Welcome to 2016, another year in our lives – one with new opportunities for change. While traveling in our historic Southwest, I read a column in a local newspaper, one written by a Mexican-American. He was lamenting the health issues that citizens of Mexico – not New Mexico – were facing. He explained that, decades ago, Mexicans had low rates of heart disease and diabetes. But times have changed.
Today’s Mexicans, according to the writer, suffer high rates of heart disease and diabetes, due to the “Americanization” of the Mexican diet. How about exercise? Many Mexicans, in the good old days, had to walk everywhere. No cars. They walked, sometimes miles, to work, to shop, to visit friends. They worked their fields, they fished, they moved. And they ate a lot of beans and vegetables. Meat cost more than veggies. So, yes, their lifestyle has changed and their life expectancy reflects this change, ranking number 55 in the world, about 20 places behind the USA. Yes, that’s right, our country, one that spends more per capita on health care than any other, ranks 34th in longevity. Ironically, Spain, the mother county of Mexico, has a life expectancy of 83, placing it in second place, behind only Japan. Why do Spaniards live four years longer than Americans and six years longer than Mexicans? Maybe “Americanization” hasn’t hit Spain. Yet.
Another piece of news that intrigued me was the Forbes listing of the richest man or woman in each state. Wanting to see who was number one in Ohio, I scrolled through the first half of states, briefly looking at those who had achieved high levels of financial success. Does it make sense that a wealthy person would have access to the best information on staying healthy? Yes. But, alas, nearly all of these rich people were obese. Can money buy good health? Yes and no. Well, these folks can afford medications and medical treatment, but they can’t avoid the diseases that accompany obesity: sooner or later they come, like villains in the night.
So, with the New Year, why not take charge of your health? Don’t be a statistic. We have enough of those. Be a LifeNut!
Today’s Mexicans, according to the writer, suffer high rates of heart disease and diabetes, due to the “Americanization” of the Mexican diet. How about exercise? Many Mexicans, in the good old days, had to walk everywhere. No cars. They walked, sometimes miles, to work, to shop, to visit friends. They worked their fields, they fished, they moved. And they ate a lot of beans and vegetables. Meat cost more than veggies. So, yes, their lifestyle has changed and their life expectancy reflects this change, ranking number 55 in the world, about 20 places behind the USA. Yes, that’s right, our country, one that spends more per capita on health care than any other, ranks 34th in longevity. Ironically, Spain, the mother county of Mexico, has a life expectancy of 83, placing it in second place, behind only Japan. Why do Spaniards live four years longer than Americans and six years longer than Mexicans? Maybe “Americanization” hasn’t hit Spain. Yet.
Another piece of news that intrigued me was the Forbes listing of the richest man or woman in each state. Wanting to see who was number one in Ohio, I scrolled through the first half of states, briefly looking at those who had achieved high levels of financial success. Does it make sense that a wealthy person would have access to the best information on staying healthy? Yes. But, alas, nearly all of these rich people were obese. Can money buy good health? Yes and no. Well, these folks can afford medications and medical treatment, but they can’t avoid the diseases that accompany obesity: sooner or later they come, like villains in the night.
So, with the New Year, why not take charge of your health? Don’t be a statistic. We have enough of those. Be a LifeNut!
