Dietary Guidelines

Didja' Know the USDA is required by law to review and, if necessary, update the Dietary Guidelines for Americans every 5 years? The nutrition industry has been trying to bring good health to Americans for decades, and the government-based health organizations are finally seeing that "eating and physical activity patterns that are focused on consuming fewer calories, making informed food choices, and being physically active can help people attain and maintain a healthy weight, reduce their risk of chronic disease, and promote overall health?" Well, this is not a news flash to many of us, however, we can be thankful it has come to fruition. We could use a little help spreading the word on good health.

The Dietary Guidelines are meant for persons aged 2 and older, for America's multifaceted groups, and account for food preferences, customs and cultural traditions. Consideration has also been made for the 15% of American households unable to acquire the proper foods to sustain adequate levels of nutrition to maintain good health. The arms of the USDA are trying to extend their reach to include all Americans, however, realistically there are people who are indifferent to good health and making it a priority.

There are key recommendations set up in the Dietary Guidelines that should be in the forefront of improving public health, regardless of age, culture or economics. The recommendations include:

• Balancing Calories to Manage Weight
• Foods and Food Components to Reduce
• Foods and Nutrients to Increase
• Building Healthy Eating Patterns

Our favorite recommendation is listed under 'Foods and Nutrients to Increase:'

• Choose foods that provide more potassium, dietary fiber, calcium, and vitamin D, which are nutrients of concern in American diets. These foods include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and milk and milk products.

Overall, the Dietary Guidelines put forth by the USDA are a great checklist for anyone looking to improve their health and the health of their family. Improving the health of vast numbers is daunting, as the supplement industry has found out, but with increased acceptance of higher health standards and the ability to widely promote these standards, in time we can all help make America a healthier nation. Let's do it!

The More the Merrier!

This statement is questionable when it comes to medications and health. There are so many people, especially older people, who take more than one prescription medication on a daily basis. Many seem to be unclear of the reasons for taking half their medications. The scenario usually starts with a visit at the doctors office which continues to spiral downhill over the years.

Doctors are definately necessary and may have chosen their profession to help others. Just like any other issue in the world, the reasons for over-prescribing medications doesn't rest solely on their shoulders. Many patients expect to get more than an explanation while at a doctor visit - a fast, easy cure-all for whatever condition they may have, something to help them feel better immediately. Forget about what lifestyle changes or dietary changes they should make to feel better - that's too difficult. Society has through the years placed an urgency and decreased work ethic on individuals, and this is the backbone of more than just over-prescribing medications in America.

America is now riddled with health problems, increased medical costs and the pressure to find solutions to other unhealthy trends that have developed before the turn of the century.

The solutions? Well, this is just one opinion, but start taking ownership and responsibility for your own health issues and quit relying so heavily on doctors to fix everything. Granted, there are some people who are unable to do this, but for those who are mentally and physically able to positively change their health, they should start right now.

How? First, ask your doctor which medications are necessary. Tell him or her you want to help yourself get off medications. You may be surprised at your doctor's response. Then, tell them what physical activity you would like to start to get your body healthy - relying on it's natural functions rather than the help of medications. And, lastly, make an honest effort to eat right and get your body the proper nutrients to help daily functions.

The hardest part of the process may be making the decision to start and telling yourself you may not need a medication anymore as a security blanket. Whenever the decision is made, just remember, to talk to your doctor first. Tell them you want to take the 'more' out of your medicated daily routine, and become free to dictate your health. Try it! Your future could be a lot 'merrier' for it!

Not Just Physical

Good physical health is important. It is also very important to have good psychological health to defray the various physical problems that can stem from psychological issues. In certain cases, the psychological may need to be addressed for the physical symptoms to be eliminated. Mental status is a process that takes hours, days and often months of analyzing why an individuals brain responds the way they do. Until ghosts of the past or stress is chipped away and exposed, many people go through life in a state of denial, anxiety or unsatisfactory existence, constantly searching for the balance in their lives. Most likely, all that person needs is a release and a feeling of freedom. This sounds simple, but is usually a very complicated process.

Many of you have probably experienced stress, trauma or tragedy in your life. Reflecting on that time, weakened physical health may have occurred simultaneously. Did you start overeating which caused weight gain? Did depression set in and enthusiasm disappear? Did you experience exhaustion and not want to get out of bed? Become irritable, short-tempered or lose focus on the future? Did you have a heart attack, increase in blood pressure, or increase in substance abuse? Psychologists have determined that hardiness and resiliency levels determine how a person responds to life changes and whether they can easily overcome the adversity.

Over the past decade there has been larger, worldly issues that create stress, depression, and anxiety - the war, fear of attacks in the U.S., and a large number of natural disasters. It is difficult for people to be resilient when their home has been destroyed by water, an earthquake, or a family member dies in the war. These all add to the growing psychological problems in the country.

According to the American Psychological Association, "trauma disorders are a common and costly problem in the United States. An estimated 5.2 million American adults ages 18 to 54, or approximately 3.6 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). In 1990, anxiety disorders cost the U.S. an estimated $46.6 billion. Untreated PTSD from any trauma is unlikely to disappear and can contribute to chronic pain, depression, drug and alcohol abuse and sleep problems that impede a person's ability to work and interact with others."

This growing need for solutions to psychological health will also affect a population physically. People can currently address their psychological problems more openly because of increased acceptance in the past few decades. And helping a person's psychological health will also help their physical problems, too.