FDA Idea
Make all drug approval testing/trials for chronic disease/risk management drugs (cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, etc.) include testing against a standard, defined, healthy diet of vegetables, fruit, whole grains and legumes.
Currently, FDA drug testing is for safety and efficacy (did the drug do what the drug makers said it would do). The testing is done in control groups against a placebo. The American people deserve comparative information on differing therapies in order to make sound decisions for themselves. In fact, this would aid physicians as well, when counseling their patients. Is the marginal benefit worth the margina cost?
USDA Idea
Remove the USDA from ANY participation in determining nutritional guidelines for the American People. They have an inherent conflict of interest…sales versus health. They support farmers, including those that produce fatty meats and cheese. In order to support farmers, they need to obscure, hide, twist, and manipulate health and nutritional information to support the sales of all farm products. They simply are NOT objective.
The Department of Health and Human Services should determine what’s ideally nutritionally healthy, accompanied with the minimum of health risks…period. It should not be influenced by employment/sales/production within ANY agricultural sectors. We simply need objective information. Of course we need calcium and protein. We just don’t need to be pushed toward a dairy or animal-based solution (or any solution) by those with an agenda, lobby, or funding/advertising advantage. Certainly the dairy/meat industry has more invested than the vegetable/grain/legume industry. WE ARE NEVER GIVEN BOTH SIDES OF NUTRITIONAL DEBATES WHEN THE USDA IS INVOLVED. Go to ANY dairy (USDA) website. Is there ever ANY health risk noted with dairy? Is there ever any mention of the debates?
There’s a big difference between “cheese can be a part of a healthy diet” to “there are many options in which to consume calcium as a nutrient…cheese, while containing calcium, also is calorie dense AND tends to contain high concentrations of saturated fat (which has been shown to contribute to heart disease)”.
Consumer Reports Idea
We simply need an independent public truth agency when it comes to our health (maybe Health and Human Services could add “health” as a priority to their agenda). They need to publish and promote objective truth about health to the American people. And, it needs to be done in a way that can reach the masses. It can’t be an obscure link, buried somewhere in the CDC website.
Leader Idea
Regardless of jobs and impact on jobs, regardless of the American Medical Association, Big Pharma, and the wonderful world of those that profit from our poor health, our president needs to share the truth of what’s healthy and what isn’t. He has to get beyond “Health Insurance Reform” and get to true “Health Reform”. Our lifestyles are killing us…both physically and financially. We must pursue good health…and we need a leader to lead us. And, it needs to go beyond the “pet project” (Let’s Move) of our First Lady (Michelle Obama). We are in a health crisis! Enough “feel good” efforts already!
Research Idea
Let’s start paying for prevention of illness and reversal of illness, not the endless quest for miracle cures of illness or the explanations (ad nauseum) of the causes of illness.
Subsidy Idea
Subsidize universally healthy food…only.
Advertising Idea
Stop advertising junk foods to kids! Enough of the “freedom of choice” debate! Enough of “it’s the parents’ responsibility” debate. Advertising to kids HAS a negative impact…period. Now stop!
