A COUNTRY ROAD

A COUNTRY ROAD

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Priorities of Health in today's American Lifestyle

I live in a beautiful place. For those of you who do not know where Fayetteville, Arkansas is, or for that matter, have never heard of the place, take my word for it, Fayetteville is truly one of those special communities in America. If I had to make a summary description, I would say 1 part Arkansan, 1 part Rockwell with a splash of Warhol & Einstein. But even in this most progressive of Arkansas communities, prevention and wellness are not part of many of my beloved neighbors health priorities. Arkansas as a whole just needs to pick up the paper and read its collective health statitistics on Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Cancer to realize that whatever it is we are doing - ain't working.

That's not to say we're not trying, we're taxing tobacco, and other vices to help pay for a Trauma Center that is desparately needed in our state, and I suppose some of the money will most likely end up going toward post incident healthcare, and that will just add to the existing crisis that is healthcare in Amercia and most certainly Arkansas. The tobacco tax is two steps forward and the path the money could take is possibly one step back. Why? Because you will not ever be able to pay for the expense of today's healthcare on the back end. It's like trying to payoff one of those high interest credit cards with an income that can't keep up with the interest - you can't get there from here.

But there is hope, from Northwest Arkansas, Senator Bill Pritchard is leading the charge to divert some of the money to Substance Abuse, which is preventive -paying on the front end, common sense. Leave it to an old country boy from Washington County to understand the "pay me now or pay me later" of health and wellness. If he's successful and I pray he is, he may well have played the biggest role in reducing economic drain of healthcare costs to the state of Arkansas than any one leader in decades.

I had heard a rumor that there would be a bill introduced to tax energy drinks, you know those super sugar, caffeinated, amino-herbal abused drinks the kids (and many adults) are so crazy about. These are the same products many in my profession know are the next big precursor for any number of neuro-metabolic diseases to come. So at a political forum with all of the Washington Co. legislators hosted by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, I waited until I thought that all the questions regarding the hottest topics had been asked and then very hesitantly inquired if any of our Representatives or Senators had heard of any such bill being filed or proposed. They were all very polite, even though the question received some light hearted snickering in the audience, but none had heard anything regarding such a bill.

That's too bad, because such a tax on this scurge of products in this particular market segment could easily be used to help alleviate a host of future medical problems and increased costs. One thing is for sure, I believe Governor Mike Beebe will continue his work in prevention. His wife has taken on a number of health issues facing this state. Maybe one day we'll see funding for Community Wellness centers as well as Community Health Clinics as a way of reducing pressure on our Healthcare system. Pay me now - or pay me later, it really is that simple.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

The economy of Health & Wellness

Wow, I really didn't realize how much of a Holiday Hibernation I had taken until I received a couple of comments from readers - I really didn't know anyone was following.
I guess like everyone else, between the Holidays & the state of the economy I lost track of my personal comittment to keep my thoughts going. My shock at my absence and a question posed by a reader brought me to my topic. Not that the readers question was in direct relationship to the topic but anyway, here we go.
If cheap gas prices destroy our will and desire to explore and develop new fuel and energy sources - how much will this economy which is looking more like a virus based plague than an estate of a free culture, destory our desire to continue the science and collective reason which has become the science of natural health alternatives. One of my readers asked about Acai berry, found in powder extract but most prevalent in the drink market.
First, let me say that your assumption that I would know more about Acai than you maybe giving me way too much credit. Some studies show that the acai berry may fight cancer, increase energy, aid in weight loss and more. Probably because of its extemely concentrated antioxidant compounds as well as a host of other very benefical nutrients. But Acai has only been mainstream in alternative health for a little over 4 years. And mainstream in alternative health circles is still a way from mainstream America, most of which think that preventive medicine is a treadmill and a prescription. It, like Goji and other exotic fruits that all hit the states about the same time, have brought new options for health and while they have collectively gained the notoriety necessary to fund beginning research, that's where it is right now - promising but just the beginning. Is it Good for you - absolutely, better for you than orange juice - most assuredly, Do you get Health Bang for your Buck - it's worth the cost of a 60 day self trial to find out.
Go for it.
Meanwhile, trying to introduce Natural Health and Wellness to an ever growing populace of working poor who are struggling just to get buy will be as challenging as reviving a desire for more effort in developing independent and affordable fuel and energy while gas is so cheap. Both are going to take some very deliberate leadership.