Younger Generation Eating at Home

Bravo to the younger generation! Millennials have got it right--they're cooking at home. And if you don't know how I feel about that, then you haven't been listening. The most predominant dietary advice I give is to eat whole, natural foods; and in that vein, you're better off preparing those foods at home, than eating out at a restaurant.

According to a survey conducted by Mintel, a market research company, home cooking has become an increasingly popular among younger generations. The survey polled 2,000 adults over the age of 18 and found that 25% of respondents between the ages18-34 said they "love cooking," while only 17% of seniors and Baby Boomers said the same.

The survey also found that 51% of respondents eat at home primarily for dietary reasons, as "homemade meals tend to be healthier than restaurant fare and prepared grocery foods." Nice!

Looks like the younger generation are doing thing the right way for the right reason. I love it. What it means (I hope) is that this practice will be passed down to even younger generations. Millennials seem to be aware of the fast food revolution of their parents era, and are smart enough to connect the poor health dots. Once again  I say bravo to the younger generation. They've got it right when it comes to the way they're eating. Keep up the good health practices, kids--you're going to reap the rewards they offer.

Middle-Aged Dissatisfied with Sex

Do you remember the Summer of Love?  How about "free love," or "make love, not war?"  If you do, you're probably a baby boomer.  And even more likely that your dissatisfied with your current sex life, because that's what a recent poll has shown, today's middle-aged Americans are less satisfied with their sex lives today's middle-aged Americans are less satisfied with their sex lives than any other age group.  Perhaps we should change the slogan to "Make quilts...they're easier."

According to the Associated Press-LifeGoesStrong.com poll, only 7% of Americans aged 45-65 described their sex lives as extremely satisfied.  Nearly 25% of this group said they were dissatisfied with their sex lives, compared to 12% of 18- to 29-year-olds, 20% of those 30-44 and 17% of those over 65.  Pretty tough when your parents are more satisfied with their sex lives in their golden years.

Baby boomers, it seems, may feel like they've tried all there is to try sexually, as nearly three in five women and half of men in this age group said they have done it all.  28% of men between 45 and 65 said they are sexually dissatisfied, while more than two in five said their sex lives got worse in the last decade.  Further, nearly half of male baby boomers said their partners do not want sex often enough, while only 17% of women felt similarly let down.

But saying that, it is men that are plagued by performance problems.  The poll found two in five men between 45 and 65 having problems with sexual functioning, while only 19% of women in the same age group said the same. For both genders, less than half received treatment.

The AP-LifeGoesStrong.com Poll involved online interviews with 945 people between 45 and 65, as well as companion interviews with an additional 587 people aged 18-44 and over 65.  It was conducted using KnowledgePanel, which uses a probability-based design. Respondents to the survey were first selected randomly for KnowledgePanel using phone or mail survey methods and were later interviewed for this survey online.

Well, all I can say is that maybe changing the world has its drawbacks.  Since the boomer generation has been involved in many of the major cultural changes of the modern age, as well as being at the forefront of experimentation of all types (think hippies, sexual revolution, acceptance of premarital sex, abortion legalization, and coming out), perhaps there isn't much else left to the imagination.  I'm sure that the 7% of satisfied middle-agers have kept searching--and finding.  But for a large number, they're a bit spent.

It's never too late however; so don't give up on retaining a satisfying sex life just yet boomers.  A gerbil here, a geisha there...get creative, dang it!  It can only get better...or worse.  It's up to you.  But my guess is that dissatisfaction means it's still somewhat important to you.  It's all in the mind, anyway.  Change that and you're home free.

Baby Boomers Riddled with Disability

Baby boomers are being nagged by injuries--more than the generation before them. In fact, baby boomers have more disabilities than people over age 65. What the heck is going on here?

According to data from the National Health Interview Survey, conducted annually from 1997 to 2007 and including up to 15,000 individuals each year, more than 40 percent of people aged 50 to 64 reported having problems with at least one of nine physical functions, and many reported difficulty with more than one. Although health problems as a whole did not increase for this age group, physical disabilities, like trouble climbing ten stairs, did. The number of baby boomers using special equipment to get around, such as a cane or wheelchair, also increased. Hmmm....

Here's the breakdown of the number of adults per 10,000, ages 50 to 64, who reported difficulty with various actions in the 2005-2007period and from 1997-1999 (in parentheses).

• Stooping, bending, kneeling: 3,129 (2,875)
• Standing two hours: 2,491 (2,321)
• Pushing or pulling large object: 2,010 (2,024)
• Walking a quarter-mile: 2,146 (1,954)
• Climbing 10 steps: 1,749 (1,537)
• Sitting two hours: 1,491 (1,445)
• Lifting and carrying 10 pounds: 1,410 (1,387)
• Reaching over head: 1,186 (1,149)
• Grasping small objects: 1,128 (1,109

Experts are unclear about the cause of this trend. What's enjoyable to read, however, are the comments posted to the yahoo news page of this report (link no longer available). Some people blame obesity, although the study makes very clear that obesity is not an important cause of the disabilities. Some think it might be processed foods, some exposure to DDT and other chemicals, while others yet to excessive television viewing by boomers.

I love to see people thinking and trying to find a cause, but I have to say none of these guesses make complete sense. Here is my shot at it: Baby boomers are the first generation to really believe they can have it all--career, family, and endless health. They were the generation that pushed themselves physically, if not from day one, then by jumping on the fitness bandwagon when jogging, Tae Bo and Richard Simmons came onto the scene. Many boomers followed the trend rather than taking time to learn the proper form. This leads to injuries.

Boomers also saw the greatest advances in medical technology. Hurt yourself Lambada-ing? No problem--medical science will fix it. Additionally, boomers as a whole tended to trust their medical doctors unquestionably. If Dr. Welby says to take Vioxx, then by golly I'll do it. Um hm.

So my take is that boomers pushed themselves harder physically than any generation before them (graceful agers); to that I applaud. But they relied on medical advice for their musculoskeletal issues, and as I pointed out last post, big mistake. Medical doctors are coming out of school poorly prepared to deal with musculoskeletal problems--this by their own analysis. As such, there have been oodles of surgeries--routine ones, routine ones, that's what we've been told--and here we are witnessing the end result: increased disabilities. Sure one could argue that perhaps medical science saved many a crippling by this daring, if not reckless, generation. But I don't think so. I am certain that you can have excellent function to live the life you love well into old age--I see it in my chiropractic practice every single day.

So take heed Gen Xers and Millennials, take care of your bodies today--exercise, eat well, get regular chiropractic care, rest up, and minimize your intake of toxins. Learn proper form of the exercise or sport you wish to do--and learn to rehabilitate and recuperate yourself from injuries. Your physical body isn't indestructible; it needs to be cared for like a fine-tuned machine--better than a fined-tuned machine. Educate yourself on injury prevention and proper care when you get hurt. And don't take any one practitioner's word as gospel. Get a few opinions and do what feels right. Lastly, don't just choose a risky surgery because it's sold to you as routine, even if seems like an easy way out. Conservative care can restore and preserve proper function for years to come if done right and to completion.

Thank you baby boomers for paving the way through yet another uncharted territory. Younger generations listen up...and learn.

Insurance Companies Push for Universal Health

I wrote in my last blog post that insurance companies have a vested interest in universal health care. This might be a surprise to some, since it might not be obvious how private insurers will profit from health care reform. A Los Angeles Times piece hot off the press explains just how--through mandated individual coverage.

"Individual mandate" is the provision private insurers are hoping for; without it, they might as well pack it in, because reforms are sure to destroy the industry. Why else would insurance companies back a plan to restructure the health care system that they've fought to block for sixty years plus? The individual mandate would require everyone to buy medical insurance, which insurers hope will be sweetened by taxpayer-funded subsidies for customers who can't afford it, and enforced with fines.

If the individual mandate provision goes through, then insurers stand to gain millions of customers over night; and it will probably save the sinking ship as the insurance industry has been hurting for some time now. Since 2000, business has waned for private insurers as rising premiums pushed scores of people out of the market. The current recession has only heightened the problem. As baby boomers age, things will get worse: 79 million boomers will turn 65 in 2011 and move away from private insurance coverage to Medicare. And an estimated 170 million people will be making that shift over the next two decades. So, basically, health insurers need this mandate.

The scenario which the private health sector can least afford would be the one where the single-payer plan is adopted. In this scheme the government pays all bills, rendering private insurance obsolete. Clearly, for the health insurance industry, this can't happen.

So that's why you are now hearing insurance companies getting into the universal health care act. Playing their cards right can lead to huge profits; but playing the wrong hand can lead to a bust. Just pointing it all out so you understand the economics and politics behind this movement. I'm not against it, as long as the powers that be (or as it will probably turn out, the new powers that be) don't start messing around with fee schedules. If it prevents waste and crookery and medical mistakes without making hard-working health professionals go belly under, then wonderful; erect the statues today. But I can't see how all this is going to be funded without taxing the lot of us (bye-bye, small businesses), or slapping health care with mandated lower reimbursements. If it is the latter, expect the quality of health care to suffer big time.

Are You A Part of the Disabled Generation?

Walking around in pain? Disabled? You're not alone: Twenty percent of Americans have a disability, according to new reports out of the Centers of Disease Control (CDC). The CDC reports that the number of people with disabilities rose 7.7% over a six year period. From 1999-2005, the number of disabled Americans has reached 48 million. Pretty pathetic considering most of the top disabilities have a sound solution. Let's take a look:

• Arthritis was the leading cause of disability, affecting 8.6 million people
• Back and spine problems were next at 7.6 million people
• Heart related disabilities knocked down 3 million people
• Women were more disabled than men
  
• And the CDC predicts that the overall numbers will continue to rise as baby boomers age

What makes this scenario sad is that most of the disabilities hobbling our countrymen are treatable or preventable. Arthritis, low back pain, neck pain and other musculoskeletal pain conditions are all effectively treated by chiropractic care. But are doctors recommending it to their patients? Seeing that less than twenty percent of the population is taking advantage of chiropractic care, it's not surprising that the numbers of disabled are so high.

