Month: December 2021

Is Better Health a Priority in the US? (1 year later; has anything changed?)

I posted this article of mine almost 1 year ago. I thought it would be interesting to re-post and re-visit to contemplate if much has changed in the last year regarding the health of our nation.

In the words of Dr. Jerome Adams, the former surgeon general of the United States, “You know what will make you and your community healthier but still, you choose not to do it.” He goes on to state that 7 out of 10 of 18-24-year olds are ineligible for military service. They cannot pass the physical, can’t meet educational requirements, or have a criminal history. In years past, recess and physical education were part of the school day from kindergarten through elementary school. High school students had PE every school day until graduation. Today if students are not involved in school or extracurricular sports, few make the time or commitment to stay physically active. Unhealthy kids quickly turn into unhealthy adults. The health of our people is directly affecting the safety of our nation.

Ask an average citizen in the US if their health and their family’s is a priority and the response will be something like, “Of course our health is my top priority and we have the healthiest country in the world!” No, not true for both statements based upon data from seemingly reputable data outlets. The Bloomberg Global Health Index for 2020, ranked the US #35 in the world for overall quality of health but ranks #1 for healthcare spending. The US spends more than $3.4 trillion annually on health care, more than any other country. Made obvious from the data is that investing more money in healthcare, does not necessarily make a country or the person healthier. Money does not change our health. We need to improve life expectancy and other indicators of health with better education along with a change in mindset. If someone has great healthcare coverage but eats junk food every day, does not exercise regularly and has a negative outlook, they will probably experience health issues sooner than later.

As a nation, we eat an extremely high amount of low-quality junk food and then sit for hours per day. We hope to efficiently digest low quality food that will eventually often cause illnesses and even death. More than 36.3% of youth aged 2-19 eat fast food on a given day.This is complicated even more so with the sedentary lifestyle and laissez-faire attitude towards individuals accepting responsibility for their own health. Americans meeting the CDC guideline for aerobic and muscle strengthening exercises is only 23.2% as of 2018.These factors help contribute to the increase of obesity over the last 60 years. Obesity is a key factor in many health issues based on data from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and other reputable sources. In 2017–2018, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity in adults was 42.4%. Stats for kids (not shown) are just as appalling. These numbers are truly pathetic. Further issues to discuss would be how many manage their nutrition by monitoring their intake of sugar, salt, trans fat, alcohol, and other consumables? What about managing stress and emotional health? The US economy needs our citizens to support the fast-food industry and consequently gives the health care industry an overabundance of its own customers. It seems as if the US wants its people to be healthy enough to work, but not too healthy as to put the fast-food and healthcare providers out of business. This is our reality that many choose to deny.

The leading causes of death in the US are all very much influenced by our diet, our sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise and excessive sitting. Also contributing is our attitude towards managing stress or lack thereof. Thinking that more is always better or if we are not stressed, we are not doing enough. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory issues are all leading causes of death by far. Each of these ailments can be much less if we made it a priority to do so.

Another health issue is our obsession with following the news and the mental stress that can develop from it. Media in the US, love it or hate it, usually focuses mostly on reporting politics, crime and mostly the negative aspects of our society. The phrase “If it bleeds it leads” shows America’s fascination with negative news. This year so far has been mostly the tragedy of Covid19. The media, the government, the entertainment industry and healthcare leaders fail to promote personal responsibility for the individuals’ own actions relative to diet, exercise and lifestyle, and how that can affect on a much broader level the health of our nation. Instead the strong focus is mostly upon wearing masks and social distancing as a way to make an unhealthy nation, somehow immune to disease and illnesses that affect most those that have multiple health issues to begin with. Please understand that even typically well and health conscious people do get sick also.  Athletes and health enthusiasts can get sick too. However, people that are active usually recover faster though.

We need to honestly look at the root causes for our health issues, instead of looking to politics or others to blame for our own personal accountability. Blaming others will not make us healthier.  We are where we are, because of our choices. I love pizza but I should not be eating it every day of the week. Some TV viewing is fine but 4-7 hours a day is a bit much no?  We need to own our health.

Our actions support the data that we do not truly put exercise, nutrition and stress as high priorities deserving more action than mere conversation. Healthy living and habits are a choice and a mindset that we as Americans as a whole, fail terribly at practicing. It does not need to be this way. There are things that can move us forward to become a healthier nation.

