FEATURE: Why Do We Keep Killing Ourselves With Food? Are We Really That Stupid?

by Kirk Hamilton, PA-C

Evidently. The problem is the average American doesn't get that 7 of 10 deaths in the United States occurs from chronic diseases that are largely preventable, and many times reversible with low-fat, unprocessed vegan diets like Dr. Barnard recommends in his 21 Day Kickstart Program. Both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) state that these chronic diseases are related to four risk factors: poor diet, inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use. The WHO further states.... if these risk factors were eliminated, 80 percent of heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and 40 percent of cancers would be eliminated. That would be the greatest health discovery ever if implemented. Why do we keep relying on drugs and surgical procedures to treat these chronic conditions when they are clearly reversible and preventable through diet?

I really believe, aside from ignorance and laziness, it's because insurance companies cover treatments with drugs and surgery that are really ineffective at treating the cause of these illnesses. People would rather take a pill or have a surgical procedure that is paid for by insurance than get off their butts and do an aggressive diet like Dr. Barnard's which has been shown by a variety of researchers using similar diets to reverse or dramatically slow the progression of diabetes, heart disease, obesity related illnesses and cancer (prostate). If insurance companies would only cover catastrophic illness, such as traumas and infections, but not heart or vascular disease related illnesses (except genetic structural disorders), type 2 diabetes, obesity related illnesses and other chronic conditions people would either sink (die) or swim (live)?

If you think I am cruel or crazy remember this definition of insanity by Ben Franklin, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." We will never have a chance at real healthcare reform, a viable economy, or a healthy population if we keep eating the Standard American Diet (SAD) mentioned above. In fact, with the tsunami of boomers that are arriving into their senior years, the American fabric of life may be destroyed because we have no means to take care of all these chronic diseases, and we will go bankrupt spending an ever escalating part of our GDP (17% presently) on healthcare. "In the Long-Term Budget Outlook that the Congressional Budget Office released in June 2009, total spending on health care was projected to reach about 31 percent of GDP in 2035 and about 46 percent in 2080 under the extended baseline scenario." If we didn't pay for medication or surgical procedures with insurance, each individual would be forced to change or die, or pay out of pocket. With the latter they might be more motivated to change. Sound extreme? So is the definition of insanity. Think about it.

As a certified physician's assistant specializing in nutrition, prevention and integrative medicine, KIRK HAMILTON maintains that if there's one cure all for chronic disease it's what you eat. With his emphasis on consuming more unprocessed, micronutrient dense plant-food along with simple cross-training and mind/body principles, Kirk has been instrumental in guiding his patients and clients toward the path of optimal health since 1983. He has also been a valued educator to health professionals. As the founder of Clinical Pearls Publications, Kirk provided summaries of nutritional research to practicing physicians and researchers around the globe until he sold the company to Tishcon Corp. in 2004. Since 2009 Kirk has hosted his own radio program/podcast titled Staying Healthy Today. He has interviewed hundreds of the top experts in the medical field including Joel Fuhrman, Dr. David Jenkins and Dr. Neal Barnard. Drawing on his 28 year career, in August 2011 Kirk self-published the book titled "Staying Healthy in the Fast Lane - 9 Simple Steps to Optimal Health." His book serves as a guide for individuals, professionals and policy makers on how to create a new health paradigm that is focused on staying well and prevention instead of treatment.

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Read about how to lose weight and prevent chronic diseases by purchasing Kirk's book, "Staying Healthy in the Fast Lane - 9 Simple Steps to Optimal Health." Order your copy here. Enter code "RX40" and receive an automatic 40% off your book purchase.