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Healthcare High Jacked- Obesity on the raise in the US
Over the past two years, I've become increasingly disillusioned with the way Pharma companies and government officials define health. It's time for an honest conversation about how our health is defined and whether the mandates we experienced just one year ago were in our best interest. I can't help but wonder whether Pfizer and Moderna were more focused on profits than public health, working hand-in-hand with the FDA to line the government officials pockets and their own. I could go on and on about the corruption that takes place and all the back door deals that are made to get approvals sped up. Just one massive reason to think for yourself is the story of corruption of The Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, a major pharmaceutical company, is at the center of the opioid crisis in the United States.
In the mid-1990s, Purdue Pharma introduced OxyContin, a powerful opioid painkiller, which the company aggressively marketed to doctors, downplaying the risks of addiction and overdose. By the early 2000s, the drug had become a leading cause of overdose deaths. In 2007, Purdue Pharma and three executives pleaded guilty to misleading regulators, doctors, and patients about the risks of OxyContin, and agreed to pay $634 million in fines. The Sackler family has since faced numerous lawsuits from states and municipalities, alleging that they contributed to the opioid epidemic through their aggressive marketing of OxyContin. In 2019, Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy, and in 2021, the Sackler family reached a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department, agreeing to pay $4.5 billion to resolve civil and criminal investigations into their role in the opioid crisis. For a powerful and eye-opening look at the devastating impact of the opioid crisis and the role of the Sackler family in perpetuating it, I highly recommend watching the Hulu series 'Dopesick
I can tell you that watching and reliving the Dopesick show gave me PSD of the oxycontin that my trusted doctors put in my young non-developed brain after completing three knee surgeries from 2002-2007. I can personally attest to the fact that OxyContin was prescribed to manage pain post-surgery and should never even been an option. Fortunately, I had the intuition to recognize that I liked the feeling of the drug but could tell how addictive the drug was and knew that it was something I needed to stay away from, most voiding the tragic fate of so many others.
I would challenge you to question the pharmaceuticals you are currently prescribed and think if this is the best product for me or is this just what the Pharma rep is pushing to drive sales. Pharma Sales quotas and public Health don't go hand and hand. While I'm excited about the potential for more medical advances, I firmly believe that we should always prioritize our true health and well-being over just relying on pills or procedures
Break the cycle of obesity
It's important to remember that even if your family and extended family have a history of obesity and unhealthy habits, you can break the cycle and turn things around with a focus on healthy diet and lifestyle choices. With the growing number of obese individuals in the United States population, it's more important than ever to prioritize healthy habits and avoid harmful foods to maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Here is
Don't complicate it. Eat Real food.
Growing up and wanting to be a big strong football player, health has always been important to me. But more and more I have found myself increasingly aware of how diet impacts how we feel and think throughout the day, especially in relation to inflammation. I avoid stated avoiding or reducing Alcohol, Wheat, and Sugar. I strongly believe that diet is everything, and it's crucial to focus on eating real, whole foods such as meat, vegetables, and fruits to fuel our bodies and maintain optimal health.
Natural Light
I have been incorporating the Huberman Lab of thought, a neurobiology research group that emphasizes the role of light exposure in regulating various physiological processes. Specifically, I have been trying to get natural sunlight into my eyes within the first couple of hours of the day, as this has been shown to help set the body's internal clock, boost mood, and improve sleep quality. I encourage anyone interested in learning more to check out their work and see if it resonates with their own health goals
Sleep
Getting adequate and restful sleep has numerous benefits on brain health and memory, including consolidating memories, enhancing cognitive function, improving mood, and reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Recently I've been tracking my sleep with a Charge 5 and it's been extremely interesting to see the different sleep patterns and understand how they relate to restoring memory and brain activity. All smart watches have this feature so use it.
Exercise
Get that body moving. Go for walks. Take the stairs. Just get good blood flow moving in the body. For those looking to maximize fat loss during cardio exercise, it's recommended to maintain a heart rate between 70-80% of your maximum heart rate.
