Department of Healthy Living & Lifestyles : A Healthy Alternative

First Lady Michelle Obama's campaign against obesity was launched with awesome ferocity against body fat. Her battle is a rather impressive plan that has included her children's theme called "Lets Move" to end childhod obesity is a concept right on target. She has gotten large food chains to sell more low fat, low calorie and low salt items with better labeling. Since that has happened fast food restaurants like McDonald's have taken up the pledge towards reducing high fat, super-sized foods and drinks regularly sold to young consumers . Coca Cola along with Pepsi have undergone a new policy to reduce sugars in their soft drinks as well. By 2011 the First Lady along with the USDA helped create a newer more accurate modern foods model. Also , just now , Disney has jumped on board with Mrs. Obama by not endorsing particularly unhealthy snack prducts with its Disney theme characters in advertisements to kids during peak "kiddy tv" hours as often.Most of these changes have been due to the gradual culture of wellness lead by the First Lady's healthy lifestyles approach. The First Lady's plan has been based more on behavior modification unlike the administrations approach of mandating behavior. The HCA(Healthcare Reform Act) looks at mandating behavior which has become a rather "sticky" spot for many Americans who feel that you can not politically control personal behavior . This issue has become the key testing ground on rather or not the bill will get passed this July. On the other hand Mrs. Obama makes a very strong case for the creation of a Department of Healthy Living & Lifestyles to be created to promote healthy behaviors by personal habits and personal responsibility. Mrs. Obama's approach acts as the Ying to the President's Yang and offers a counter balance. A Department of Healthy Living & Lifestyles would assist coordinating one's fitness agenda during an individuals entire life regarding not just general health but more about well-being including exercise, diet, vitamin use, anti-oxidant use, minerals, yoga(massage and meditation), weight control, behavior modification and prevention. A U.S. Department of Healthy Living and Lifestyles goes beyond mere prevention screenings which have recently become drastically reduced now by new guideline recommendations. The new department would look at regular fitness, maintaining body mass index along with enhancing metabolism based on nutrition science from the moment of birth to later life. The new department may actually help reduce over spending on acute and help curb chronic health resources that have become out-of-control.Health policy and health maintenance organizations can not do this alone . This new department could help coordinate monitoring food and beverage label soft contentof trans fat use in hamburgers and fries, maintain healthy activity guidelines to reduce blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides and give guidelines about dangerous foods that oxidize in the blood that cause cancer as well as give healthier guidelines about "Super foods" that combat the oxidation process called anti-oxidants(found in grapes, berries, tomatoes and many more) could become more standardized with healthier RDI(recommended dietary intakes).This department could better help utilize the information also used by the NIH, CDC,USDA, FDA, nutrition groups, food and beverage manufacturers as well as the fitness industry in a effort to make a healthier nation. It is clear that a total new healthcare system will have to take a lot more time, adjustment and costs while a healthy lifestyles program will cost a fraction of the cost of healthcare and help prevent costly disease processes that advance to stages that are difficult and expensive to treat.It can be started quicker as well. Over all a Department of Healthy Living & Lifestyles would be a great way to advance overall well-being and quality of life in this country.

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