RECOMMENDED READING:
Keeping you aware of the latest resources that will provide
the information you need to make wise decisions about your health.
This month's featured title is The
Wellness Revolution: How to Make a Fortune in the Next Trillion Dollar
Industry by Paul Zane Pilzer.
Throughout the 10 chapters and four
appendices that make up The Wellness Revolution, Pilzer speaks at
length about why a "wellness revolution" is needed, how the demand for
wellness is increasing, and the issues facing the health insurance industry.
Two chapters in the book are full of anecdotes about the Department of
Agriculture, empty calories, the amount of money spent on restaurant food,
and the like. Other chapters discuss concepts such as wellness insurance and
wellness savings accounts, which may be of interest to people looking to
change their insurance policy - and possibly save some money in the process.
Looking for a New Career? Consider
Chiropractic!
What are the best jobs to pursue for the next
five years? Fast Company, a magazine that chronicles how the business
world is changing, has published its list of "The 25 Top Jobs for 2005."
According to Fast Company, the list "draws on the work of the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, Salary.com and an innovation expert to tap the top
jobs."
 The
25 top jobs were selected based upon four specific criterion: Job Growth
Index (accounted for 35% of the overall index score); Salary Range Index
(35% of the overall index score); Education Index (20% of the overall index
score); and Innovation Index (10% of the overall index score). Each job
received a score of 0-100 for each of the above indexes. Those scores were
combined according to the above percentages to arrive at the Total Index
Score.
And coming in at number four on Fast
Company's list is … Chiropractor. According to the article,
chiropractors "diagnose and treat problems related to a person's muscular,
nervous, and skeletal systems, with special emphasis on the spine." The
article cited advanced education, the trend toward alternative health, and
insurance reimbursement as the reasons why "the job is hot."
The job of chiropractor had the highest score
in the Education Index - a whopping 98.48. This beat out other jobs in the
top 25 such as medical scientist (98.28), biochemist/biophysicist (96.48);
epidemiologist (98.28) and lawyer (98.37). Chiropractor also did well on the
Salary Range Index with a score of 84.93. This fell below personal athlete
(100); security sales agent (89.36); and financial advisor (87.95), but
bested the remaining 21 jobs.
OK, so maybe you're not considering a career
move, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the full benefits of
chiropractic! Regular chiropractic care helps alleviate everything from back
pain to headaches to stress...no wonder it's in the top 25 jobs! Ask a
doctor of chiropractic what regular chiropractic care can do for you.
Reference: Quinn M. The 25 top jobs
for 2005. Fast Company's Fast Take, Feb. 16, 2005.
www.fastcompany.com/articles/2005/01/top-jobs-main.html.
The 2005 Dietary Guidelines are Here
In January, the Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released
the "Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005." New guidelines are issued by
the HHS and USDA every five years, and since obesity in America is at an all
time high, it seems they came just in the nick of time.
 Among
the new recommendations, the guidelines place a strong emphasis on fruit and
vegetable consumption and recommend that consumers select "from all five
vegetable subgroups (dark green, orange, legumes, starchy vegetables, and
other vegetables) several times a week." The guidelines also emphasize
whole-grain consumption and recommend three cups of fat-free milk products
per day. Other recommendations include limiting sugar, sodium, and saturated
and trans-fat intakes, and limiting alcohol consumption to one to two drinks
a day. The overarching theme of the guidelines emphasizes selecting foods
that are high in nutrients and low in calories.
"Considering the epidemic of obesity we face
in our country, people need all the help they can get in understanding the
relationships between food consumption, a healthy diet, physical fitness and
good health," Susan H. Laramee, a registered dietitian and president of the
American Dietetic Association (ADA), said in the press release.
The new guidelines will also direct the
nation's policies for the next five years for government nutrition programs,
including research, education, food assistance programs, labeling and
nutrition promotion, the press release said.
References:
1. Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005.
www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines.
2. Press release. What do 2005 dietary guidelines mean for Americans?
American Dietetic Association. Jan 12, 2005.
www.eatright.org.
To Fall or Not to Fall: That is the
Question
Did you know that in-home injuries kill
approximately 30,000 people in the United States each year and that
one-third of home-injury fatalities are related to falls? Senior citizens
are often most vulnerable to falls because balance and mobility decline as
we age, but most of the time falls can be prevented.
 The
March issue of the Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource newsletter
highlights several precautions that can be taken in the home to avoid
potentially fatal falls. These include keeping all areas of the home well
lit, installing nightlights and having a flashlight available in the event
of a power outage; arranging furniture to allow for easy movement; keeping
porch steps and walkways in good repair; securing rugs and flooring with
slip-resistant backing, and removing small throw rugs; ensuring that
stairways are equipped with nonskid surfaces; and installing bars in the
bathroom and shower, as well as using nonskid mats in the tub.
Falls are not a necessary part of aging! By
taking a few precautions, most falls can be prevented and your home will be
a safer place.
Reference:
Press release. Tips to avoid falls at home. Newswise. March 11, 2005.
www.newswise.com. |
