A report released last week by AARP shows American caregivers accrue $470 billion in unpaid care each year tending to love ones struggling with debilitating, and life-threatening, disease. The survey finds each individual loses about $300,000 over a lifetime due to time spent away from work. What if your doctor offered a solution to help offset these skyrocketing costs? If Congressman Raúl Grijalva has his way, this could happen within the next year.
A new House bill, the Education and Training for Health Act of 2015 (H.R. 3057), introduced by Rep. Grijalva, ensures federally employed physicians and nurse practitioners receive annual continuing nutrition education coursework, which makes it easier to talk to patients about the link between diet and life-threatening disease.
Right now, 70 percent of all deaths in our country and 86 percent of all health care spending is for long-term illness — obesity, diabetes, heart disease, certain forms of cancer and even Alzheimer’s disease — that can be prevented and often treated with a dietary intervention.
Doctors, like their patients, need help coming up to speed on the best dietary patterns to boost weight loss, improve cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation. While the majority of doctors would like to integrate nutrition into primary care, only 1 in 7 physicians feels comfortable doing so.
The EAT for Health Act would be one step in turning these statistics and food consumption patterns around. Despite national efforts by the White House, and influential public service announcements from A-list stars like Beyoncé, we need extra help.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows 87 percent of United States adults fall short on recommendations for daily fruit intake — 1.5 to 2 cups, the equivalent of an apple and orange — and 91 percent fail to meet daily vegetable requirements — 2 to 3 cups, the amount you’ll find in a leafy green salad topped with fresh mushrooms and tomatoes.
By ensuring patients learn about disease-fighting foods from individuals they trust the most, we have a fair shot at creating a healthier America.
“Let food be thy medicine” is a prescription worth fighting for. Our future depends on it.
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A Bill to Slash Health Care Costs, Save Lives originally appeared on usnews.com
