Should Some Drug Consumption be Encouraged, as Part of a Healthy Life Style?

How and why DA (AA to special Status Seekers) and Twelve Step Addiction Recovery Doesn’t Work;

1.       The process NOW centres around belief in “God”, not around Spirituality or Spiritual Principles.

2.       Addicts must attend (become bigoted hypocritical slaves of) “regular” group meetings that then serve as Guidelines for physical and Spiritual (providing there exists a belief in “GOD” recovery.

3.       Anyone is welcome to attend THEIR meetings, as long as there exists and HONEST desire for a very extended addiction recovery process.

4.       While “Members” usually travel to and from the meetings together OUTSIDE there is, as the name suggests strict requirement and adherence to ANONYMITY—HA HAH.

Pros and Cons

Pros-

1.       Sponsor Support

2.       No cost to “Individual”

3.       Supported by “Donation”

Cons-

1.       Not very effective, even less so for women.

2.       Must believe in “God”. There is NO ROOM for the Agnostic or Atheist. 

3.       Definitely, not a Self-Empowerment/Sufficiency model, demands Dependency.

The Alarming Rise of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Teens, April 25, 2017. Obesity-Related Deaths Hit New High Worldwide.

Across all racial/ethnic groups, the rate of new diagnosed cases of type 1 diabetes increased more annually from 2003-2012 in males (2.2 percent) than in females (1.4 percent) ages 0-19.

Among youth ages 0-19, the rate of new diagnosed cases of type 1 diabetes increased most sharply in Hispanic youth, a 4.2 percent annual increase. In non-Hispanic blacks, the rate of new diagnosed cases of type 1 diabetes increased by 2.2 percent and in non-Hispanic whites by 1.2 percent per year.

Among youth ages 10-19, the rate of new diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes rose most sharply in Native Americans (8.9 percent), Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders (8.5 percent) and non-Hispanic blacks (6.3 percent).  Note: The rates for Native Americans cannot be generalized to all Native American youth nationwide.

Among youth ages 10-19, the rate of new diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes increased 3.1 percent among Hispanics. The smallest increase was seen in whites (0.6 percent). The rate of new diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes rose much more sharply in females (6.2 percent) than in males (3.7 percent) ages 10-19.

Diabetes – Some Facts

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar), due to an absolute or relative insulin deficiency. Insulin, a hormone secreted from beta cells in the pancreas, assists with the conversion of glucose into energy. Without insulin, glucose cannot be sufficiently absorbed from the bloodstream into the cells of the body. Diabetes is classified as:

Type 1 Diabetes (previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes) may account for 5% to 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes (1). Type 1 diabetes is diagnosed primarily in childhood or adolescence, but may be diagnosed in adults. Multiple daily injections of insulin are required for survival. The most common form of type 1 is caused by autoimmune destruction of beta cells, resulting in an inability of the pancreas to produce insulin. Risk factors are less well-defined for type 1 than for type 2 diabetes, but autoimmune, genetic and environmental factors are involved in the development of this type of diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes was previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

(NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. Most commonly, type 2 diabetes begins after

age 40. However, in many countries, a growing number of children and

adolescents are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (2,3,4).

The onset of type 2 diabetes is a two-stage process: first, there is resistance to

insulin’s action often exacerbated by obesity; second, the pancreas fails to

increase insulin production enough to compensate adequately for the resistance.

Type 2 may account for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases.

**Risk Factors For Type 2** include age, obesity, family history of diabetes, prior history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, physical inactivity and race/ethnicity. Diabetes is a condition where your body is not able to regulate levels of glucose (sugar) in your blood. This results in too much or too little sugar in your blood. There are 2 types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes occurs when your pancreas stops producing insulin. If you have type 1 diabetes, you will need to use an insulin injector to make sure your body gets enough insulin.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body does not respond properly to the insulin it produces. Treatment includes medication and lifestyle changes to your diet and exercise routine.

Topic Overview

What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes happens when your body can't use insulin the right way. Over time, the pancreas can't make enough insulin.

Insulin is a hormone that helps the body's cells use sugar (glucose) for energy. It also helps the body store extra sugar in muscle, fat, and liver cells. Without insulin, this sugar can't get into your cells to do its work. It stays in your blood instead. Your blood sugar level then gets too high.

High blood sugar can harm many parts of the body, such as the eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and kidneys. It can also increase your risk for other health problems (complications).

Type 2 diabetes is different from type 1 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system destroys the cells that release insulin, so that over time the body can't produce insulin at all. In type 2 diabetes, the body still makes some insulin, but it can't use it the right way.

What causes type 2 diabetes?

You can get type 2 diabetes if: Your body doesn't respond as it should to insulin. This makes it hard for your cells to get sugar from the blood for energy. This is called insulin resistance.

Your pancreas doesn't make enough insulin.

If you are overweight, get little or no exercise, or have type 2 diabetes in your family, you are more likely to have problems with the way insulin works in your body. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with a healthy lifestyle, including staying at a healthy weight, making healthy food choices, and getting regular exercise.

What are the symptoms?

Some people don't have symptoms, especially when diabetes is diagnosed early. This is because the blood sugar level may rise so slowly that a person may not know that anything is wrong.

The Most Common Symptoms Of High Blood Sugar Include:

Feeling very thirsty.

Urinating more often than usual.

Feeling very hungry.

Having blurred vision.

You can get high blood sugar for many reasons, including not taking your diabetes medicines, eating more than usual (especially sweets), not exercising, or being sick or under a lot of stress.

If You're Taking Diabetes Medicine, You Can Also Have Problems With Low Blood Sugar. These Symptoms Include:

Sweating.

Feeling weak.

Feeling shaky.

Feeling very hungry.

How is type 2 diabetes diagnosed?

If your doctor thinks that you have type 2 diabetes, he or she will ask you questions about your medical history, do a physical examination, and order a blood test that measures the amount of sugar in your blood.

How is it treated?

The key to treating type 2 diabetes is to keep blood sugar levels controlled and in your target range.

All of the following help to lower blood sugar:

Making healthy food choices. Try to manage the amount of carbohydrate you eat by spreading it out over the day.

Losing weight, if you are overweight

Getting regular exercise

Taking medicines, if you need them

It's also important to:

See your doctor. Regular check-ups are important to monitor your health.

Test your blood sugar levels. You have a better chance of keeping your blood sugar in your target range if you know what your levels are from day to day.

Keep high blood pressure and high cholesterol under control. This can help you lower your risk of heart and large blood vessel disease.

Quit smoking. This can help you reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

It seems like a lot to do—especially at first. You might start with one or two changes. Focus on checking your blood sugar regularly and being active more often. Work on other tasks as you can.

It can be hard to accept that you have diabetes. It's normal to feel sad or angry. You may even feel grief. Talking about your feelings can help. Your doctor or other health professionals can help you cope.

Health Tools

Adaptation Date: 6/16/2017

For further information on the prevention, management, and diagnosis of diabetes, speak to your health care provider. You may also call 8-1-1 to speak to a registered dietician, registered nurse, or pharmacist. Our dieticians are available Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; our nurses are available anytime, every day of the year; and our pharmacists are available every night from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. You can also Email a HealthLinkBC Dietician.

How do we Define Obesity and Overweight?

How do we define obesity and overweight?

The prevalence of overweight and obesity is commonly assessed by using body mass index (BMI), defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres (kg/m2 ). A BMI over 25 kg/m2 is defined as overweight, and a BMI of over 30 kg/m2 as obese. These markers provide common benchmarks for assessment, but the risks of disease in all populations can increase progressively from lower BMI levels.

Adult mean BMI levels of 22-23 kg/m2 are found in Africa and Asia, while levels of 25-27 kg/m2 are prevalent across North America, Europe, and in some Latin American, North African and Pacific Island countries. BMI increases amongst middle-aged elderly people, who are at the greatest risk of health complications. In countries undergoing nutrition transition, overnutrition often co-exists with undernutrition. People with a BMI below 18.5 kg/m2 tend to be underweight.

The distribution of BMI is shifting upwards in many populations. And recent studies have shown that people who were undernourished in early life and then become obese in adulthood, tend to develop conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes at an earlier age and in more severe form than those who were never undernourished.

Why is this Happening?

Why is this happening?

The rising epidemic reflects the profound changes in society and in behavioural patterns of communities over recent decades. While genes are important in determining a person's susceptibility to weight gain, energy balance is determined by calorie intake and physical activity. Thus societal changes and worldwide nutrition transition are driving the obesity epidemic. Economic growth, modernization, urbanization and globalization of food markets are just some of the forces thought to underlie the epidemic.

As incomes rise and populations become more urban, diets high in complex arbohydrates give way to more varied diets with a higher proportion of fats, saturated fats and sugars. At the same time, large shifts towards less physically demanding work have been observed worldwide. Moves towards less physical activity are also found in the increasing use of automated transport, technology in the home, and more passive leisure pursuits.

How Does Excess Body fat Impact Health?

Overweight and obesity lead to adverse metabolic effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin resistance. Some confusion of the consequences of obesity arise because researchers have used different BMI cut-offs, and because the presence of many medical conditions involved in the development of obesity may confuse the effects of obesity itself.

The non-fatal, but debilitating health problems associated with obesity include respiratory difficulties, chronic musculoskeletal problems, skin problems and infertility. The more life-threatening problems fall into four main areas: CVD problems; conditions associated with insulin resistance such as type 2 diabetes; certain types of cancers, especially the hormonally related and large-bowel cancers; and gallbladder disease.

The likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes and hypertension rises steeply with increasing body fatness. Confined to older adults for most of the 20th century, this disease now affects obese children even before puberty. Approximately 85% of people with diabetes are type 2, and of these, 90% are obese or overweight. And this is increasingly becoming a developing world problem. In 1995, the Emerging Market Economies had the highest number of diabetics. If current trends continue, India and the Middle Eastern crescent will have taken over by 2025.Large increases would also be observed in China, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the rest of Asia.

Raised BMI also increases the risks of cancer of the breast, colon, prostate, endometroium, kidney and gallbladder. Chronic overweight and obesity contribute significantly to osteoarthritis, a major cause of disability in adults. Although obesity should be considered a disease in its own right, it is also one of the key risk factors for other chronic diseases together with smoking, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. In the analyses carried out for World Health Report 2002, approximately 58% of diabetes and 21% of ischaemic heart disease and 8-42% of certain cancers globally were attributable to a BMI above 21 kg/m2.

How to Avoid Type 2 Diabetus

Its all about LIFE STYLE CHANGES --exercise and diet. Limit patronization of fast food joints avoid pre-packaged convenience foods,eat your fruit and vegetables,especially green vegetables-- forget the sauces and salad dressings,eat your fruit and vegetables as Mother NATURE MADE THEM--and-- unless going on a long trip during which time it might be needed in an emergency--LEAVE YOUR MOBILE PHONE OR TEXTING DEVICE  AT HOME. Instead, try walking, at a brisk pace for about 10 blocks.

Obesity is rapidly becoming the leading CAUSE OF DEATH in North America, It is now estimated that by the year 2020, FIFTY PERCENT (50%) PARTICULARLY WOMAN of North Americans will be NOT JUST OVER WEIGHT; BUT OBESE. AND, this condition will account for twenty percent (20%) of deaths each year. It is also estimated that average North American can add four years to their lives, simply by watching their weight and avoiding fast food outlets.

Mass and energy are both but different manifestations of the same thing - a somewhat unfamiliar conception for the average mind.

Exert some energy and you will not have the mass.

Link:

http://al-alex-alexander-girvan.blogspot.com/2010/02/more-on-leading-cause-of-death-in-north.html

How to Prevent Cancer, Diabetes, and Many Other Diseases.

Contrary to what we are being told by many public health care agencies, nutritionists, and supplement stores; there is no evidence to support any health benefits from increased vitamin D intake. Also, the full long-term effects of increased vitamin D or any of the other supplements is still largely unknown; it is possibly that they do more harm than good. The recent findings of extensive research do show that most Canadians and other North Americans probably get enough vitamin D but that many are malnourished.

An improper or inadequate diet is probably the single greatest cause of cancer, diabetes, obesity, and other health problems. There are many people, who have always existed on low- income, born and raised in the MODERN "fast-food era that have no idea of what an adequate, balanced would consist of.

If you really want to prevent cancer, diabetes, and many other such diseases;

 DO NOT SMOKE, DRINK ONLY MODERATE AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOL,

AND EAT AN ADEQUATE, BALANCED DIET
and stop telling the kids that they are NOT ALLOWED to like vegetables.

By following these three simple rules Canada's rapidly growing Health Costs could be  reduced by up to 50%. 

The only problem here is that many Canadians, HANDICAPPED, homeless, LOW-INCOME, mentally ill, seniors, veterans can not afford a  balanced adequate diet, even if they do know what one is.

