The Well Workforce Initiative

One of my driving passions on the Health Highway (forgive the pun) is to see a healthier approach to people in the workforce. I believe we have a long way to go in this particular area of public health policy and if there is something I can do to change public thinking, organizational and government policy and of course the health experience of people in the workforce, then I want to do it! There are probably many avenues to explore with this. I am sure it will be a recurrent message on the blog as I develop an action plan to impact people's lives with a preventative approach.

Small changes are significant

Following on the discussion about Type 2 Diabetes, there is another interesting article to read about how small changes in diet and excercise can add up to a lot of impact on health and lifestyle. This article talks about the impact regular goal review and counselling between health practitioners and patients can have a very positive impact on managing this disease:
Physician Counseling May Promote Healthier Lifestyle in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Australian Study: Type 2 Diabetes

Research by The University of Queensland’s School of Population Health published in the Medical Journal of Australia on the 7th of January paints a frightening picture of the health of our population. Researchers found that by 2023, Type 2 Diabetes will dramatically increase, more than doubling over a 30 year period. This information is in line with an earlier post about the trend of a decrease in life expectancy.

Please look at some of the important things being said here - this is what my message at The Health Highway is all about, lets take a serious look at prevention in our own lives and transform the future that is ahead of all of us:

Several implications for policy are worth emphasising. All of the health risks examined here are amenable to modification through intervention and together explain a large proportion of health loss in Australia. ...diabetes is notable in that it is mostly due to increasing body mass. Given that current strategies have failed to mitigate this risk, new approaches are critical... most of the health loss from this condition continues to be explained by exposure to known health risks.

With the information on this blog, I hope to improve your own health experience and show you there are options for living a wonderful life which don't impact on your lifestyle. In fact, most people will notice their lifestyle improve dramatically as they implement very simple steps in their health regime. I would love to help you with your own health plan - contact me and we can get started straight away.

Is there more to Autism than genetics?

There were some new articles published in January this year about genetic links with Autism. I'm posting a link to Dr Mercola's take on these, as he points out, the genetic mutation is only present in 1% of kids with Autism and the other horrifying statistic that rates of Autism have increased 60 times since 1970. That's definitley my lifetime as I was born a few years before that. Remember that Autism covers a wide spectrum of disorders, ranging from what we label "ADHD" and "ADD" through Aspergers and Autism. It is worth reading Dr Mercola's recommended list for preventing and treating these disorders and protecting your children.

• Don't believe the hype

What's really in your food?

As a Mum with a child prone to asthma, food additives concern me. I constantly check labels and look for good consumer information that can help me make healthy choices for my family. A friend forwarded this website on to me - a wealth of information about food additives, the health dangers they pose and which countries they are banned in. Unfortunately many of these additives are not banned in Australia and continue to pose serious health risks for our population. Another case of "buyer beware"! I hope you find this as helpful as I do:

• http://www.additivealert.com.au/

Would you like Cancer with your Soft drink?

As consumers we all too often assume that manufacturers know everything there is to know about chemical combinations in the products they sell to us and the possible impacts on our health. Here is an example. Benzene is a carcinogen which means it can cause cancer in humans. Benzene can be created by a chemical reaction between ingredients when manufacturers add Vitamin C to soft drinks. So here is a dilemma. As a consumer, you think a drink with added Vitamin C is going to be good for your health. The product may have been marketed to you with this benefit! But maybe the manufacturer simply did not know of the potential chemical cocktail they were creating. There are some interesting articles to read on this issue in particular:

• J Agric Food Chem December 12, 2007; 56 (2): 571–576
• Dr Mercola
• Science Daily January 7, 2008

Heart Disease greatest health care cost in US

2005 data shows that Heart Disease is the biggest drain on the US health care budget, closely followed by Trauma Disorders, Cancer and Mental Conditions (including depression). With Heart Disease and Cancer being two-thirds of the top 3 medical costs in the country, do you think prevention might be a great idea not only for the patients but for the economy?

In my business I hear so many success stories about preventative treatments. Last weekend I met a couple from central Queensland who talked about the success their father had with oral chelation therapy (let's call him Bill). After two heart attacks at 64, scans revealed Bill's arteries were 80% blocked. His Dr said the "usual" treatments could prolong his life a little but weren't intended to treat the blockage or solve the problem (even angioplasty was a very temporary solution). Bill asked about oral chelation therapy and the Dr said he could try it, it certainly wouldn't do any harm but was "unlikely to do much except waste your money". Bill tried it. 6 months later scans show his arteries as clear. I have some fabulous CD's by doctors and pharmacists who believe this option works. I'm willing to send you a copy if you think this information could help you or someone you love. Contact me directly for more information and lets work on reducing heart disease together.