Is Our Health Really a Priority in the US?

Ask any citizen in the US if their health and their family’s is a priority and the response will be something like, “well of course our health is my top priority!” “And we are the healthiest country in the world!” Ehhh…no, not true for both statements based upon data from supposedly reputable news outlets. View the charts at the bottom.

In reality how many Americans exercise on a regular basis? How many manage their nutrition by monitoring their sugar, salt, trans fat, alcohol, etc. intake? Or what about managing stress and emotional health? Not many.

Americans might say or think that we are very health conscious but the statistics show that we really are not. The US ranked 35th in the world in 2019 from a report from Bloomberg. Meanwhile Forbes ranked the US #1 worldwide for the amount of money spent on healthcare in 2018. Made obvious from the data is that investing more money in healthcare, doesn’t make a country or the person healthier. If someone has great healthcare coverage but eats junk food everyday, doesn’t exercise regularly and has a negative outlook, they will probably experience health issues sooner than later.

Our actions support the facts that we don’t truly put exercise, nutrition and stress as high priorities deserving more action than conversation. Healthy living and habits are a choice, or a mindset that we as Americans as a whole, fail terribly at practicing. True is true.

When the research is done, we can also determine that 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) and our attitudes towards managing stress or lack thereof. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes and respiratory issues (all leading causes of death by far) can all be much less if we made it a priority to do so.

Which brings us to another issue. Our media in the US, love it or hate it, usually focuses mostly on reporting deaths relative to terrorism and homicide. So far this year has been the doom and gloom of Covid19. The media, the government and healthcare leaders fail to promote personal responsibility for the individuals’ own actions and how that can affect on a much broader level the health of our nation. Instead there is a strong focus on 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 health issues to begin with.

Even typically healthy people do get sick. Athletes and health enthusiast can get sick too. Nobody gets a free ride, but why don’t we start to look at the root causes for our health issues, instead of looking to politics or others to blame for our own personal accountability. We are where we are, because of our choices. We need to own this. Blaming others will not make us healthier.

Get moving more, eat healthier foods and try to stress less. These are the keys to a healthier nation.

Be well, stay healthy, be wise.

Healthiest Countries 2019-Bloomberg

The-National

Cost for Healthcare 2018

pasted-image-0 Causes-of-death-in-USA-vs.-media-coverage

Neuroplasticity – Reroute, Rewire, Reorganize Your Brain

The brain has the ability to continuously form, change and relocate new neural connections to different neural networks throughout our lives. This phenomenon is called neourplasticity.
– This occurs at the beginning of life
– After experiencing a brain injury
– When new learning and memories are observed

Neural connections

Benefits of increase neuroplasticity or brain rerouting:
– Enhanced memory abilities
– More effective learning
– Recovery from brain events like strokes
– Recovery from traumatic brain injuries
– Ability to rewire functions in the brain
– Function loss in one area may enhance functions in other areas

Methods

Methods that have been known to enhance neuroplasticity include:

– Dancing, yoga, tai chi and other mind and body practices increases neural connectivity

– Expanding ones vocabulary increase memory processing and the visual and auditory processes

– Quality sleep enhances learning retention through the growth of the dendritic spines that serve as connections between neurons

– Creating artwork enhances the connectivity of the brain at rest which can boost introspection, memory, empathy, attention, and focus

– Occasional fasting can increases synaptic adaptation, promoting neuron growth

– Use of mnemonic devices with memory training can enhance connections in the prefrontal parietal network and help to prevent memory loss

– Learning musical instruments may increase connections between brain regions helping form new neural networks

– Non-dominant hand exercises can form new neural pathways strengthening the connectivity between neurons

– Reading fiction may increase and enhance connectivity in the brain

– Travel exposes the brain to new environments and various stimuli that forms new pathways and brain activity

Be well, stay healthy, be wise!

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The Horary Clock (Circadian Rhythm) – 24 Hour Qi Flow Though the Meridians

The Horary Clock (Circadian Rhythm) – 24 Hour Qi Flow Though the Meridians

Understanding how the human body works and interacts within nature, along with self-awareness are the basis of Traditional Chinese medicine.

The graphic shows what is known as the Horary cycle or the Circadian Clock. As Qi (energy) makes its way through the meridians, each meridian in turn with its associated organ, has a two-hour period during which it is at maximum energy. The Horary Effect is recognizable by measurable increases of Qi within an organ system and meridian during its time of maximum energy.

Harmonizing Habits:
5-7am – Wake Up, Move Bowels, Meditate
7-9am – Sex, Breakfast, Walk, Digest
9-11am – Work, Best Concentration
11am-1pm – Eat Main Meal of Day, Walk
1-3pm – Absorb Food, Short Nap, Work
3-5pm – Work or Study

5-7pm – Exercise, Light Dinner
7-9pm – Light Reading, Massage Feet
9-11pm – Calm Socializing, Flirting, Sex
11pm-1am – Go to Sleep, Cellular Repair
1-3am – Deep Sleep, Detox Liver & Blood
3-5am – Deep Sleep, Detox Lungs

Tai Chi, yoga and qigong are all methods that increase the flow of energy within the body improving health and well-being.

Be well, stay healthy, be wise!

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The Back Shu Acuppoints

The Back Shu Acuppoints –

There are 12 Back Shu points on the bladder energy meridian, that correspond to each of the 12 Zang-Fu organs. They are each named for an organ or body part. The energy meridians are part of the 5 Element Theory from which Traditional Chinese Medicine is based upon. Spontaneous pain indicates a disorder in the meridian.

Back Shu points are used primarily for improving chronic conditions through acupuncture, acupressure and physical movement or exercise. By reviewing the relationships between the spine, organs and other anatomical components, one can see some correlations to the Back Shu Points and its relationships to the same anatomical components.

Regardless of which theory is addressed, one can see the importance of maintaining a healthy spine and its many interconnected components.

Be well, stay healthy, be wise!

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24 Yang Style Tai Chi

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What are “forms” or “sets” of Tai Chi Exercises?
Tai Chi is a powerful art of immense depth consisting of exercise, self-defense and philosophy. The “sets” or “forms” are the structure or the foundation. Forms are individual exercises linked together to form a long flowing series of movements. According to Yang Chan Fu (who is known as the modern father of Tai Chi) “to start learning Tai Chi you have to start with the forms”. There are many styles of Tai Chi, and within each style, each has its different Forms. Even with one well-known form, there are many versions. Students might feel confused facing so many options, or one could take it as an advantage to have so many choices available.

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It is helpful and interesting to understand the structure and background history of the forms. Similar to an artist playing a musical composition, it is possible to play music well. To play it as a piece of art, it becomes necessary to understand the inner meaning, intention and structure of the piece.

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The Origin of the 24 Forms
The Chinese National Sports Committee authorized the country’s four most renowned Tai Chi experts to compose the 24 Forms in order to popularize Tai Chi; . Based on the Yang style, and by eliminating many repetitions and retaining the essential principles of Tai Chi, the 88 Forms was condensed to only 24 Forms. The 24 Forms is easier to learn, remember and practice taking about five minutes to practice. Anyone can do four times through the form in about 20 minutes. The 24 Forms has become the most popular tai chi form in the world.

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The Structure of the 24 Forms
The 24 Forms is divided into five sections. The first section consists of moderate stretching of the upper and lower limbs, which works as warming up for the later exercises. The second section is more challenging with further stretching and turning of the body. The third section contains the most challenging parts with balance exercise and a few kicking movements. The fourth section contains the most technically difficult movements. Lastly, slower movements work as winding down exercises. The 24 Forms has incorporated the essential tai chi principles.

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