When health and health care go south. This day and age you just never know. I know people who have just had back surgery, people who have/ had cancer, people who have had heart attacks, or people who’s hands are falling asleep. Most of us don’t wake up and think, “what can I do to be a little healthier today?”
I know I think about some of my patients health more than they do. I was zipping through some news articles this morning and thought of many of you. The days of $250 deductibles and 100% coverage are almost gone. I only have a few patients with that kind of coverage anymore. Most people are paying more and raising their deductibles. My family’s deductible is about $4000
http://tr.im/7t8c
This article is referring to the disconcerting wave of health care options disappearing for many, and deductibles rising. It has some good explanations if your health care is cut because of lay-offs or the employer no longer can afford it. I know someones husband who went to work the next day and “boom” no coverage.
I use my insurance as a backup for a catastrophe. You can never know your future. I think besides some kind of health coverage the next best thing to have is life insurance. Dave Ramsey, radio financial guru, recommends Term insurance for many reasons. Buy what you can afford.
Here is a ringer with insurance, any kind of insurance. It really, really, really helps if your are healthy. It can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year. Here is the way I look at it. You are going to pay the piper on way or another. Health is like taxes. I know, weird analogy, but hang in there. If you don’t pay your taxes, you get some good penalties. If you don’t pay them long enough, the penalties become practically unpayable.
In health, you pay for it with money and in penalties.
I have an 80 year old patient who could kick many 30 year olds butts. He is in great shape. He eats very well, exercises everyday, does yoga, and even runs. He didn’t get that way by waking up tired, sore, overweight, out of shape, at 79 and suddenly decide that he should take care of himself. No, it has been his lifestyle for many, many, years.
So how do I stay far away from the medical doctors office. I have used M.D.’s for emergency care and additional imaging for my family, but beyond that my family has never been there for anything else. I don’t go if I’m sick, which is almost never, I don’t go. Not because I am a stubborn male, but because it is a dangerous place to be. The CDC itself ranked hospital born infections as the #4 cause of death in the US. If I had a problem and needed some extra diagnosis then sure I’d go, but I would find an alternative treatment. If you actually look at medication deaths and side effects, they are somewhere between the #1 and #3 cause of death, Yikes!!.
So what is my day like. (in a nut shell)
…I wake up without an alarm clock 95% of the time. (adrenals working good)
…Generally grab a big glass water.
…Either workout now, or in the afternoon.
…Hit the shower
…One of two main breakfasts. (eggs and protein/coconut oil/ fruit smoothie) or (Yogurt/Whey-pro/fruit) NO Cereal. Commercial cereal is one of the most unhealthy foods.
…Vitamins (about 8 different ones)
…I don’t read the paper.
…Start off slow, writing, checking a few emails, getting my brain thinking about health. I quit racing around years ago.
…See fun, energetic patients
…Lunch / exercise. Lunch can vary wildly. I like a bigger heavier meal with a combo of fruit, veggies and meat.
(my favorite is Salmon and broccoli)
…See more great patients.
…After 6:00 is family time (This is more during summer). A few notes about the evening. Supper, a few more vitamins, glass of red wine, then I play with kids til bedtime, after that, almost no TV. For those of you who have seen Ed Foreman’s tape on how to have a terrific day, this is what I do from his lessons. No Cop shows, No CSI, no blood baths, Gore, in general the News. End your day with something uplifting. I watch some comedy online and read something useful or spiritual before bed. One of the best things you can do is go to bed with a peaceful heart and head, so you wake up that way. (If you like movies, don’t rent “Burn After Reading”, the single worst movie I’ve seen.)
Is everyday like this, No. Crazy stuff happens. This is probably 90% of the time. It also varies from summer to winter. One of my points is that health is a lifestyle. Not a thing you can buy at the store. This is just an outline, there are hundreds of other little things I do and think through the day that I have learned to do over the years that makes me healthy.
Being healthy is many things, but start now. Don’t wait.
