Healthcare Reform - the right way!

Did you know 51% of American children and adults are taking 1 or more prescription medications?

Did you know that 45% of American adults are overweight?

Did you know children who eat fast food fries are at a higher risk of breast cancer? BTW, there are two 10 year old girls in CA that have breast cancer - 10 years old! Can you imagine telling a 10 year old that she has breast cancer and might need a mastectomy?

Did you know that 96% of Americans don't get the 7 - 13 recommended daily fruits and vegetables.

Did you know that the millions of dollars spent on the "5 A Day" marketing program only increased our consumption of fruits and veggies by 1%! In 24 years that add campaign only produced a 1% increase!

Did you know that Americans are spending 12% less on fruits and 6% less on veggies in order to stay within their budget. What about their pharmaceutical budgets? We seem to have enough money for our Lipitor. V is not for Viagra - it's for veggies!

Let's try edible healing.

Super Fruits and Vegetables to Add to Your Diet


Super Red: Pink grapefruit, red bell peppers, tomatoes, and watermelon

Lycopene shows promise in fighting lung and prostate cancers. Lycopene is actually more available after cooking or processing so don't ignore canned tomato paste!


Super Purple: Concord grapes, blueberries and prunes

The anthocyanins that give these fruits their distinctive colors may help ward off heart disease by preventing clot formation. They may also help lower risk of cancer.


Super Green: Spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard greens and bok choy

Lutein appears to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke as well as guard against age-related macular degeneration. Dark green leafy vegetables are usually high in folate, a B vitamin that shows promising results in preventing heart diseases. In addition, Sulforaphane, a photochemical present in cruciferous vegetables, was found to detoxify cancer-causing chemicals before they do damage the body.


Super Orange: Carrots, mangos, pumpkin and oranges

The beta carotenes in these orange super fruits and vegetables may prevent cancer, particularly of the lung, esophagus and stomach. They may also reduce risk of heart disease and improve immune function.


Super White: Cauliflower, mushrooms, banana and onions

These contain anthoxanthins and allicin, which can help lower blood pressure and protect against stomach cancer.


Remember - Living off a $ menu may save you money now, but you'll pay later!

Eat Intentionally!

Health Care Reform

We are currently hearing a lot about health care reform. I believe health care reform begins in our own kitchens! It's time we put down our Whoppers and pick up some whole, unprocessed foods. We need to stop kidding ourselves that the lettuce and tomato on our burger is a serving of vegetables. We need to turn off the tv and get outside and walk. By the way, walking to the refrigerator is not an aerobic exercise.

I haven't had cable in 7 or 8 years (believe it or not, I have survived), and now with the advent of the converter box, I've almost stopped all television viewing. The converter box is an evil plot concocted by cable companies - the boxes don't work, but I digress. I have started watching a few shows online and I have noticed that shows that are 1 hour in length on television are around 42 minutes online - less commercials. 30 minute shows are now 21 minutes. So I'm missing out on the ads for Cialis, Viagra, Nexium, Lipitor, Zoloft, and Celebrex, darn. I'm missing the ads for the new "healthy" Kentucky "Grilled" Chicken, Cheerios, Activa, Special K - how will I know what to eat?

We spend an average of 5 - 6 hours a day in front of the television, 2.5 hours in front of a computer, and 20 minutes on mobile devices. How many ads are we seeing? How are they effecting us? Do they make us ache when they mention arthritis? Do they make us hungry when they pull the cookies out of the oven? How are they effecting our health?

What does this have to do with health care reform - everything! We need to take responsibility for our own health and stop thinking that the Colonel and Ronald McDonald are thinking about our health by offering grilled chicken and salads. We need to realize that drug companies are in business to make a profit. We need to put our health back in our own hands and not the governments. Eat whole, unprocessed, God made foods. Move - that's what we were built to do. We will pay the price for Whoppers, Ding Dongs, excessive tv viewing, internet surfing - OUR HEALTH. If we pick up an apple maybe we won't have to pick up a pill.

EAT INTENTIONALLY!