The 5 Pillars of Health

Eating healthier can be achieved by managing less intake of junk foods, sugar, and salt, as well as reasonable amounts of alcohol. More fruit and vegetables are healthier snacks that have many nutritional rewards. Become more active by getting up and off the couch, stepping away from the PC, TV, smartphone, and other electronic addictions. Better sleep is a major immune system booster and can be earned by being more active during the day. Relieve stress through exercise, meditation, or breathing deeper and more deliberately, or take more breaks from the news and social media. Be nice to others because what you put out, you receive back. Basically, get moving more, eat healthier foods, sleep better, stress less and be a nicer person.  Enjoy life but know your limits and take all things in moderation.

Be well, stay healthy, be wise.

Jim Moltzan

Works Cited

Adams, Jerome, “How resilient communities can create a healthier country.” Youtube, uploaded by TEDxMidAtlantic. September 23, 2020.   www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIY13uvlGLY

American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine

www.worldhealth.net/news/bloombergs-global-health-index-2020/

Fryar, Cheryl, et al. Fast Food Intake Among Children and Adolescents in the United States, 2015–2018, NCHS Data Brief No. 375, August 2020, www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db375.htm

CDC, National Center for Health Statistics. Exercise or Physical Activity, May 11, 2020 www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/exercise.htm

Hales, Craig, et al. Prevalence of Obesity and Severe Obesity Among Adults: United States, 2017–2018, NCHS Data Brief No. 360, February 2020. www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db360.htm

Xu, Jiaquan, et al. Mortality in the United States, 2018, NCHS Data Brief No. 355, January 2020.  www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db355.htm

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Qigong, tai chi, baguazhang, and yoga are not the only methods that can be used within this formula but have proven the test of time as methods to cultivate harmony of the mind, body and spirit. These exercise practices offer a wide spectrum of physical wellness benefits, stress relief as well as means of self-awareness.  Not all teachers nor students practice these for the same goals.

I am currently offering wellness lectures and classes for group, small group & private instruction in Wekiva, Longwood and Winter Park.

For more info, contact Jim Moltzan at info@mindandbodyexercises.com, 407-234-0119 or through my site at http://www.mindandbodyexercises.com

http://www.Amazon.com/author/jimmoltzan

Weak People Create Hard Times – and here we are! Yin & Yang in All Things

A new year comes, another new cycle begins. I think most would agree that this is true. Nature demonstrates patterns (universal truths) that have been around before humans and will be here after, such as seasons, weather patterns, natural disasters, etc. Humans being part of nature are subject to its patterns.

Hard times create strong men (people)

Strong men create good times

Good times create weak men

Weak men create hard times

Study and contemplate my graphic below, representing relationships between the universal truths of nature, whether manifested in the time of the day, time of the year, phases of the human lifecycle and consequently, how human nature (behavior) is often dictated by the natural environmental that we all exist within.

I feel we are all experiencing a watershed event, where we are just working through the above cycle. Some people may dispute this theory or cycle but I think it holds true as compared similarly to the sun rising and setting, or the seasons of the year. So I feel we are exactly where we are supposed to be whether viewed as a time for major political, societal and cultural changes, re-evaluation of our moral compasses, world health crises or the advancement of technologies – everything exists within cycles, and it all connects back to nature on some level.

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Be well, get healthy, be wise.

I am currently available for health and wellness lectures and classes for group, & private instruction in the Orlando, Florida area. Mind and Body Exercises on Google: https://posts.gle/aD47Qo

Jim Moltzan

407-234-0119

www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

http://www.amazon.com/author/jimmoltzan

https://www.facebook.com/MindAndBodyExercises/

https://www.youtube.com/c/MindandBodyExercises

https://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/

http://www.umareg.com/masters-council/

New Year’s Resolution vs. A Commitment to Yourself

If you are not striving to grow as a human being every day, you are consequently dying a little bit every day. Nature and our world within it, is constantly changing, evolving and moving forward. If we are not moving forward within this flow, we are not just stuck in place but rather falling behind.

Well then, Happy New Year!

