By Fitness Editor Paula Jager, CSCS
America is sick and fat and sadly, this includes our children.
As advocates of Traditional Diet and movement, most readers of this blog are doing everything in their power to avoid this by eating right and exercising correctly.
One would think our government and healthcare system would encourage the same. Well wake up Cinderella, that is just another fairytale.
Let’s take a look at the real world.
You won’t believe what I recently received in the mail from Blue Cross and Blue Shield, a large provider of sickcare healthcare in the United States.
No doubt, Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) is a well respected insurance company. I am grateful to be able to afford the necessary coverage and it has come in handy in recent years. However, they, like other companies providing medical coverage, are contributing to sickness and obesity rather than encouraging the eating and movement habits that will improve the health of America.
Take a look at the coupons which accompanied the letter above.
“In the pursuit of health”. . . really? Let’s look at these coupons one by one:
Sugar Free Cookies: zero cholesterol! Ingredients: Enriched wheat flour (flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), maltitol, vegetable oil (canola, soybean, palm and palm kernel sunflower), sugar free chocolate chips (maltitol, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanillin), natural and artificial flavor, salt, sodium bicarbonate, eggs, acesulfame potassium, whey, artificial color (FD&C yellow #5, FD&C yellow #6). (5501206).
Well I’ll spare you great detail and cover this one with the artificial sweetener clause [These are not food! Creepy laboratory products with sketchy safety record. Artificial sweeteners have been shown to produce an insulin response.] Not to mention the inclusion of refined grains and vegetable oils–known contributors to Metabolic Syndrome along with a cocktail of chemicals.
Suggestion: Eat some fruit w/ raw cream or raw cheese. The natural cholesterol is beneficial to health. It is the processed cholesterol in factory foods that is to be avoided.
Hellmann’s Mayo w/ Olive Oil: sounds great and there is olive oil in it. However–Ingredients: water, soybean oil, olive oil, modified potato starch, vinegar, salt, sugar, lemon juice, sorbic acid and calcium disodium edta (used to protect quality), natural flavor, paprika, oleoresin. Man made fake fats and vegetable oils–need I say more?
Suggestion: Make your own healthy mayo from quality ingredients such as olive or coconut oils.
Kellogg’s Cereals “Take care of your heart”: Extruded, processed grains + sugars. That’ll take care of your heart all right–make the heart surgeons a little richer.
Suggestion: Nitrate/nitrite free bacon and eggs w/ some veggies or fruit on the side. If you eat grains, make your own properly prepared, cold breakfast cereal.
Eggland’s Best Eggs: Really, excuse me I thought the free range hen that ate some bugs produced the best egg? Although this is probably the least bad out of the bunch. Watch this eye opening video.
Suggestions: Farm fresh eggs are ideal if you are able to procure; not that bad of a substitute but opt for the cage free organic if going with Egglands.
Hormel Natural Choice: Ingredients: Turkey Breast Meat, Water, Salt, Potato Starch, Turbinado Sugar, Rice Starch, Carrageenan (from seaweed), Baking Soda, Celery Juice Powder, Lactic Acid Starter Culture (not from Milk). Not the worst I’ve seen but we can definitely do better. Not a big fan of potato starch and sugar on my meat but it’s probably better than McDonalds.
Suggestions: Roast a whole chicken, grass fed beef or turkey breast instead, can slice up for leftovers.
Blue Bunny Sweet Freedom: Certainly not freedom from disease! This is from their Vanilla ice cream:
INGREDIENTS: Skim Milk, Cream, Maltodextrin, Polydextrose, Sorbitol, Contains less than 1% of Glycerine, Propylene Glycol Monoesters, Mono And Diglycerides, Guar Gum, Carob Bean Gum, Vanilla Extract and Artificial Vanilla Flavor, Cellulose Gel, Cellulose Gum, Annatto for Color, Carrageenan, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose, Vitamin A Palmitate. and this is from their Caramel and Vanilla Swirl Bars INGREDIENTS: Light Ice Cream: Milk, Skim Milk, Maltitol, Inulin, Polydextrose, Cream, Citrus Fiber, Propylene Glycol Monoesters, Mono And Diglycerides, Guar Gum, Carob Bean Gum, Carrageenan, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Caramel Color and Annatto Extract for Color, Sucralose, Vitamin A Palmitate. Chocolate Flavored Coating: Vegetable Oil (Coconut, Soybean) , Lactitol, Cocoa Processed With Alkali, Whey, Chocolate Liquor, Soy Lecithin, Sucralose, Vanillin.