Through a False Sense of Economy and a Quest for Convenience; Most Canadians Throw away Most of Their Food Dollar.

Song of the Stock Pot

            Not so long ago, all stocks, soups, chowders and stews were made at home, and the stock pot was kept on the stove day in and day out; but with the gradual change from wood and coal to gas and electricity, combined with the shift to faster living, and the perfecting of modern commercial canning and condensing methods, the long slow process of stock making has become far less common in home kitchens; so much so that many cooks do not even know what a stock is. This change has not come about without great cost, however.

            People are now spending a greater portion of their incomes on food, throwing much of it away, and are generally not as well nourished. The great emphasize is now on convenience and speed -not on health or nutrition. We have seen a huge explosion in the consumption of sugar, salt (salt or sugar are still the main flavour ingredients in all commercially prepared food), and fat. Party, because we no longer speak, understand, nor write in; the English language.               We very seldom  attempt to read labels and don't understand them when we do. Most of us just plod on--like cattle or sheep, safe in the knowledge that people are living longer-which is of course; simply not true. 
            What is true: fewer mothers and babies are dying in child birth and fewer people are dying after a first, or even second, heart attack or stroke, so it appears that people are living longer--when they are not.

            True, fewer people are dying at an extremely young, or even early middle age(40 to 50 were traditionally hard years for men to live through); but, there is a big difference between this and a longer life span.          
            If, the oldest person in previous history lived to one hundred and twenty years: then  you had, say, a million or two people age one hundred twenty-one--that would be living longer.

            The truth is that for the first time in known history, the children of today may actually have a much shorter life than their parents or grand-parents.

            Forty percent of Canadians are now considered obese (The percentage is higher among Children)) and are slowly committing suicide. What is needed, if humanity is to survive, is not more daycare but a return to the home and traditional family values.

            In other words one parent or the other must become willing to stay home and take on responsibility for the children they have chosen to produce. In doing so the family would undoubtedly end up with more money in pocket, due to reduced costs of daycare, food, restaurant and most importantly health bills

            In soup many valuable food materials that would otherwise be thrown out may be saved for the nourishment and health of the family and their need of fat. Some knowledge of the principles of soup and stew making is worth while for every housekeeper.

            On the farm, or in pioneer kitchens, the stock pot never left the fire. There it stood, rich with meat, bones, herbs seasonings, and broth ready to make a hearty meal and as a consequence; people were much healthier.

            Some times the contents were eaten cold. Then the broth would be nicely jellied and this, with the bits of cold meat, some bread and some mustard or horseradish, made a most tasty and nutritious lunch. Near the sea coast, rib-sticking soups, almost stews, were made of fish: The classic French Bouillabaisse and our chowders are examples of these fish concoctions. The soups given here originally came from all over the world, found a home in Canada and each is a meal in itself, needing only the addition of a salad and perhaps some cheese and fruit. 
          Of soup and love, quoth Thomas Fuller, the first is best. And I am not disposed to quarrel with the poet. Love has its charms but only soup so well nourishes the young, stokes the fires of manhood, and comforts the old. There are soups aplenty and each is better than sex----well almost.
          Of course, this posting is about more than soup:

A FAMILY BELONGS IN THE HOME.

Obesity: the Extent of the Problem.

The extent of the problem

Currently more than 1 billion adults are overweight - and at least 300 million of them are clinically obese. Current obesity levels range from below 5% in China, Japan and certain African nations, to over 75% in urban Samoa. But even in relatively low prevalence countries like China, rates are almost 20% in some cities.

Childhood obesity is already epidemic in some areas and on the rise in others. An estimated 22 million children under five are estimated to be overweight worldwide. According to the US Surgeon General, in the USA the number of overweight children has doubled and the number of overweight adolescents has trebled since 1980. The prevalence of obese children aged 6-to-11 years has more than doubled since the 1960s. Obesity prevalence in youths aged 12-17 has increased dramatically from 5% to 13% in boys and from 5% to 9% in girls between 1966-70 and 1988-91 in the USA. The problem is global and increasingly extends into the developing world; for example, in Thailand the prevalence of obesity in 5-to-12 year olds children rose from12.2% to 15-6% in just two years.

Obesity accounts for 2-6% of total health care costs in several developed countries; some estimates put the figure as high as 7%. The true costs are undoubtedly much greater as not all obesity-related conditions are included in the calculations.