Stress
it's also important to take steps to reduce stress in day-to-day life, whether that means practicing mindfulness or finding time for hobbies and relaxation
I am at a point in my life where I am super interested in anything that elevates my health. I am always looking for new information and strategies to optimize my well-being. Please feel free to reach out to me and let me know what you are doing to keep yourself in peak health. I am always open to learning and sharing knowledge
In the mid-1990s, Purdue Pharma introduced OxyContin, a powerful opioid painkiller, which the company aggressively marketed to doctors, downplaying the risks of addiction and overdose. By the early 2000s, the drug had become a leading cause of overdose deaths. In 2007, Purdue Pharma and three executives pleaded guilty to misleading regulators, doctors, and patients about the risks of OxyContin, and agreed to pay $634 million in fines. The Sackler family has since faced numerous lawsuits from states and municipalities, alleging that they contributed to the opioid epidemic through their aggressive marketing of OxyContin. In 2019, Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy, and in 2021, the Sackler family reached a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department, agreeing to pay $4.5 billion to resolve civil and criminal investigations into their role in the opioid crisis. For a powerful and eye-opening look at the devastating impact of the opioid crisis and the role of the Sackler family in perpetuating it, I highly recommend watching the Hulu series 'Dopesick
I can tell you that watching and reliving the Dopesick show gave me PSD of the oxycontin that my trusted doctors put in my young non-developed brain after completing three knee surgeries from 2002-2007. I can personally attest to the fact that OxyContin was prescribed to manage pain post-surgery and should never even been an option. Fortunately, I had the intuition to recognize that I liked the feeling of the drug but could tell how addictive the drug was and knew that it was something I needed to stay away from, most voiding the tragic fate of so many others.
I would challenge you to question the pharmaceuticals you are currently prescribed and think if this is the best product for me or is this just what the Pharma rep is pushing to drive sales. Pharma Sales quotas and public Health don't go hand and hand. While I'm excited about the potential for more medical advances, I firmly believe that we should always prioritize our true health and well-being over just relying on pills or procedures
Break the cycle of obesity
It's important to remember that even if your family and extended family have a history of obesity and unhealthy habits, you can break the cycle and turn things around with a focus on healthy diet and lifestyle choices. With the growing number of obese individuals in the United States population, it's more important than ever to prioritize healthy habits and avoid harmful foods to maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Here is
Don't complicate it. Eat Real food.
Growing up and wanting to be a big strong football player, health has always been important to me. But more and more I have found myself increasingly aware of how diet impacts how we feel and think throughout the day, especially in relation to inflammation. I avoid stated avoiding or reducing Alcohol, Wheat, and Sugar. I strongly believe that diet is everything, and it's crucial to focus on eating real, whole foods such as meat, vegetables, and fruits to fuel our bodies and maintain optimal health.
Natural Light
I have been incorporating the Huberman Lab of thought, a neurobiology research group that emphasizes the role of light exposure in regulating various physiological processes. Specifically, I have been trying to get natural sunlight into my eyes within the first couple of hours of the day, as this has been shown to help set the body's internal clock, boost mood, and improve sleep quality. I encourage anyone interested in learning more to check out their work and see if it resonates with their own health goals
Sleep
Getting adequate and restful sleep has numerous benefits on brain health and memory, including consolidating memories, enhancing cognitive function, improving mood, and reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Recently I've been tracking my sleep with a Charge 5 and it's been extremely interesting to see the different sleep patterns and understand how they relate to restoring memory and brain activity. All smart watches have this feature so use it.
Exercise
Get that body moving. Go for walks. Take the stairs. Just get good blood flow moving in the body. For those looking to maximize fat loss during cardio exercise, it's recommended to maintain a heart rate between 70-80% of your maximum heart rate.
Stress
it's also important to take steps to reduce stress in day-to-day life, whether that means practicing mindfulness or finding time for hobbies and relaxation
I am at a point in my life where I am super interested in anything that elevates my health. I am always looking for new information and strategies to optimize my well-being. Please feel free to reach out to me and let me know what you are doing to keep yourself in peak health. I am always open to learning and sharing knowledge