1. You can’t wait until your spinal discs are completely blown out and then think “shoot, maybe I should go to the chiropractor.” If you have back pain, it means something is wrong, plain and simple. Don’t hide it with pain killers, go to the chiropractor. Sure the pain will fade with time, but thats your body adapting to the problem. That isn’t the problem “going away”. The pain maybe gone but not the problem. Back pain affects about 80% of Americans. You can’t replace your spine, you must take care of it. It is the foundation of your health. In 1921, a medical doctor, Henry Windsor, M.D. at the U. of Pennsylvania was looking to disprove chiropractic’s claims that health comes from the spine. Out of 75 human dissections and 22 cats he looked at 221 diseased organs. “212 were observed to belong to the same sympathetic segments (nerve) as the vertebrae in curvature.”
Keep your nerves healthy, to be healthy, with chiropractic.
2. Eat
You have to eat to be healthy. This is a monster topic that I could write about for days, so as a reminder. Healthy people eat lots of fruit and veggies, and some form of protein. Protein being meat, poultry, fish, beans and rice. Various populations around the world have differing habit based on what is available. Add some good fats and you’ll feel good and look good. You need good fats to be healthy. I take cod liver oil everyday during the winter. We cook with Virgin coconut oil, Extra virgin olive oil, and butter. Do not use vegetable oil or canola oil. A primitive diet or mediterrainian diet far and away supercedes any food pyramid or medical dietary advice. If you follow the traditional food pyramid you will be like most Americans, fat and sick and full of medications. Kind of what they want. The more organic food and local food you consume the healthier you will be. You can pay for organic now, hint some is the same price as the death food alternative, or you can pay for higher health bills later. Pesticides and herbicides cause cancer, pure and simple. That’s why they have a skull and cross bones on the label. Keep your food as pure as possible if you want to be healthy.
3. Drink clean water
You can’t safely drink tap water. If you don’t believe me, call a local water company that sells equipment and they will come out and do a quick test of your municipal water for free. I just changed our R.O. filters and they are disgusting. I have yet to see a perfect water solution. There are lots of claims and magical products. I do not recommend distillers or tap water. All water filters seem to have at least one problem, but they are all infinately better than tap water or distilled water. Restructured water scares me. Trying to improve on water sounds dangerous, because people have tried to improve food and totally screwed it up. I generally drink 5-6 glasses of herbal tea a day, especially during the winter.
4. You have to be taking WHOLE food vitamins (supplements).
I can’t stress this enough. The food we eat, even the organic food, is depleted of vitamins and minerals. The more boxed, canned, bagged food you eat the MORE you need whole food supplements. You’re body can limp along using the reserves it has, but eventually you will run out. This is such an important topic I am working on a book for you. When it comes to vitamin supplements, the only company I completely trust is Standard Process. I have been to their farm and their facility and impressive is an understatement. Many companies have tried to copy them, but they have a 70 year headstart.
5. Exercise
This is a no brainer. This is the only area the medical community and I completely agree on. I don’t care what you do, just get off the couch a few times a week and you will feel better. If you want to find out why I don’t go to gym you can read more here, http://tr.im/a7nf.
5 Quick tips to exercise better:
1. HIT it...High-Intensity-Training
Work your way up to it. If you are going to workout, then workout, don’t lollygag. Don’t rest too much. The MAX it should take you is 45 minutes. Longer than that, you are wasting time. I work out 15-20 minutes. Cardio may take a little longer, but that’s not too often.
2. Eat Protein.
You need it to make muscle. Most people don’t have enough. Especially eat it after a workout.
3. Water
Keep your body hydrated and it will reward you.
4. Mix it up.
If you want to make some gains your need to keep your body a little confused. Doing the same routine or same circuit, your body will remember that. Your progress will diminish. Compound exercises (squats, push-ups) are far and away healthier than isolated exercises (bicep curls, hamstring curls)
5. Lift slower
For more strength lift your weights with a 5 second count. 5 seconds up and 5 seconds down.
Being healthy is the best insurance you can buy. You never know when the big guy will come calling, but you can enoy the ride until he does.
Dr. Altman
Entries (RSS)