Copyright March 2010 by Karen Miner Hurd

I don’t think that I can remember a time in history when there was so much discussion (and heated debate) about health. The whole focus of the political debate has been on, not so much on real health, but on what happens after you get sick.

It’s the wrong discussion.

Let’s start with health. What does it really mean to be healthy? For years, the medical profession, and the general public, has defined health as “not sick” or merely the absence of disease. But is that all there is? Isn’t there more?

When you think about health, what comes to mind? What are “health symptoms”?

Let’s try these for starters:

1) Energy – Rest cycle is in balance. You wake up refreshed. You maintain good healthy
energy throughout the day.  You sleep well at night.

2) Resist infections- if something is going around the office or the kids are sharing a bug,
you probably won’t get it. If you do get sick, your symptoms are not as severe, it doesn’t last as
long, and you recover quickly.

3) Quick recovery from injuries. In some cases, recovery is 50% faster than expected. If
you’re athletic, your rate of injury is less because your body is protected and nurtured.

4) Emotional balance. Thoughts and emotions have are significantly impacted by your biochemistry.  A healthy nourished body, a fit body, is more able to cope with the stresses of life.
You will be happier and have a positive out And that annoying neighbor won’t be so irritating.

5) Purpose and passion. Health often manifests itself as a clear purpose and vision for life.

Your health status is the engine of your life. As powerful as health is, we often take it
for granted. Too many of us make healthy choices an afterthought. Like saving for retirement
in your twenties can make you a millionaire in your golden years, investing in your health
now, before chronic disease strikes will pay you rich dividends in cost savings, vitality,
quality of life and longevity.

Choose to invest in your health.  Your life depends on it. _________________________________________________________________________

About the author: Karen Miner Hurd has questioned the status quo from an early age.  She and her husband Dale live in Virginia Beach, VA  with their children and  Bomber the Birthday Dog.  Karen dedicated herself to teaching others about health after her supplement program allowed her to be symptom and medication free despite 35 allergies.  Her doctor called her results a placebo affect, so she fired him.  She recommends Shaklee products exclusively. Contact her : karen@gohealthygo.com or by phone : 757-301-1855.  Visit her Shaklee site here.

Is anybody talking about this?

Health care is one of the primary issues in the 2008 presidential election.  The more the stock market goes haywire, the more people are frightened and want the government to step in.

According to the National Coalition on Health Care there are over 47 million Americans who are uninsured. Some of that is by choice – people who opted-out of their employer’s program because of the cost. Many of those are in the middle class. As insurance costs rise, employers cut back.  The cry for Uncle Sam to do something grows louder.

I’m not convinced that the government is the answer to anything. Why are we talking about the government spending MORE tax dollars on health care for disease management, instead of talking about the importance of individual responsibility for managing their own health?

Let’s take a look at some facts.  In October 2007, Nutrition Journal published a Landmark Study co-authored by the School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA and the Shaklee Corporation, that showed a marked reduction of major disease risk by those who used Shaklee supplements.  The Dietary Supplement Information Bureau (DSIB) has published other studies with similar results. Nutritionists, holistic health practitioners and even some traditionally trained (allopathic) health care professionals,  have been saying for YEARS that our disease rates are a result of our choices.

Here are just a few:

• Approximately 70% of all cancer is preventable.  It doesn’t “just happen”.
• High blood pressure can be managed naturally
• Heart attack and heart disease is 100% diet and lifestyle related
• Type 2 diabetes is a result of lifestyle and diet, genetics plays a very small role
• Alzheimer’s can be prevented with diet, lifestyle and supplementation
• Allergies can be managed with supplementation and lifestyle changes
• ADD and ADHD can often be managed without drugs
• Asthma is often a function of environment, e.g toxic chemicals in the home, and thus can be managed with lifestyle changes.
• Depression and anxiety can be managed naturally in a many cases
• Diseases brought on by obesity can be avoided completely by diet and lifestyle changes
• Osteoporosis is a function of childhood nutrition, calcium intake and exercise.  It is preventable.
• Many physicians consider stress a major factor in all diseases
• Obesity is considered a disease and is completely preventable

What about diseases brought on by smoking, drug use and excessive alcohol use and multiple sex partners? Should those of us that don’t do those things pay for the choices of those who do?  Those are all optional behaviors!

Our family has chosen to invest about $1,000 dollars a month in our supplementation, fitness and food choices to prevent disease, improve the quality of our health, and extend our lives.   My family is highly allergic I have 35 recognized allergies, each of my children have over 20.  Yet none of us are on any maintenance drugs for our allergies and several of us have few symptoms.  We achieved this through our choice of supplements, using non-toxic cleaners, water and air purification.  When we started our wellness lifestyle each of us had a minimum of 3 maintenance prescriptions for our allergies and related conditions.  Our health care costs and prescription drug use have been radically reduced.

As a wellness educator and longevity coach, I have seen first hand, people drastically reduce their prescription drug use or eliminate it all together with natural approaches improving their quality of life, and eliminating many of their former medical costs. It can be done.

Of course there are those things that do require medical intervention, accidents and injuries, and other circumstances beyond our control.  There are people who, despite their best efforts still become chronically ill. I am not talking about the exceptions. There should be some form of medical insurance that is affordable as well, insurance.   But to talk about health care reform, without making the conversation central to individual choices in their lifestyle is absurd.

Is there any candidate running for office out there that has the guts and the integrity to say that many health care issues are not the government’s job, but the job of individuals?

Some resources for you:

National Coalition for Health Care: www.nchc.org
Human Events -  www.humanevents.com – search for related articles “Health Care Reform”
Fight Chronic Disease.org – www.fightchronicdisease.org/
Committee for Economic Development – www.ced.org
Supplementation and healthcare costs: www.supplementinfo.org
Landmark Dietary Supplement Study – www.landmarkstudy.com

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About the Author: Karen Miner Hurd is a certified Wellness Educator.  Her focus includes Longevity Coaching- helping people extend their lives with simple practical steps. She is passionate about the potential people have to control their health futures.  Karen offers individualized coaching and wellness profiles. She has partnered with the Shaklee Corporation for over 12 years  as an Independent Distributor.  Karen can be reached by email: karen@gohealthygo.com.  Follow her on Twitter.com/karenminerhurd, on Pownce as Longevity Coach.  Join her community on Facebook – http://profile.to/karenminerhurd.