In addressing the topic I feel it necessary to first state I am looking at it from a global perspective devoid of political agendas. As you consider this aspect more deeply; you begin to understand that national "health care plans" will fall short of their goals unless proactive action is taken worldwide.
While nations will differ in opinion as to how to approach health care for its citizens, a broad unified vision of the problem and the need to deal with it must be the starting ground. Attack the roots of the problem and you'll go a great distance toward improving overall health and lowering associated costs. However this isn't very easy as it involves changing how people live, the food they consume and the countless industries that shape our lives.
The core problem is primarily with three major concerns: - dietary choices - general physical activity - policy-making / legislative decisions
Reserving commentary on the later two areas, let's first look at the issue of dietary choices.
The first step in understanding this problem is to grasp the essential truth that the modern diet is designed for failure. From the most basic vantage point, this simple reality costs the individual his or her health while it creates a circuitous nightmare with regard to health care costs and public policy.
The root of the problem stems from changes in food choices in the post-industrialized world, where the foundation of regionally produced items has been all but eliminated, except in rare instances. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently noted that over fifty percent of our diet consisted of processed and refined foods, with fruits and vegetables making up a minor if not immaterial amount. While this figure will vary from country to country, the general theme is that regions with similar dietary habits suffer from rampant obesity program and long-term health care problems. Though some organizations will note a certain disease as the "nation's leading killer," truthfully it is inadequate nutrition that is killing
us. The first step in improving your "diet" is to recognize the simple point that you should never "diet". Bring a new phrase into your vocabulary and consider food as "cuisine" and equally what you share with friends and family as a form of fellowship. However in saying that, it isn't merely what you eat but how you eat because as a culture we must kill off the scourge of "fast food" before it kills us off. A trip to the typical fast-food joint looks more like the pre-dawn cleaning of the stables, but with public shoveling down disease disguised as a meal as fast as they can.
Borrowing the 1980's slogan of "think global, act local," it is important to support regional farm initiatives or grocers who do business with local farm communities. This will have a dramatic impact upon environmental issues such as better crop rotation and eating foods indigenous to your region. If you're lucky enough to live in a region that has a "farmers market" on specific days, set aside that day and visit with friends and family. In my travels around the world I have found this is one of the best ways to relax and enjoy the setting with family. And while I never gave it direct thought, it has improved the quality of my health and life.
The third point is even broader, as you should be eliminating all packaged or processed food and becoming self-sufficient where possible. This has the potential of being a significant cost savings as you shop on a regular basis for fresh fruits and vegetables and all but eliminate wastage or unnecessary packaging. For those who have a backyard, learn the joy of turning some soil and planting a garden. Add compost to your backyard to make use of its by-product to enrich your soil. There will be adjustments needed with compost depending upon your region but with a little work it will pay off.
The fourth point is to understand how gluttony has crept into our dietary habits and take a personal pledge of ending it. Displaying the ability to shovel as much food into your gullet is not a moment of pride and needs to come to an end. However this issue is equally a by-product of the physical dimensions of dinner plates increasing over time and the public being accustomed to larger portions. This is an obvious problem but can be handled with relative ease if you consider the base of the plate cut into sections, with roughly fifty percent to vegetables and the balance split equally between lean meats and high quality starches.
The fifth point I will reserve for a full article later as it deals with the highly complex issue of ensuring proper nutrition. This is not an easy matter because while I will reference the need for a balanced diet in a world where poor crop rotation and questionable farming practices has led to a multitude of problems with soil quality. This has in-turn dropped the nutritional quality of many food sources, necessitating firm supplemental recommendations that are absolutely necessary for those looking to live a healthy life.
In summary the "Renegade Health Care Plan" is one of the most ambitious and controversial projects I have undertaken but I am hopeful it will lead the charge toward living a healthier life.
John Davies, Founder of Renegade Training Personal Supplemental Stack for Optimal Health: