The following post was contributed by Nina Bernice exclusively for publichealthbugle.com. All contents for informational and educational purposes only. The information is not to be substituted for professional advice. Please give credit to Nina Bernice and the Public Health Bugle for any re-posts.

Health Reform Law, What Does The Public Think About It?

By: Nina Bernice

With presidential and a majority Democratic congressional support, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act came into law on 23rd March, 2010. The health reform law’s objective is providing health insurance cover to more than thirty million people. It endeavors to attain this by Medicaid expansion and federal subsidies provisions to assist lower and middle-income earners purchase private medical care insurance. The PPACA is estimated to cost the federal government a total of $940 billion over ten years.

People who fall between 100-400% of the Federal Poverty Level and want their own health insurance on an exchange qualify for subsidies. Eligible insurance buyers will receive premium credits and there is a sliding scale cap for how much they should contribute to their premiums.

The bill also requires everyone to purchase health insurance by 2014 or incur a $ 695 annual penalty. However, low income people have some exemptions from this requirement. The PPACA requires states to expand Medicaid to adults without children, starting in 2014. The Federal Government will cover 100 percent of the costs for newly eligible people through to 2016. Illegal immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid.

The most contentious issue of the PPACA is the “individual mandate” section. This provision requires that all American(except the low income) purchase health insurance by 2014 or incur a annual penalty. Opponents argue that individual cannot be forced to buy a product that they may not need or use. The Justice Department has respond to this argument by noting that every American will need medical care at one point in their lives. As such no one can choose to be excluded from the health care market. Many Americans expect that the court will find this requirement unconstitutional as it is an inappropriate exercise of federal authority, according to a Kaiser Health Tracking Report.

A prime issue for court consideration on 26th March is determining the merits of the health reform law opponents’ arguments on prohibiting claims until 2014 when the individual mandate in 2014 is expected to take effect. According to the Anti-Injunction Act (AIC), claimants cannot make a claim on tax until the tax has been paid by the claimant. Judges in two federal courts have already determined that the Anti-Injunction Act is applicable in this case. This argument by the federal judges might temporarily exempt the Supreme Court from making a decision about the AIA during this election year.

Since I  am involved in researching nutritional sciences, it’s not surprise that I have people ask me “what should I eat to stay healthy?” Or “What should I eat to lose weight?”… and on and on.

I usually give them a straight answer: avoid processed foods as much as possible. But, if you take the time to think about what it means to avoid processed foods you will find that it’s a natural nutritional lifestyle that our bodies were evolved to consume (see link 3 about paleolithic diets). We should be reducing or eliminating the consumption of man made foods. So put down those pancakes and have a bowl of fruit with your coffee in the morning, because when you are in doubt on what to eat just rest assured that you cant go wrong with consuming naturally occurring foods.

But dont take my word for it. Here are a couple of resources on what you should eat:

1) The Nutrition Source: What Should I Eat? (Harvard  School of Public Health)

The answer to the question “What should I eat?” is actually pretty simple. But you wouldn’t know that from news reports on diet and nutrition studies, whose sole purpose seems to be to confuse people on a daily basis. When it comes down to it, though—when all the evidence is looked at together—the best nutrition advice on what to eat is relatively straightforward: Eat a plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; choose healthy fats, like olive and canola oil; and eat red meat and unhealthy fats, like saturated and trans fats, sparingly. Drink water and other healthy beverages, and limit sugary drinks and salt. Most important of all is keeping calories in check, so you can avoid weight gain, which makes exercise a key partner to a healthy diet.

2) Operah: What You Should Eat Daily (Operah.com)

She is a billionaire for many reasons, and this may be one reason!

3) Should You Be Eating Like The Cavemen? (runnersworld.com)

“The Paleo diet isn’t an oddity,” Cordain says. “What’s odd is the way we’ve been eating the last 10,000 years, and particularly the last 200.”

Please give credit to the Public Health Bugle for re-posts

Image courtesty of myhomedesign.org

Martial Arts: It’s not about fighting!

By: Maneera Saxena Behl

Not just a tool to beat up bad guys and bullies, but practicing martial art benefits the entire body and mind.

Martial arts are a combination of various self-defense systems and mind-focusing work-outs. Not only does it train one to be an adept warrior, but also ensures that the person practicing this form stays mentally agile and physically fit. Feeling disturbed and angry? Not a problem as martial arts reverses energy imbalances within the body and also calms the raging emotions within one’s mind.

Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Judo are some prominent martial art examples. The term ‘martial art’ is often used to describe the various East Asian fighting arts. The more appropriate origin of the term ‘martial art’ lies in a Latin word meaning ‘Arts of Mars’, the Roman warrior God.

In fact, a study published in the May 1985 edition of Psychology Today Magazine highlighted the confirmed benefits of practicing martial arts. It revealed that people who made any of the above martial arts a part of their daily routine showed lower levels of stress and anxiety and higher levels of self esteem and intelligence. So, here is the scientific reason you were looking for to get motivated enough to get that Black Belt you always wanted!

Martial Arts Demystified

Historically the appearance of the first martial art practices dates back to the late 1^st millennium BC. The modern martial art prevalent in Asia is a unique admixture of early Indian and Chinese martial art practices. In Europe, martial arts appearance dates back to the classical antiquity. The various boxing and wrestling contests which we often get to view on our television sets is a good recreation of the historical gladiatorial combats prevalent in ancient Europe.

Martial art does not alone prepare a fighter in you. These days it is used as a means to promote mental and physical well being. Not only does it give one a sound body, but a sound mind as well. Therefore many people nowadays include martial art practices in their daily health and fitness regimen.

Physical Health Benefits of Martial Art:

Martial arts increases a person’s strength, stamina, coordination and flexibility.

The various physical health benefits of martial arts may be listed as follows:

• Strengthens the lymphatic system and boosts lymph flow
• Improves cardiovascular health and one’s breathing capacity
• Strengthens the digestive and excretory systems
• Helps to lower high blood pressure, triglyceride and cholesterol levels
• Lowers one’s susceptibility to cold, allergies, cancer, digestive disorders, abdominal ailments,  arthritis and other degenerative disorders
• Tones muscles, strengthens muscles and makes muscles injury resistant
• Supplies more oxygen to body cells and tissues
• Strengthens immune system
• Prevents Type 2 diabetes
• Improves glandular functioning
• Gives relief from fatigue and menstrual problems

1) Blame Your Crooked Teeth on Early Farmers (source: Wired Magazine)

When humans turned from hunting and gathering to farming some 10,000 years ago, they set our species on the road to civilization. Agricultural surpluses led to division of labor, the rise of cities, and technological innovation. But civilization has had both its blessings and its curses. One downside of farming, a new study demonstrates, was a shortening of the human jaw that has left precious little room for our teeth and sends many of us to an orthodontist’s chair.

2) Gary Taubes Talk on Why We Get Fat (source: Value Investing World)

I’ve been getting Gary Taubes’ lectures sent to me from my friend Miguel Barosa at Simoleon Sense

I think the title says it all.

Enjoy!

This week, I wanted to share an interesting segment on our nation’s current healthcare status. Also, I have two guest blogger’s, Amanda Kidd and Marina Salsbury discussing tips on obesity issues with college students and factors that may affect our weight.

1) Healthcare Uncovered (source: The Boston Channel)

Clip 1
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/27538726/detail.html

Clip 2
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/27538932/detail.html

Clip 3
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/27538873/detail.html

2) College Obesity

By: Marina Salsbury

Obesity is becoming an increasing problem in adults and children throughout the United States. As our culture becomes faster- and faster-paced and technology use rises, adults are finding less time to exercise or to cook healthy food while spending more time sitting at desks. College students are often thought of as an active demographic, but in reality they spend quite a bit of time sedentary in lectures, in dorm rooms completing online college classes, and hours reading in libraries. Troubling statistics show that up to one third of college students are struggling with obesity, and many aren’t making healthy choices to combat this statistic.

Obesity is not the same as being overweight. “Overweight” simply means weighing more than is recommended given one’s height and weight. It could be due to an excess of fat, muscle, or even water weight. On the other hand, obesity is an excess of body fat occurring when one consumes more calories than one burns off.

College students’ lifestyles lends themselves to obesity if healthy habits aren’t instituted. There are a number of reasons for this. First, students may no longer be eating three healthy meals each day as they were when living at home. Skipping breakfast is disastrous since the student will be hungry all day and will turn to unhealthy food choices to satisfy hunger. Secondly, some college students eat a large amount of junk food filled with empty calories. Soda, chips, candy bars, and alcohol are all high-calorie foods without much other nutritional value.

Thirdly, stress leads to eating. College students certainly find themselves under a great deal of stress from packed class schedules, hectic work environments, and unrelenting deadlines. Many students turn to comfort foods, which are often high in carbohydrates, fats, and calories instead of other healthy options to provide energy-laden minerals and protein.

Fourthly, a great many students are unable to find time for exercising. Without a daily routine, students find they’re simply too tired to exercise, have too many other activities, or are fighting peer pressure to party instead. Regular exercise is critical to health in youth as much as later in life, but college-age students often fail to realize this until they encounter serious health problems.

Students need to be warned that this issue is about more than just body image and self-esteem. While it is true obesity can greatly affect these social and psychological aspects, there are a number of other long-term consequences to obesity. Obesity can negatively affect the reproductive system, the weight-bearing joints of the body, and may even cause problems such as gallbladder disease and frequent heartburn.