Hmmm, anyone know another name for Propylene Glycol? Try edible anti-freeze.
Suggestions: Make your own ice cream from raw dairy. Next best is store bought organic with minimal ingredients but have in moderation occasionally.
Sensa Weight Loss Product: What exactly is in SENSA®?
SENSA® contains Maltodextrin (Derived from Corn from the USA), Tricalcium Phosphate, Silica, Natural and Artificial Flavors. SENSA® also contains Soy and Milk ingredients. SENSA® is sodium-free, sugar-free, calorie free, and there are no stimulants, drugs or MSG.
Suggestions: A Primal and/or Traditional Diet and proper exercise, it’s not rocket science.
Summary of our healthcare system? The blind leading the blind.
Paula Jager CSCS and Level 1 CrossFit and CF Nutrition Certified is the owner of CrossFit Jaguar in Tampa, Florida
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{ 73 comments… read them below or add one }
My husband was recently put on insulin for his Diabetes. I am trying really hard to convince him that the diet sodas he drinks are not good for him. What I really want to know is how much sodium is in these products?
@ Jackie Leyba: I wouldn’t worry as much about the sodium as the aspartame. Sodium is an essential element and we’ve been led to believe it’s dangerous. I mean, it can be if you completely overdo it, but for the most part sodium is not what we should be concerned with. Read here:
http://www.westonaprice.org/vitamins-and-minerals/the-salt-of-the-earth
Modern allopathic medicine has a way of scaring us away from the very things we need to survive. Imagine that.
Wow. Well, let me offset that with, I made your chicken broth yesterday. I was skeptical of the vinegar in the recipe, but it works. Both I and my aging dog thank you for the video!
this is their job security…
The insurance companies and the government prefer it if you die relatively early (preferably right after you retire and stop producing tax revenues) and with any luck QUICKLY (no lingering medical costs)!
So eat up! And don’t forget your annual flu vax.
JMO.
Really sad! You have to wonder if it is true ignorance about what good nutrition is…or just apathy.
$
I laughed!
Beyond believe! I don’t think it’s ignorance but making sure there are enough sick people for their job security.
This is so sick! Our insurance has called about 50 times to offer me a free service of health and lifestyle assessment and advice, but I know what this means. Every year, my husband has to fill out a lifestyle and diet survey or lose his company insurance. Every year it says his risk is zero, but he should eat low fat. This year they are requiring standard cholesterol checks and physicals for me and him or our premiums go up by $500. We are taking the monetary hit rather than compromise. (We are on a wait list for a good hollistic doc who does real bloodwork.)
Sarah, mine just did the same thing. Except it’s $600/person per year. We decided to remove my husband from our health insurance. Luckily my husband is a vet and is able to get health coverage at a VA clinic/hospital should the need arise. The coverage doesn’t change…it still sucks too.
So sad, most people I know think this stuff is healthy. They also think I’m crazy for the things I think are healthy. Hopefully they will understand in the near future!!!
I dare you to write Darnell Smith and tell him this! I know it probably wouldn’t matter to him. Medical Insurance companies are in the business of selling insurance, not healing.
It’s not about a cure, it’s about treatment. $$$
^^Hey! What happened to the ” affordable health care act”?? (Of course im being sarcastic)
We receive these all the time from our insurance company as well. They even send those letters and coupons addressed to our daughter, who’s 10 y.o. Unbelievable!!! Coupons in the mail, commercials on TV, ads inserted on previews for kids (and adult) movies at the theater, billboards on freeways, we are bombarded everywhere with these kind of dis-information all the time. A lie told often enough becomes the truth.
Just making sure they have steady customers! I wonder what kind of meetings produce these arrangements with the food companies. Do they genuinely believe these are healthy choices?
Mrs H\’s last post: Dinner Menu X
Unfortunately, yes they do.
I recently ate a pack of “Fuzzy Peach” candy (yea, I know, big deal), and the label clearly advertised: “This is a zero-fat product”. Too bad all the sugar becomes fat in the body anyways.
Octavian\’s last post: RACE REVIEW: 12 Mile Creek Half Marathon
Wow Sarah, that’s unbelievable!