Fortunately, the younger generations are turning to chiropractic to prevent future disabilities. I see it in my own practice. Baby boomers come, but not as much as Gen Xers and Millennials. I guess what grandma and grandpa tended to pass on, kids are embracing. Very smart youngsters, very smart. You don't have to take on the family legacy and fulfill the CDC's prediction of "more disabled" by 2030. On the contrary, if instead we do what the CDC recommends to stop the trend--that is, focus on "disability prevention" through safe, effective chiropractic care, then I'm certain these numbers will come down.

I think the younger generation gets it--Keep getting adjusted by your chiropractor for health, wellness, prevention and pain relief, and leave the baby "disability" boom behind.

Aging Doesn't Mean Hanging 'Em Up

Over the hill. Old. Ready for retirement. What the heck is in these terms? Nothing, as far as I'm concerned. Aging is a state of mind. No doubt time moves forward, but does that mean life slows down? For some, maybe; but plenty of people are taking their lives to the next level--the next experience--as they age. Rock on! That's the way I'm gonna do it, for sure.

Baby boomers are taking these sentiments to heart: This generation is the first to take an active lifestyle into older age. I commend them. Keep truckin' baby boomers. Just make sure you learn to partake in your activities in the right way. Learn how to train properly. Take a yoga or Pilates class and master the form. You'll keep truckin' for years to come that way.

And younger generations take heed. You'd be wise to look to the boomers for inspiration. Looking to generations earlier than boomers might just land you in the rocking chair. Start exercising and taking care of your health now, today. Eat well, get plenty of rest, and never, ever stop training your mind--it's imperative to keeping your wits and staying youthful. And don't ever fall into the, "I'm too old for that" trap. Believe you can and you will--guaranteed. Don't think so? Look at these young middle-agers and their extraordinary accomplishments:

• Olympic Swimmer Dara Torres--at 41, Torres is heading for her fifth Olympics, despite taking several years off, giving birth just two years ago and undergoing two surgeries within the past eight months.
• Barry Bonds--at 44, broke the major league home run record held by Hank Aaron for 33 years (which Aaron, himself, broke at age 40). Bonds also won a batting title at 38 (considered old for baseball!).
  
• George Foreman--in 1994, at age 45, Foreman captures the IBF and WBA championships to become the oldest champion in any weight class.
• Jack Nicklaus--in 1986, Nicklaus wins the Masters at age 46.
• Leonid Hurwicz--in 1997, became the oldest person at 90 to win the Nobel Prize for his work in economics.
• George Burns and Jessica Tandy--oldest competitive Oscar winners for their work in The Sunshine Boys (1975) and Driving Miss Daisy (1989) respectively.
• Min Bahadur Sherchan--at 76, the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Understand? If you can see it and believe it, you can achieve it, no matter what your age. Nuff said.

Baby Boomers Breaking Down

Flash! Breaking news: Baby boomers are not invincible. That's right, recent reports disclose that baby boomers, like every generation before them, wear down.

Is that news?

According to Dr. Jeffrey A. Ross, foot and ankle podiatrist from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, who spoke at the recent annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, an increasing number of baby boomers are suffering wear and tear injuries as a result of living active lifestyles. As the middle-aged generation continues to play hard and exercise balls to the wall, they are developing an inordinate amount of repetitive use injuries of the feet, ankles, knees, hips, shoulders and elbows. These numbers seem alarming because this is the first generation to take a highly active lifestyle into older age. Despite these facts, I say bravo!

These types of headlines might make some people think that active lifestyles are hazardous to the health, but it's important to put it all into perspective. Previous generations tended to decline in physical activity as a sort of "natural process". During the 1st half of the 20th century, medical science even saw increased physical activity in the elderly as detrimental. Pshaw, I say. We know now that staying physically active is more than just good for you--it's essential.

The problem happening with baby boomers is one of faulty form, poor biomechanics, and ignoring the need to establish parameters. Many baby boomers have jumped into physical fitness without taking the time to be properly trained, and the result is an increase in injuries. No problem. It's never too late to learn to do it the right way.

Poor biomechanics can be a simple issue of poor form or it might be due to biomechanical dysfunction. Chronic subluxations, poor flexibility, and funky feet can all exacerbate the problem...and eventually lead to injury. Gotta get your stuff worked out. See a chiropractor. Take yoga classes. Get fit for orthotics. You can get back to normal functioning; I see it happen every day in my practice.

And establishing parameters just means always reevaluating your limits. You can do this by keeping records of your current physical abilities--how far you run, how quickly you lap Runyon Canyon, how much weight you push, and so forth. If you wake up one morning feeling beat to hell, take note: you might need to change that current parameter and work back up to where you were. Wisdom is listening to your body. You will slow down eventually, but that doesn't mean you have to hang 'em up at fifty. Keep going, just listen to your body when it tells you to bring it down. That way, you will be able to enjoy all the benefits of an active lifestyle for years to come.