Start a new traditional by stopping the usual New Year’s resolution shenanigans, which usually are seldom kept or maybe at best last a day, a week or maybe a month until they are revisited another year later.

https://sixdegreesofkosherbacon.com/2018/08/09/why-your-new-years-resolutions-fail-by-ben/

The vicious cycle continues and often never changes, because there is no accountability to take care of yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually. And often there is a loss of proper motivation – until the spark arrives. An illness, an injury, or an event that enlightens us to what is truly important. Then this spark motivates us to pursue better methods to maintain our mind, body and spiritual awareness.

https://elcidonline.com/features/2017/12/21/coming-to-fruition-or-not/

How someone behaves when there is no audience or opportunity to gain, is more of a gauge of an individual’s moral compass. Changing one’s behavior when in the presence of family, friends and others can be somewhat manageable, and truly just a facade for many people. Do you really care about your health and well-being, and reflect this in your daily actions or just parrot the words of others encouraging “be healthy, stay safe”? No one should care more about your health and well-being than you, right?

Instead of another face value New Year’s Resolution, this year seriously consider making a REAL promise or commitment to yourself to improve or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthier, be more active, sleep better, be more positive than negative in your outlook – live a purposeful live without fear.

Tai chi, qigong, wellness classes and lectures might be options in your future. My classes offer a diverse knowledge base covering the following aspects:

  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Body mechanics
  • Wellness concepts
  • Learning concepts
  • Stress management
  • Chronic pain management
  • Physical rehabilitation
  • Functionally specific exercise sets
  • Self-awareness
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine
  • Eastern philosophy
  • Sound Therapy
  • Various meditation methods

While it may seem selfish to put your own health and well-being first, it is actually the most giving of oneself to be a living vessel of love, compassion and knowledge to those around you, for as long as possible.

My understanding is that you can only give out, what you yourself have an abundance of.

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Be well, get healthy, be wise.

I am currently available for health and wellness lectures and classes for group, & private instruction in the Orlando, Florida area. Mind and Body Exercises on Google: https://posts.gle/aD47Qo

Jim Moltzan

407-234-0119

www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

https://www.facebook.com/MindAndBodyExercises/

https://www.youtube.com/c/MindandBodyExercises

https://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/

http://www.umareg.com/masters-council/

How Our Body Responds to Stress – The General Adaptation Syndrome

Feeling stressed out?

We are living in what some people feel, is the most stressful time in their lifetimes. I find it quite ironic that for much of the modernized world, people are no longer living with past daily stressors due to being chased or bitten by wild animals while in their quest for food, or having to find components to build their own shelter while enduring the heat or cold, but still ending up dying from stress related illnesses. Most people are no longer being attacked by a neighboring kingdom, tribe or clan, also in pursuit of more food or better living conditions, but live with daily stress regardless.. However, many people live constantly with other modern day stressors of relative to crime, violence, public healthcare, politics, job security, social issues and most recently – stress from engaging with social media and its various outlets.

Everyone experiences both negative as well as positive stressors. Regardless, of the source of stress, the human body’s autonomic nervous system responds to stressors, initially to defend the physical body, but after prolonged stress, eventually fatigues leading to disease and illness. Think of having the A/C or heat running all day, every day with no downtime. Eventually, the physical components will degrade and breakdown, if not properly checked and maintained before catastrophic failure occurs.

The General Adaptation Syndrome

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is the continual physiological response to stressors. There are three stages of biological responses. Hans Selye first recognized this concept in 1936, GAS is seen as a modern biological formulation of stress. Understanding the physiology behind GAS, including how it is triggered, can help manage or reduce stress.

1. Alarm

A person’s ability to resist any type of stressor is lowered by the need to deal with the stressor, whether it is a scrape, a loss, a fear, a broken bone, the loss of a loved one, or the loss of a job.

Body’s immediate response to stress:

  • DHEA increases
  • Cortisol increases

Symptoms typical for this portion of the General Adaptation Syndrome alarm stage:

  • Rapid breathing
  • Low blood glucose levels
  • Heightened senses
  • Trembling
  • Tissue catabolism
  • Gastrointestinal erosion
  • Sleep issues
  • Dilated pupils
  • Increased heart rate
  • Pale or flushed skin

2. Resistance

The body responds and adapts to the sustained existence of the stressor by making more epinephrine which raises blood pressure, increases alertness, suppresses the immune system, and tenses muscles. lf interactions with the stressor become long-term, the ability to resist becomes reduced.

This stage is in place when cortisol is made at the expense of DHEA to sustain adaptability:

  • Cortisol increase
  • DHEA decreases
  • Epinephrine may increase to help maintain energy and blood sugar levels

Symptoms typical for this portion of the General Adaptation Syndrome stage:

  • Sleeplessness due to high cortisol level
  • Bowel issues
  • Headaches
  • Irritability
  • Sadness
  • Frustration
  • Poor concentration
  • Some individuals may remain in this phase for a lifetime, while others further deteriorate

3. Exhaustion

When the ability to respond and resist is decreased, the individual may become ill. Prolonged months or years of strain and stress may be present before the body’s resistance is exhausted. DIesease and illness may not manifest until long after the initial interaction occurs with the stressor.

The body loses the capacity to adapt as the body deteriorates from constant stress:

  • Cortisol level is low
  • DHEA level is low
  • Epinephrine level is low

Symptoms typical for this portion of the General Adaptation Syndrome stage:

  • Severe fatigue
  • Feelings of “burnout”
  • Inability to sleep well through the night
  • Salt cravings
  • Allergies
  • Decreased tolerance of stress

Management

Everyone needs an outlet for regulating their stress. If there is no outlet and the stress stays internalized, eventually the physiological responses will take their toll by manifesting in disease, illness and even more stress, creating an endless vicious circle of pain and suffering. Stress management methods can help one to cope with stress and consequently, General Adaption Syndrome. Examples of some methods include:

References:

Edlin, G., & Golanty, E. (2018). Health & Wellness (13th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

http://www.sanescohealth.com/blog/general-adaptation-syndrome-stages/

https://www.verywellhealth.com/general-adaptation-syndrome-overview-5198270

Be well, get healthy, be wise.

I am currently available for health and wellness lectures and classes for group, & private instruction in the Orlando, Florida area. Mind and Body Exercises on Google: https://posts.gle/aD47Qo

Jim Moltzan

407-234-0119

www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

https://www.facebook.com/MindAndBodyExercises/

https://www.youtube.com/c/MindandBodyExercises

https://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/

https://umareg.com/masters-council/

Ginger and its Many Benefits

No time like right now, to invest in taking better care of your immune system. Ginger has been my “go to” herb for decades in the forms of tea, as a cooking spice as well as capsules as a supplement to other vitamin and diet deficiencies. I have experienced noticeable improvements and/or management of allergies, headaches, joint and muscle inflammation and nausea. 

Ginger root, also known as zingiber officinale or zingiberis rhizome. The Chinese name is shen jiang. Ginger is native to Asia often used as a food as well as medicine. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), ginger is used to remove “cold”, “wind” and “dampness”, while stopping the reverse flow of qi (energy). Use of ginger in Western countries has been mostly for gastrointestinal symptoms and respiratory ailments. Preclinical studies show ginger being antiemetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and possibly helps to protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

Ginger has been used for many ailments including but not limited to the following:

  • stimulates appetite
  • helps relieve drug withdrawal symptoms
  • improves respiratory ailments
  • reduces nausea and vomiting
  • relieves indigestion
  • treats diarrhea
  • reduces rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

Some people should avoid ginger consumption for certain issues such as those having surgery or bleeding ailments, because ginger has blood-thinning effects. Warfarin or other blood thinners may be less effective due to ginger increasing the risk of bleeding.

Those with gallstones should refrain from consuming ginger because it can increase the flow of bile and other potential cholagogic effects.

Individuals who take insulin or medications to lower blood glucose should avoid ginger because it may increase larger reductions in glucose levels.

Upon my further reading and research, it appears as if different sources might discourage ginger consumption during pregnancy (increase bleeding) while other sources state that it is fine to use during pregnancy to relieve morning sickness and accompanying nausea. Individuals should avoid ginger supplements during pregnancy or lactating because of unknown human gestational development.

Perhaps the best course of action, would be for the individual to check with their healthcare providers to get a better understanding of the pros and cons of using ginger while pregnant.

Reference:

https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/symptom-management/integrative-medicine/herbs/search?amp%3Bop=Go&keys=breast%20cancer&letter=&letters=&page=13

John Diamond, M.D. W. John Diamond, M.D. The Clinical Practice of Complementary, Alternative, and Western Medicine. Boca Raton: CRC Press LLC, 2001. 7.

Herbs and Pregnancy

https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/consuming-ginger-during-pregnancy/

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Be well, get healthy, be wise.

I am currently available for health and wellness lectures and classes for group, & private instruction in the Orlando, Florida area. Mind and Body Exercises on Google: https://posts.gle/aD47Qo

Jim Moltzan

407-234-0119

www.MindAndBodyExercises.com

http://www.Amazon.com/author/jimmoltzan

https://www.facebook.com/MindAndBodyExercises/

https://www.youtube.com/c/MindandBodyExercises

https://mindandbodyexercises.wordpress.com/

http://www.umareg.com/masters-council/