I’m a bit fired up today so this blog is going to be me speaking to you, as my late mother would say, like a “Dutch Uncle.”

Telling it like it is, in other words, without sugar-coating anything.

Here is where we are today in terms of health in the US:

• 6 out of 10 adults have a chronic disease. “Chronic disease” means a condition that lasts 1 year or more and requires ongoing medical attention or limits activities of daily living or both.
• 4 out of 10 adults have at least 2 chronic diseases.
• 54 percent of our children have a chronic disease.
• All this is occurring while we as a nation spend more on “health care” than any other nation in the world.

Am I the only one that is asking what in the name of Heaven is going on?!

I have a few thoughts and you’d better start doing some thinking too.

Let’s start with…

It’s not “health care”—it’s SICK care

Leading the pack of reasons behind our abysmal states of health is the fact that health care has nothing whatsoever to do with health.

But it has everything to do with sickness—specifically tests, drugs and surgery—all aimed at achieving a diagnosis (or 2 or 3). 

Think about it—when was the last time you sought medical advice about things that promote good health, like a nutritious diet or proper exercise techniques?

Note that I’m not blaming doctors here.  Most doctors go to school to be able to help people.  But sadly, their education is heavily focused on sickness—not wellness.

And sometimes a sickness is “created” or anticipated just so a test, drug or surgery can be recommended!

I’m living proof of this!  I once went to Urgent Care with a fragment of an almond stuck in my tonsils. It wasn’t painful or particularly annoying, but I was leaving for vacation in Aruba in a few days and just wanted to make sure it wasn’t going to fester into an infection of some sort.

The Urgent Care doctor couldn’t see anything in my throat, so she wanted to refer me to a gastroenterologist for a scope.

HUH?

Then she wrote me a prescription for Nexium.  At that point my blood was boiling, and I asked her point blank, “What the hell is this for?  I never said I had acid reflux.”

She said, “Well, take it just in case.  If acid rises in your throat it might irritate the area.”

Oh yeah.  I’ll just shut down my digestion of proteins so you can say you did your job. 

Needless to say, I left Urgent Care without that prescription.  And after gargling with warm salt water the almond made its way out a day or 2 later.

It’s YOUR fault too!

Now, just because our health care system is unfortunately sickness-focused, that doesn’t absolve YOU of responsibility!

If you’re sick and are looking for somewhere to put the blame, start by looking in the mirror.

Because if your diet is crap, and you can’t remember drinking anything but soda, coffee or alcohol (water with your pills doesn’t count), and the only exercise you’ve done lately is 12 oz. curls, you have paved the way for sickness and disease to come knocking at your door.

And you’re part of those statistics I quoted above.

But if you want to turn things around, that is within your power as well.

Here are some tips for your success:

Don’t just put your hand out!

You have to do your part—don’t just put your hand out for the next magic pill that will create false health for you.

Having a diet of real foods is a MUST.  Concentrate on meats, fresh vegetables, eggs and healthy fats.  On the flip side, avoid refined carbs and sugars (including the poison in a can known as soda), processed garbage and fast food.

What you drink matters too!  While there’s nothing wrong with having a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, make (filtered) water your primary beverage.

If you need diet guidance, my Great Taste No Pain health system can help. 

Great Taste No Pain shows you which foods to pair together in your meals to encourage smoother digestion, and my recipes are the bomb!

Also, don’t forget about exercise—and no excuses are allowed here! 

If you have even looked at Facebook or watched TV recently, you have time to exercise.  Admit it and do it.

Exhaust natural measures first

While medications may be necessary in some instances, there are many natural measures that can be just as effective…and far safer with no side effects!

For example:

Fish oil like VitalMega-3 has been medically proven to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol!

Natural anti-inflammatories including turmeric (like our Optimal Turmeric Blend) and the Omega-3 fats in VitalMega-3 can help ease inflammation and curb the resulting aches and pains.

Probiotics like Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula can help with a whole slew of issues, including constipation, low immune function, leaky gut, IBS, allergies and even depression!

And if autoimmune conditions, bone health, heart disease or cancer are concerns of yours, the Vitamin D found in Optimum DK Formula can help address those conditions.

Research everything

Don’t be a sheep, blindly believing everything you are told or hear on the news.

Keep in mind that 70-90 percent of the media’s revenues comes from pharmaceutical companies.  Let that sink in and use your imagination about the level of objectivity.

If you’re researching a product, look for studies that are not funded by the company that produces the product!  Follow the money if you are unsure.

And note that even search engines like Google receive pharma revenue, so if you want an objective search tool, try DuckDuckGo.

Ask questions

Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask questions of your doctor!

A doctor should be your partner in health, and there are a good number of them that will gladly work with you and answer your questions or concerns.

If your doctor is not one of those, or if he/she makes you feel uncomfortable, stupid or refuses to discuss your care, find one who will.

That’s all I have to say today.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia