"Sick" Care vs. Preventative Care & The 1,200 Page
U.S. Healthcare Reform Motion
by Shin Ohtake creator of Max Workouts

If you've been watching or reading the news, you can't get away from today's hottest topic - U.S. Healthcare Reform. It's a heated debate and both sides are pulling out all the stops. Everything from busing people into various communities to rally for their cause, to President Obama speaking at town hall meetings, to advertising and tweeting messages on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace-taking full advantage of all social networking avenues. All in the hopes to reach as many people as possible with their message. But what is their message?

The problem is the issues and solutions have become so convoluted and complicated that even the law makers themselves are confused. There's so much tainted and slanted information that it's hard to figure out what's true and what's not.

Private Interest Groups vs. YOUR Health

One thing is certain, there's no denying the U.S. healthcare system is in need of an entire overhaul. The U.S. has the most advanced medical technology in the world (although some would argue that this is true only for certain diseases), yet we're ranked 37th in the world for healthcare. When you're denied cancer treatment because you had acne as a pre-existing condition, you know something is seriously wrong. And no matter which side you're on, there's no arguing that the system has become too much about satisfying the small group of people that represent certain private interest groups rather than giving care to the people that need it.

Luckily, I've had the fortune of living in four different countries: Japan, United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. Outside of the U.S., all the other countries have some type of universal healthcare system. Although universal healthcare has it's pros and cons, one thing is for sure, I was never denied care. The term "pre-existing condition" is used solely for medical history purposes. And, yes, for certain procedures or surgeries you may have to wait longer than you would in the U.S., but you'll always get the necessary procedure done. You'll never experience getting a phone call from the hospital two days before the surgery with a notice of cancellation because the insurance company denied to cover the procedure.

The REAL Cost of Healthcare

If you're part of the U.S. healthcare system, you know that the premium you pay each month to the insurance companies goes up every year without question, but what gets covered seems to proportionately decline. Somehow the math doesn't add up. What are we really paying for? And if you've seen the the explanation of benefits or the actual bills... you know that unless you have PhD in Insurance Deciphering, there is no way that you would understand what's covered and what's not covered and why? When your premium increase is 3 times of that of the annual inflation rate, you know something has to be done. The healthcare system needs fixin' in a big way. And I haven't even touched on the subject of the 47 millions folks who are uninsured either because they can't afford it or have been denied. Whatever you're views are on this healthcare reform, I think it's pretty safe to say that we all agree that at least some change is necessary. And that, in part, involves you.

What Can Bring About Real Change?

The other night I was watching Larry King where a panel of 5 medical experts were voicing their views and opinions about the healthcare reform issue. Each one made their own points, but there was one in particular that really struck a cord with me. It was Dr. Andrew Weil. You may know him from the Oprah show. He's a renowned wellness doctor, author, and an all round super knowledgeable guy. His point was simple and direct. Whether the healthcare reform goes through or not, until the entire healthcare paradigm changes, nothing is really going to change. He stated that there needs to be a cheaper and more efficient solution to cutting down on our out of control healthcare spending, through affordable natural remedies, dietary solutions, and lifestyle changes rather than being overly dependent on prescription drugs and other expensive medical procedures.

Of course, there are diseases and conditions that can only be treated through drugs and other costly, necessary medical procedures, BUT many can be easily prevented through simple dietary and lifestyle changes. Rather than just concentrating on treating and fixing the sick, more emphasis should be put on to the prevention of disease. Giving people the right tools and information so that they're equipped to keep themselves healthy is key in promoting and implementing prevention, not to mention, drastically cutting healthcare costs.

Eating for Prevention & My Problem with the FDA's Food Pyramid

Take a look at Dr. Weil's food pyramid for example. The pyramid heavily emphasizes the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Much more so than the standard food pyramid provided by the FDA, where grains, breads and other simple carbs are emphasized. This simple information alone may make the difference between struggling to keep your weight off and being unhappy, to being happy and healthy with your ideal bodyweight.

Dr. Weil's Pyramid

• A minimum 4 - 5 servings of vegetables (both raw and cooked) a day


• 3 - 4 servings of fruits (both fresh in season and frozen) a day


• 3 - 5 servings of cracked and whole grains a day


• 2 - 3 servings a week of pasta (al dente)


• 1 - 2 servings of legumes and beans a day


• 5 - 7 servings of healthy fats (olive oil, grapeseed oil, nuts)


• 2 - 6 servings of fish and seafood a week


• 1 - 2 servings of whole soys a day (tofu, tempeh, edamame)


• Unlimited quantities of cooked Japanese mushrooms


• 1 - 2 servings of other proteins sources (eggs, chicken, grass fed meat)


• Unlimited quantities of herbs and spices


• 2 - 4 cups of tea a day (green, oloong, white)


• Daily supplements


• At most 1 - 2 servings of red wine a day (Only if you drink)


• Sparing amount of natural sweets (dark chocolate)

Fruits and vegetables have the highest quantity of nutrients and fiber, as well as anti-oxidant qualities, so it makes sense that these food groups should be the most consumed on a daily basis. It seems like a no-brainer, but most people consume way too many simple carbs such as bread, rice, and pasta - partly because it's easy, cheap and readily available for consumptions-think Easy Mac and Cheese. But it's also partly because it's become the norm and the FDA has promoted it as the basis of our diet for a long time. Now don't get me wrong, the standard food pyramid does promote ample consumption of fruits and vegetables, but having grains, bread, rice, and pasta on the bottom of the food pyramid? It still ends up promoting a highly starched based diet.

Cut Your Calorie Intake 20-40% Without Even Noticing

Let's take a look at what it may mean to follow a diet based on Dr. Weil's food pyramid compared to the standard FDA food pyramid. By simply switching simple carbs to complex carbs, you can conservatively cut down 20 - 40% of your total daily calories. Simply because vegetables don't have nearly as many calories as rice, bread or pasta and veggies have a much high fiber content so you get fuller faster-not to mention, keeping you regular. For example, if your daily total calorie intake is 2,200 calories,and you cut it down by 20% by simply swapping starches for veggies, you'll bring your total daily calories down to 1,760. That's a reduction of 440 calories a day or 3,080 calories in a week. Not only are you eating foods higher in nutritional content, but your also taking in less calories!

Burn An Extra 1,050 Calories A Week By Taking a Break

Now, let's say you add another simple change into your daily routine.... like taking a brisk walk everyday. A brisk walk is something anyone can do and it can be done pretty much anywhere. Even if you're stuck in a cubicle 8 hours a day, you can go for a short brisk walk during lunch. Make sure that the walk is performed at a brisk pace around 3 miles an hour and lasts for at least 30 minutes. You may think it's just a walk, but check this out: If you weigh 175 lbs and you walk at a pace of 3 miles per hour, you'll burn about 5 calories per minute. So, 30 minutes adds up to 150 calories a day and in 7 days that's 1,050 calories!

You Just Chopped 4,130 Calories In a Mere WEEK!

Let's take a look at what this entails. An accumulation of the 150 daily calories burned from the 30 minute brisk walk combined with a reduction of 440 daily calories from replacing bread, pasta, and rice with veggies and fruits, means a total of 590 calories a day and a whopping 4,130 calories per week. These small changes add up fast and go a looooong way in keeping you healthy. You know the old saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away". It isn't far from the truth. Leading a healthy, happy life doesn't have to be Rocket Science. Implement these small changes here and there and I guarantee it'll add up to much bigger changes in your health. A small step towards prevention can have a big impact on your health as well as the health of a nation.

Shin Ohtake is the author of the world-famous fitness program, MAX Workouts. To learn more about how you can get ultra lean and toned with shorter workouts, visit http://www.MaxWorkouts.com

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