Pressing issues this election - Health Care

While the May 2nd election initially looked like it would be even more of a dud than our previous election, thankfully a few important issues are stopping to pop up in the minds of voters, namely Health Care.

It's no secret to anyone who has had to go to a hospital or walk in clinic recently: our health care, as good as it is (largely free, skilled doctors, tons of hospitals), is nevertheless in need of a checkup.

What once used to be a symbol of Canadian pride, having one of the greatest health care systems in the world, has become over time a secret shame of ours. Due to years of neglect, our health care system isn't what it was. While we have tons of hospitals, we don't have nearly enough doctors and medical staff. Private family doctors are becoming harder and harder to find as well, especially here in Montreal. It's sad to say, but most of our doctors have packed up for the other provinces where they are better paid, or even gone down South where opening a practice can be quite lucrative.

Worse yet, while our health care system hasn't directly been having its funding cut, quite a few health related projects have seen the axe since the economic recession began a few years ago. For instance, the Kelowna accord, which would have seen billions injected into improving life on the reserves for First Nations people and others living in remote regions ,was given the boot to save costs on parliament hill back in 2006. As well, food safety regulations that doctors have urged to be enforced, have also been neglected leading to numerous cases of illness and even death from contaminated food over the years.

Health care reform has now become a major topic for this election.: all you need to do is either pick up a paper and head over to the Google news feed and almost everything seems to be about the improvements our system desperately needs.

But what can we do? Our system needs fixing, and we are the ones that have to take action to encourage our leaders to follow suit. When polled, let the analysts know how much your health and the health of those you love matters to you. When meeting political candidates in your area, tell them what they need to do. Regardless of who sits in parliament after the next election, they need to represent us as Canadians and know that we want to put the wellness of our nation first.

An apple a day really does keep the doctor away

We've all heard the rhyme before: "an apple a day keeps the doctor away", but has anyone ever wondered if it's actually true?

Apples are indeed very good for you, but they have gotten a bit of a bad rap of late. A few years ago in New Zealand, apple growers and vendors were forbidden by law to tout the nutritional benefits of their produce due to a bureaucratic oversight that classified the natural sugars in apples the same as the processed sugars in junk foods.

Yes, it is true that apples are loaded in sugars, but those sugars are not the same ones that we use in cooking and baking. Still, one does have to watch out because as delicious as apples are they can cause cavities or exacerbate people with sensitive teeth.

On the flip side though, apples do come loaded with Vitamin C, which boosts our immune system, and Dietary fibres, which help our digestive system. As well, apples are a great way to get one of those afternoon energies boosts that so many of us often need. They are even great to enjoy in the morning before a jog or before hitting the gym as they offer plenty of carbohydrates for our bodies to burn off.

To cap it all off, a recent study has discovered that apples that eating one or two apples each day can help our bodies reduce bad cholesterol and help prevent heart disease!

So, what's stopping you? Add a little crunch to your fruit platters or pull out the pie crust and bake a nice warm apple pie to enjoy one cool spring evening.

TIME Magazine's Top 5 For Health in 2011

Time Magazine Online recently released a guide for the top five new rules for good health.What's interesting is that not all of them are exactly what one would expect to hear! Let's take a look shall we?

#1 Learn hands on CPR

This one is a bit of a surprise! TIME suggests that instead of learning CPR in the traditional way in which mots of us were once taught, that people focus instead on the hands-on aspect only for chest compressions. A recent study discovered that the right method of chest compressions, for a non-drowning victim, is equally as effective alone as combining it with mouth-to-mouth. With this in mind, it's far simpler and less intimidating to take hands-on only courses. As well, bystanders that only know the hands-on technique might be more likely to jump to the rescue before a full on CPR specialist would because they feel less inhibited by the fear of creating an awkward social moment.


#2Take Less Vitamin Supplements

 

This one is a bit less of a shock, as we should all know by now, taking too many vitamin supplements can lead to more harm than good towards our bodies. It is even possible to suffer unpleasant overdoses from some Vitamins such as E. The no-brainer solution to this is, of course, to try to get your vitamins from natural sources, such as fruits, vegetables and salad greens which are all LOADED with nutrients. And they don't taste half bad either if you happen to look up a few quick and easy recipes online.

#3 Food Allergy Diagnosis Improvements

 More and more people are being diagnosed with food allergies these days. However, what we are coming to realize is that there is a noticeable difference between a full on food allergy and a food sensitivity, notably with the cases of children. A food sensitivity can be as mild a general dislike, either through or psychological, or more serious with symptoms, such as lactose-intolerance. The thing to keep in mind is that, while both can show symptoms and discomfort, they are not the same and neither can they be treated the same. While allergies can be much more severe, some can be treated with the proper medication whereas for food intolerance it is much rarer for their to be a medical treatment.

#4 Exercise often and continue over time

You've probably heard me say this enough times by now, but it's true: exercise is important. It's recommended that we aim for 150 minutes a week. Now I know some of you are groaning at trying to fit two and a half hours of exercise in (I know I do, life is busy!) but when you stop and think about it, it's not so bad. That's about as long as an epic movie, or a few episodes on television. In fact, how bout the next time you think about sitting down and watching an episode of your favourite show, you head out for a walk, and when you come get back home you can have a well deserved reward.

The second part of this point is to not give up after a week or two. Keep at it. Not everyone can get in shape in 14 days, sometimes it takes longer. So long as you are dedicated and committed, you can count on those long term health benefits.

#5 Early blood tests for disease prevention

 Full body checkups used to be the norm, but thanks to tons of improvements in the field of medical science, doctors are now able to learn a lot more from a simple blood test than they used to. Early warning signs of diabetes and even Alzheimer's can be found in a blood test. As well, blood tests are also sure fire ways to get some clues about your overall health and nutrition levels.
They are also quick, and relatively painless (unless you're one of those people who can't handle needles... eek!). You won't have to take the whole morning off from work for an appointment. It's in, out and then the results are sent to you.

So there you have it, TIME's top 5 health tips for the coming year!

Are governments thinking about a "fat tax"?

A provocatively titled news article asked the question "should there be a 'fat tax'?". This isn't a special tax levied on people with wider girths, but rather about taxing the things that lead to our weight gain. I suppose that one could say that this is a bit of infringement on our personal rights to be able to chose to consume the things we want to. However, with a mindset like this we tend to forget that our choices affect not only ourselves, but the people around us.

What do I mean by this? Well, as our society as a whole continues to increase its overall intake of products that add nothing to our well being, such as high calorie fast foods and tobacco products, the number of people suffering from diseases related to poor lifestyles increases. As the number of people suffering from diabetes and other ailments rises, it can begin to take a toll on our already "out of shape" health care system. How difficult is it to book an appointment with a doctor these days? Walk in clinics are already bursting to the seems with people getting regular checkups, flu shots and other matters. As our doctors become more and more booked it leads to our health system demanding more and more funding. The "tax" on fat foods and the like would be far less severe than an increase in general taxation, which, believe me, is the last thing most of us want.

So, does that mean that the reasons are purely financial or that the government is overly controlling? Hardly.

It's not as bad as it may look. I wouldn't think of it as the government stepping into our lives and dictating over our personal freedoms. Just like it often helps to have someone intervene in our lives when we might be making poor choices, I see this as a way for our government and health care professionals trying to intervene before things get too late. If you are one for numbers, be sure to check out a past overview of Canadian nutrition, taken back in 2007. The numbers are somewhat discouraging.

 

Seeing a slight increase in prices of soft drinks and other products (which we have actually been starting to see) could be just the small enticement we need to either slow down on our consumption or switch over to something else. The day it costs less for real juice than an equal amount of soft drink is the day that I believe people will switch en masse (though, when drinking juice, be sure to avoid some of the ones that are basically camouflaged soft drinks).

While an overall comprehensive tax is still on the drawing board, it is something to think about as more and more health officials and even sociologists join the "fat tax" bandwagon.

Cooling Technology - A Close up

Over on our website we have a really nifty page which covers some of the fundamentals of the cooling technology we use to ensure that every meal delivered remains fresh for the entire day. One of the things you will notice is that the bags we deliver our meals in, actually get cooler for a little while before very gradually warming to a temperature that hovers around that of a fridge.

So I was a little curious about this whole process myself, and luckily this week I was able to get a closer look at our cooling bags in action, as I had a few meals delivered to my appartment.

I happened to wake up around 5 in the morning and decided to go and see if my delivery had arrived. I went to my door and opened it. Lo and behold a handsome looking 21st Century Food cooling bag was sitting on my door mat waiting for me.

I brought the bag into my kitchen and set it on my table. I had a window open letting in a bit of a breeze because during the Winter and Spring months it is ridiculously well heating in my appartment.

Because it was so early I went back to sleep for another two hours. When I felt well rested I returned to the kitchen to open the cooling bag.

Inside I found nicely packed meals in containers that were cool to the touch.

Inside the cooling bag, I noticed a few ice packs on the sides that were still quite cold. The entire inside of the bag looked well lined, and all of the interior surfaces were quite cool to the touch.

Here's another shot of the inside. You can notice three ice packs that line the sides.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing was that after having emptied the bag and moving, the place where it rested on my table was noticeably cold. Laying my hand on the spot felt almost like I was touching an ice pack.

Needless to say, the food itself was quite well preserved.

Diabetes on the rise in Canada - Some prevention tips

Currently 2.7 million Canadians (7.6% of the population) are affected by Diabetes and that number is currently on the rise. The overall aging of our population, coupled with the rising obesity epidemic, suggests that by 2020 more than 10% of Canadians will be affected. According to a recent study by doctors in Manitoba, close to 4.5 million Canadians will have type two diabetes in 2020, with another 11 million in a pre-diabetic / at-risk stage due to high blood sugars.

These figures are rather sobering. I knew that diabetes was on the rise, and already quite prominent in Canada, but never to this extent. In my immediate circle of acquaintance, 4 people have diabetes, along with more than one who are risk of developing the disease, either by poor eating habits and lifestyle or genetics.

I feel that one of the main reasons for the sudden growth of diabetes has to do with the lack of general awareness for this disease. People are aware, yes, but what about prevention and early detection? I'm quite sure that more than a few people who are dangerously close to becoming diabetic, are continuing to live blissfully unaware and doing little to actively try to prevent it.

While some people will unfortunately contract the disease regardless of what they do, being that genetics and age are contributing factors, many people let their lifestyles lead them there. For others, prevention is possible.

1) While sugar in itself is not the cause for diabetes, it can be a contributing factor. If you eat pastries or fat filled sugary foods on a regular basis, try to cut back. As well, aim to avoid eating deep fried foods or other foods high in saturated fats. Go for a salad the next time you feel hungry and want a snack.

2) Exercise, exercise, exercise: your body needs it. If you are diagnosed as pre-diabetic, or fear that you will be, immediately take up exercising on a regular basis. Doctors recommend that you work up a sweat 5 times a week for the best prevention results.

3) If you are overweight, try to lose some overall body fat. We're not talking about losing weight like a Hollywood celebrity would for a movie role, but try to cut back at least a good 5%. The easier way to do this of course would be by following the previous two tips: eat well, and exercise. If you've got those sides of your life under control, this one will take care of itself.

So remember, diabetes is a very serious threat to our health these days. The fact that so much of our foods are loaded with junk, and that our culture practically encourages a sedentary lifestyle doesn't really help. But we can beat it. Even if you are already on the verge of becoming diabetic, it's not too late. Changing your lifestyle can help you better handle the disease.

Mixing Caffeine and Sugar - It can take its toll

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about the excessive amount of coffee we (or I) drink on a regular basis. It was a bit spooky to realize that many of us (me in particular) drink several times the daily recommended caffeine intake before lunch most days.
 
As if that wasn't enough to encourage me to curb my coffee drinking habits, I've come across quite a few articles over the past few days which suggest that drinking coffee with foods high in fat can actually slow down our bodies' metabolism levels and force to take even longer to burn off those extra calories.

According to some of these studies, drinking highly caffeinated beverages alongside foods high in sugar and saturated fats can interfere with our bodies' natural process of creating insulin and distributing the sugar to the right places in our system. The problem with this is that a) we are not properly metabolizing the sugars, and thus not "burning it off" as quick as we should and b) our bodies generally try to burn away sugars as fast as possible, so consistently having sugar in our bloodstream for too prolonged of a period can eventually take a toll on our organs.

That's some pretty frightening stuff, especially as I sit here drinking a mug of black coffee with a croissant.

The study itself was primarily aimed that the emerging trend in which most fast food outlets now serve coffee (a move made popular by McDonalds a few years ago). Fast food french fries and hamburgers are loaded with sugars and saturated fats, as are the donuts we often consume alongside with our coffees.

I'm not telling everyone to stop drinking coffee, or to avoid every single sugary snack for the rest of your life, but maybe instead just to think twice sometimes. I'm sure for quite a few of us, buying coffee and a snack to go with it is just part of our daily routine. If you grab a coffee everyday at breaktime, try cutting back on the snacks a day or two a week. I know its fun to have something to go with a drink, but try a healthier alternative, such as some of the snacks we offer through our lifestyle menu. I'm sure your body will thank you in the long run ;)