I think this post is attacking ignorance. Some people just don’t know what they don’t know. Every company is based of individuals. It comes down to individuals educating themselves and others, like myself, educating the people around me that I know. It is possible that this will catch on on a corporate basis as individuals change their thinking. Only time will tell.
Eat less fat and eal food, add soy to your diet, here are some junk food coupons to get you started, if you don’t listen to us and submit to mandatory invasive testing, you can pay more. Ugh!
Don’t you get so frustrated though? My family thinks doctors are like God’s. I have a son and a granddaughter and a great grandson with Lymes. Do you think they will try to follow the GAPS diet or anything like that??? NO WAY! Granddaughter with migraines…. drinking Pepsi often…. Oh man i just get so frustrated with it. I had a guest here for two weeks , she ate what she wanted and I ate my usual … no grains , very limiited sucranat. She did not drink my precious raw milk! I just don’t know what it’s going to take to make people see .
Real food, not eal food.
Also, I actually know of a health insurance company ( in a different state) that gives it’s members coupons for a local farmers market to buy fruits and veggies. Not all are created equal.
This same (large) health insurer grows their own veggie garden and donates it to local food shelves. My point being that small changes can and do happen and instead of complaining about it all the time we should actually do something about it.
So disappointing yet, not surprising! What’s sad is that people without much knowledge of what is healthy will receive this letter and believe it! Did the author send this article to the insurance company?
That is a good idea!
Paula\’s last post: July 23, 2012
It is always fascinating how the medical profession and the health insurance companies constantly recommend artificial food that humans were never meant eat. Keeping America fat and unhealthy means more profit for them, and profit is all they seem to care about.
Right, and as long as you have a for-profit health care system, that is what it’s all about: PROFIT.
How is it that we’ve come to think (We being a general “we”) that more is better? If it has 12 ingredients I can’t pronounce, then it must be better for me than what I can make for less with 3 ingredients that I can recognize on sight? Boggles the mind. If your sheep are too sick to produce, then you lose in the long run, don’t you?
PS – my elderly dogs also thank you for the stock recipe
I like to listen to Bill Handel on the radio, a very funny, call in lawyer in California. Someone called in complaining about their employer requiring a cholesterol test for insurance coverage. He said they do not have the right to take possession of your blood and that you should have your blood tested elsewhere and have the results sent to the employer. The thought is that once they have possession, they can do DNA testing and use the findings against you in the future such as having Alzheimer’s, ALS or any other serious disease potential they can glean from your blood and find some way to fire you before that occurs. My husbands Blue Cross/Blue Shield has not required this of him yet but I am sure it is on the horizon.
I prefer to think of them as Blue Cr_p/ Blue Sh_t. But that’s just my opinion. They are an illness care participant, it isn’t health care they promote.
Love your acronym!
Oh, they require we do it, at our own doctor. But I think they shouldn’t be able to step between me and my healthcare provider and decide what is important. I don’t believe the standard cholesterol screens are useful. And, I will have an enormous copay for the labs and the doc visit, despite the fact that my husband works in management for a huge corporation that should be able to provide better coverage.
We got rid of our health insurance and joined a health care sharing co-op. Best thing we ever did, cut out the insurance industry all together.
Megan @ Purple Dancing Dahlias\’s last post: ~ Lasagna Casserole ~
Megan, I’ve never heard of a health care co-op. What is it and where can I find more info?
We belong to Samaritan’s Ministries, but there are others out there. SM actually encourages a whole foods diet, alternative cancer treatments, midwives, chiropractic holistic care…
Last year our youngest son was diagnosed with cancer and all of our cost were covered.
http://www.samaritanministries.org/
Megan @ Purple Dancing Dahlias\’s last post: ~ Lasagna Casserole ~
@ Megan/purple: This was offered to us through our church. Quite a while ago. It started off with the elderly people in our church who couldn’t afford their prescriptions anymore, nor could they afford the insurance premiums. So the members set up a sort of “savings account” where everyone who wanted to, donated or contributed each month. The church now does it through some sort of company, I can’t remember the name – but it’s still privately owned by the members of our church. I don’t know specific details because i’m not involved in the business end of things!
My DH and I do not have or want insurance except for catastophic events. We do NOT want to be told what to eat, how to live, what “tests” need to be done, when to go to the bathroom . . . no. Thank you, but no. At some point, you’ll have to start doing exactly what they say or you’ll be penalized and my DH and I just aren’t going to submit. After losing my last sister this January (lost the other one in 2006) it reminded me how insurance companies rule the roost. We need to take that power away from them. Both of them had Blue insurance too – supposedly one of the best coverage companies – but when they each got to a point in their iatrogenic illnesses from too many Rx drugs, the company basically told the families they were done. They basically told them to push the bed out into the street because they were out of benefits. The doctors, at that point, were ready to stop “caring”. How about that for “coverage”??
Read this, you’ll laugh and be completely horrified at the same time. Talk about down the rabbit hole we go . . .
http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/history/health_care.htm
Isn’t this what Ron Paul was talking about in that famous incident in the debates where the audience shouted. “Let him die!”? Dr. Paul said churches (among other institutions) should provide for the sick.
I know a couple of people with severe health problems in Indiana and they have fundraisers to help them out, even WITH medical coverage.
Actually, I should say, “infamous incident”……
Sarah Kirkell, I understand what you are saying. They want low cholesterol, we know that is not necessarily good, they want us to eat like the food pyramid, we know better, etc. I think paying the higher price for insurance is probably the best way to go. My employer had me go to their locality to have them draw blood. So in my case, my blood became their property. Not good. This was for Blue Cross/Blue Shield also but a different policy from my husband’s.
After our 7th child was born, at home with midwives, without insurance, we inquired about buying health insurance for our family. The lady on the phone said she would need the bloodwork on the baby. I told her, there isn’t any bloodwork. She said, “What about his records from his well-baby visits?” (“Well-baby” is a euphemism for “going to the pediatrician frequently and getting all the recommended immunizations.”) I told her that we don’t get immunizations anymore, at least until they’re older. But I also told her that we all eat very well and are almost never sick and don’t even go to the doctor. But she said that if we don’t immunize, they won’t cover us. End of discussion.
It’s all just so sad. Why can’t people SEE this stuff?
I bring up these subjects to my family. You know what their response is? How can YOU know more than a doctor? Plus, anything you find on the internet has to be bogus (!)
At one point I had their attention because I turned my asthma around with diet and alternative methods (something the deadly steroids won’t do…..). Now, however, they’re back to believing establishment figures like Dr. Oz.
@Rene, I agree, not good either. And, in fact I am sure if they were requiring only employees to do it, they would have held a clinic. It is all very invasive. At my husbands job, they are requiring it of spouses this year, so it’s dozens of reminders to see your doc and submit results. I am encouraged by the fact that they’ve had to extend the deadline because so many are not doing it! But, I am sure that plenty take the low fat food pyramid diet and run with it!
I just got an email from Radiant Life saying that the Premiere Cod Liver Oil is no longer being manufactured and is being discontinued….thats inlcluding the Greeen Pastures brand correct? Do you know anything about this? Is “Premiere” just another brand?
Yes, “Premiere” is just another brand and it’s being discontinued. Radiant Life says they have it in capsules only if you still want this brand until the supply is exhausted. This has nothing to do with Green Pastures band.
Thank you for bringing this out in the open. This is just so sad and ridiculous. We use Blue Cross and Blue Shield and you’re right, you would think they’d be the biggest educators and advocates on healthy eating and lifestyles. We’re really in a sorry state where many people don’t even know what real food is anymore. It’s good to know some people are still on their toes and telling the truth. I’ll be the first to admit, I don’t buy free range or farm fresh eggs yet but you’ve certainly made me think twice!
Health Advocate\’s last post: Healthcare Information Management Systems 2012 Conference Infographic
Our economy is based on sick people.
“One would think our government and healthcare system would encourage the same. ”
It’s obvious, but I thought I’d point it out anyway. Blue Cross Blue Shield has nothing to do with the government. The government deserves blame for some things, sure. But to conflate government with corporations doesn’t help solve this problem. Privately held corporations are legal entities that pursue profit above all else, and money is the motivation for BCBS, Monsanto, and the rest.
Yes, the government is separate from BCBC to a degree but equally to blame for the health situation in America because of their inability along with large informational institutions such as the American Heart Association to adapt to new information, the mess of bad legislation and bad science which contributes to America’s ill health and obesity. The government also “pursues profit” and is motivated by money.
Paula\’s last post: July 23, 2012
BCBS is an association of about 40 independent health insurance companies – corporations – who license the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand names. It is not a government entity. Just sayin’. If we’re going to try to change something we need to be clear on what we’re changing. Accuracy is important.
