August 24, 2008 by continuum wellness| Leave a comment

By Catherine Carter

All food is not the same. Of course nutritional content varies, the quality of the soil the food is grown in, the growing methods, harvesting method. The love and intention of the farmer to grow nourishing crops also contributes to the quality of the food. Part of learning how to detox is learning what to put in the body and what is best avoided.

There has been a subtle shift from food truly being nourishing and life sustaining vs. food looking good. Consumer studies show that shoppers do not like fruits and vegetables with blemishes so into the lab we go, to create food (?) that is blemish free. It may look good, however it doesn’t decay and it is tasteless.

And so we get sucked in, to externals. Form with no content. It looks good but it doesn’t support you living a vibrant life. It may help you to save (?) a few dollars…but how many more dollars are lost if you develop a chronic disease? National health care coverage should begin on the farm. National health care coverage has begin with healers. National health care coverage has to begin with Mom and Dad…and real, healthy, nutritious food.

In your quest for healthier living avoid:

  • Irradiated food
  • Genetically modified food
  • the microwave
  • hormones
  • pesticides
  • refined foods
  • refined flours and grains
  • the meat of factory farmed animals.

Make a start today, to reclaiming your most, vibrant health and well being. Small steps will provide large rewards.

Posted in detox, diet, food, healing, healing philosophy, Health, health benefits of food, health care, healthy body, healthy eating, healthy mind, nutrition, Uncategorized, wellness, women, yoga

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Preventing Diabetes

Posted on May 27, 2008 by continuum wellness| Leave a comment

Research has demonstrated that diet/nutrition can lead to results where individuals who were diabetic were able to come off of medication. Healthy eating along with other factors such as good sound sleep and daily movement also go a long way to prevent the onset of many chronic conditions.

Here are some steps that you can take to build your overall health.

  • Make sure there is plenty of chlorophyll in your diet. This can come from a diet rich in plant matter or by taking chlorophyll supplements.
  • Add bran to your diet. Eat whole oats (oat groats) or steel cut oats or if you are not allergic to wheat add wheat bran to your diet or flax seed.
  • Eat less.
  • Chew your food thoroughly.
  • Eliminate greasy foods.
  • Reduce meat, eggs and cheese.
  • Eliminate white sugar, white flour products, substitute whole grain products.
  • Eat simple meals.
  • Move your body daily.
  • Learn how to relax, accumulated tension contributions.
  • Eliminate artificial sweeteners
  • Eliminate soda.

Taking steps to eat a balanced diet of whole foods, primarily plant based will go a long way to promote your health and well-being.

Posted in diabetes, diet, food, healing, Health, healthy body, healthy eating, nutrition, Uncategorized, wellness, Western diet

Tagged ,