TK Health and Wellness » Health issues

Americans Cut Back on Visits to Doctor

Tom — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:28:39 +0000

There are a lot of reasons people are cutting back on visits to the doctor but the primary reason is financial. As co-pays, deductibles, etc. continue to rise on an annual basis, we seem to have finally reached a point where the consumer is feeling it and cutting back. There is only one long term solution to this issue and that is personal responsibility for our health. Click on the link in the right hand column to our health and wellness site, TK Family Plan, and find some very basic nutrition and fitness information that can put you on the path to wellness without any major lifestyle changes or expense.

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703940904575395603432726626.html?mod=ITP_pageone_0#printMode

The Salt Hiding in Your Diet

Tom — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:28:52 +0000

There is a lot published about salt/sodium intake but here is some valuable information that identifies some sources of salt that we may not have been aware of. With the impact too much sodium can have on our bodies and our health, take a few minutes now to avoid negative health issues later on.

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704905004575405173133646604.html?mod=ITP_personaljournal_0

Dehydration, exercise and heat don’t mix

Tom — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:30:08 +0000

This is must reading from Dr. Eric Heiden, five time Olympic gold medal winner, if you are exercising in the heat that covers so much of the country right now. We can’t be careful enough.

www.chicagotribune.com/health/sc-health-0728-heiden-20100728,0,5087705,print.story

The New Nutritionist: Your Grocer

Tom — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:58:40 +0000

This article is about a food rating system being used by some grocery chains that is provided by a company called NuVal LLC that basically measures nutritional value. My first reaction was this could be good information for the average consumer but reading further into it, it seems some of the criteria used to establish the rating is pretty subjective. I am glad I don’t have a food product being negatively rated by these people. In my opinion, what is intended to help the consumer and simplify things is just confusing the issue even further. What’s yours?

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704229004575371010407610760.html?mod=ITP_personaljournal_0#printMode

Exercise may reduce chronic pain

Tom — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:19:14 +0000

Here is some interesting anecdotal evidence of how many are using exercise/movement to treat pain, including chronic pain that many had struggled with for years. This certainly seems like something to be at least investigated further if not just tried.

www.chicagotribune.com/health/sc-health-0721-pain-20100721,0,6621419,print.story

Eating to Live or Living to Eat?

Tom — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:43:38 +0000

There is a lot here but some very interesting information describing how different areas of the brain affect our eating habits. This might help to explain some of the cravings we have, especially, in my case with sweets after eating a meal. Basically a concise, easy to understand account of what can be a very complicated subject for some of us non-medical “civilians”.

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704288204575363072381955744.html?mod=ITP_personaljournal_0

Health watch: Are you label literate?

Tom — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 01:33:01 +0000

Here is valuable information that we can all use regarding the importance of being able to really understand what we are reading on a food label and know exactly what we are putting in our bodies.

www.chicagotribune.com/health/sc-foods-0702-health-labels-20100702,0,4610566,print.story

F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010

Tom — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:57:56 +0000

It’s hard to believe with all of the media attention over the last couple years, but it appears the obesity issue in the US is getting worse instead of better. Obesity rates increased in 28 states year to year and decreased only in the District of Columbia. Most of us know intellectually that we need to monitor what we take in and increase our level of movement and exercise and yet reports like this one keep on coming. When and what will be the tipping point?

healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2010/

In Summer’s Heat, Watch What You Drink

Tom — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:05:08 +0000

This New York Times article supplies some good information about really focusing on what we drink in the summer, not just for hydration purposes, as important as that is, but caloric also, as we need to be careful with what we choose to satisfy our thirst this time of year. As the article states, sugar-sweetened sodas are the single largest source of calories in the American diet, 7.1% so this is an important issue we can all learn more about.

www.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/health/29brod.html?pagewanted=print

Phys Ed: A Workout for Your Bloodstream

Tom — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:30:03 +0000

This article is a bit technical for me but I stuck with it and understand the basic premise, that body movement, exercise, is very important and beneficial to our overall health. The article is very interesting as are many of the comments which follow it.

well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/16/phys-ed-a-workout-for-your-bloodstream/