And by the way, I agree with your point about the bad information, bad science, and bad legislation. All coming from the large institutions. It’s sad and scary.
Oh the irony of it all…ALL of IT…IRONY! I am actually getting a rebate on my BCBS health premiums due to the 80/20 clause in the Heathcare Bill. I am glad of the rebate….but WOW….the SHEER IGNORANCE that letter represents!!!!!
Since I moved to the UK, I don’t have to deal with this (thank heavens), but sadly, the conventional wisdom here is no different. The government, doctors, food companies…they all tell us we can eat all the processed crap we want, as long as it’s “low-fat.”
to reply to the writer that said Green Pastures still has the FCLO , they do but they don’t have the butter oil to go with it. Not in the emulisfied form anyway. I just tried to get some yesterday. Unless you know of a way to get it.
A WAPF farm (actually Sally Fallons home) down the street from me sells the butter oil and cod liver oil so whenever they have it I’ll just get it from there!
” No doubt, Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) is a well respected insurance company. ”
Really? LOL!
Read ” Deadly Spin ” by Wendall Potter
I have more respect for the mafia than health insurance companies
@ Tony: Oh Tony, you’re wonderful !!! You sound exactly like my husband. He has more respect for the mafia and the drug lords than he does for our twitty politicians and our medical/insurance entwined industries.
Beth made a comment somewhere around here about how since most hospitals/clinics are now for-profit organizations that’s their biggest interest – profit. She is 100% correct. And this isn’t new, either. Profit has been the goal for over a century already, but the “system” used to be a little more caring of the ill and dying than they are now. Today they don’t care, which is why it should never be called health care. It’s disease motivated profit and has not one blessed thing to do with caring.
Did anyone see that TED talk about architechtural yogurt? If hospitals really wanted to solve a major portion of the problem they have today with nosocomial stuff, they’d explore options like what was suggested in that talk. But they have no intention of doing any such thing. Continued illnesses mean big money and they are NOT going to jeopardize that with healthy options. No way.
This guy may have helped some of us find relief.
http://libertycrier.com/health/va-attorney-general-argues-for-do-nothing-policy-against-federal-health-care-law/
We love Samaritans Ministries!!!
Yikes, this is insane. The crazy thing is most people wouldn’t even see what we see.
Paula, I also have BCBS and desperately need to find a new family doctor here in Tampa. The one that has been recommended to us does not take BCBS any longer. Would you be able to email me any recommendations? Is there a doctor that doesn’t want to push a prescription on you the second you walk in the door? At my office, one of the first things they ask is “what pharmacy do you use? What is the address and number?” and sure enough, a prescription (or two) is recommended before I leave. I haven’t been sick in 12 years other than a couple UTIs and 2 or 3 upper respiratory infections. This past week, when I went in for a physical, not only did they try to push a medication to lower my cholesterol (which was 190 last year and 120 this year) but she was surprised I don’t have allergies and asked me over and over if I was SURE I had no allergies (gee, trying to come up with a reason to write a prescription?)… anyway, we HAVE to find someone that understands nutrition and won’t go right to medication to fix something that ain’t broke! Thanks! My email is kimwiz1@verizon.net and I am in Sarah’s co-op.
Kim
This is great, thank you Paula Jager!
Awesome information. I’m glad you are writing about things that matter! Keep up the great work Paula!
I can’t believe they would send you coupons for such products. Did they bother to research the products they were hawking, or did they just look at the front of the package and not bother to actually read the nutrition facts and ingredients?
Well your definitely right about what your talking about and since we live in an era of worrying after its to late and not worrying before its to late its not to difficult to see where we have gone as a society
For the young people or those person who just started working its really good to invest with the best Medical Health Insurance for you and your love ones. It’s really useful and will be handy in cases that it will be time to use it. You’re sure, you are at least more than ready..
I agree with the aspartame comment. You really need to be mindful of those products and how much aspartame is included. This is what you should worry about rather than just simply looking at sodium.
Investing in medical health insurance is one of the most important things you can do. I think people forget that the system works for you when you have it. Now, I have had some bad experience with it, but it is better to have it than not to have it.
Masters in Health Administration\’s last post: Health Care Administration Salary Guide
Yes, your idea is really good. I am thankful to read this blog. Because I have no idea about medical insurance. Next time you write more effective content in your blog. That’s much better for Pursuit of Health. So keep it up…………………..
This is a very informative post. Thank you for sharing this to us. This is really helpful for me.
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