You don’t have to spend a fortune on vitamins, but make sure you get adequate vitamin D. It’s cheap, it’s crucial for your immune system and most people are deficient.

“Vitamin D controls T cell antigen receptor signaling and activation of human T cells.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20208539

“Preclinical data have indicated that vitamin D affects up to 200 genes that influence cellular proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, terminal differentiation of normal and cancer cells, and macrophage function.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20004077

There is nothing wrong with eating fat. There is much more wrong, with the BS “low fat/low calorie” diet. As long as it’s from healthy grass fed animals, and or from plants with minimum temperature and processesing; feel free.

I eat about 15g saturated fat a day from coconut oil alone and I’m in perfect shape… If I want to get fat, sick and weak then all I have to do is reach for fat free, 100 calorie Oreos.

The evidence is so overwhelming (except maybe that from TV commercials), I beat my head against the wall whenever I hear “avoid fats”.

I really appreciate Dr. Dean’s insights and suggestions. Thank you for taking the time to share them.

But they don’t address chronic illness. Some, like myself (diabetes), have medical conditions that require frequent monitoring and daily medications. And that’s just to avoid the serious complications that would likely arise in the absence of such care.

It is impossible to purchase reasonably priced health insurance in the private market when one has a pre-existing medical condition of this nature. In California, insurers are legislatively mandated to provide “guaranteed issue” policies, but the premiums are easily $800-1000 per month for someone in their forties. I would gladly pay cash for my routine medical appointments and insulin if I could secure a HDHP for $200 per month to secure against a catastrophic illness like cancer. It simply isn’t offered to folks like me. So, I keep working at a job I loathe for an income I don’t particularly need because it provides health insurance benefits that I cannot secure for myself without exhausting my ERE principle.

Most of the post seems like pretty sound advice.

How to negotiate with your medical provider could be a book chapter in itself. First of all, realize that probably at least 1/4 of doctors have no control over their own billing, and thus they cannot negotiate with you. They’re employed– it’s somewhat like trying to negotiate with a convenience store clerk. Also, the percentage of doctors who are employed, rather than self-employed, is increasing rapidly so in the future, negotiating with your doctor may be even more fruitless.

Second, negotiating half off of your hospital bill may mean that you’re negotiating to pay more than you would otherwise pay. Where I practice, most hospitals would gladly give you “1/2 off”– because many insured individuals are overpaying at “1/2 off”. Why? A hospital might “charge” $3000 for something your insurance company has negotiated to pay them $1100 for. The hospital puts $3000 on the bill knowing full well that they are contractually obligated to collect only $1100, and if you keep your mouth shut, this is what will happen. If you step in as the negotiator and offer $1500 cash, what do you think happens? Why do you think people tell you that the hospital jumped at the offer? By the way, you got 1/2 off. If you have no insurance, it’s a different situation- negotiate your best deal.

It’s not my ego that dislikes negotiating prices, it’s more of a practical matter. In my practice, I listen to a patient’s history, ask some questions, review their outside records, perform a thorough exam, look at their tests/films, and explain my diagnosis and the treatment options. There really isn’t a convenient point to turn the encounter into a 3rd world shopping market without things getting kind of weird. It’s a serious disruption, and when it happens, everyone notices it.

Also, it’s usually the insured patients who try to negotiate. The majority offer to pay me in cash at a higher rate than their insurance company has already negotiated for– similar to the hospital scenario. A select few do very strange things. Understand that negotiating a deal is a delicate art– if you do it improperly, the deal may not go through, and you’ll still be seeking medical help. I don’t kick patients out for trying to negotiate, but I do have a point where I say “No, I won’t provide my services for that amount.” Recovering the desired relationship with your doctor can be awkward if he’s just rejected your first three offers for payment. Be sure you’ve thought it all through before you start the negotiating.

Lastly, asking the momma question, in my opinion if your doctor changes his/her recommendation because you ask that, you should get a new doctor. The recommendation shouldn’t change if you were his/her mom. Really, you’re doctor went to college, medical school, and spent at least a few years after that in training, and they weren’t prepared for that worn-out question?

I forgot to add that I am 65 and have never been in a hospital, except the ER, (to get @Bactrim for my BPH). In recent years my Dr has allowed me to keep 30 tabs on hand for emergency use.

I don’t want to inflame any cross-cultural sensitivities here, but from my perspective from across the pond, I was quite shocked at the survey results where health-care costs came so high. Makes me appreciate the ‘socialised’ health system we have over here, where it’s paid for through taxes (more cheaply, it seems, than the aggregate of insurance contributions could ever do), yet I’m often told by US citizens how our ‘socialist system’ is ‘stealing my freedom’ or some such.

I think Maus’s case gives the lie to that – being forced to work an otherwise unnecessary job just for the ‘healthcare benefits’. I do feel for your predicament, Maus.

But still, that’s America’s political football to boot around. From here it looks broken, and I wish you good luck in fixing it…

Anyway, definitely agree that the best health care is preventative, and I confess I’m not a great example of that myself – I still haven’t kicked the nicotine habit, and I hover around the upper limits of alcohol consumption. But I think my diet is pretty healthy cooked mostly from real fresh ingredients, exercise is less than when I was younger I guess, and the one big success is I rarely if ever consume sugar (and HFCS never). The only time I’ve needed a doctor in about 30 years has been for travel vaccinations and one ‘risky behaviour’-related incident best glossed over… I’m convinced that a good proportion of health is down to diet and follow the general principle of ‘eat food, mostly plants, not too much’.

Can’t remember who, but someone once said ‘most people dig their own graves with their teeth’. If this was more widely understood health at the personal and societal level could be greatly improved at little to no cost.

I had no idea that you could negotiate with hospitals like that! I usually think of haggling as something which takes place at flea markets and street fairs, not established businesses. Thanks for the info!
I think my favorite was the “your momma” one. I definitely think that’s a good idea. Doctors today are so worried about getting sued that they have to recommend procedures and medication that you probably don’t even need.

The article linked talked about diet, exercize, tobacco, alcohol, drug use, firearms, etc. – and yes, sexual activity too but with no elaboration as to details. Why pick up on sex with multiple partners?

Whether you are single or in an open relationship, when you are good at self reflection, screening your partners well, engage in safe sex and do regular STD testing, a kink/multiple partner lifestyle can be a stimulating and rewarding activity, with minimized health risks and maximized mental benefits.

But then, English language does not even have a word to describe responsible, honest and rewarding non-monogamous sexual behaviour – after all, “promiscuous” is synonymous with indiscriminate and lacking standards. I find those assumptions as culturally-determined and open to be questioned as most readers here do the idea of having to work for the rest of their lives.

Good POINt Deb…I tend to do the same for me. As far as doing it for others…that is another matter. It is hard to gauge someone else’s pain.

I know one time when my son was about 4. He fell off the monkey bars and hurt his arm. I saw it happen and told him to suck it up. Three days later still hurt. Turned out he broke it. Ooops. Those stick with you.I do however use the nurses on call. Its great!!

typo: dairy (sorry, English is not my mother tongue)

In respect to the tips of how to care of your pets, I have something to say. I’ve got a pit bull because I thought he would be nice for safety in the house when my wife is alone. He’s a very lovely guy and does his work very well. But from a ERE point of view, today I would prefer having a gun. It’s much cheaper. But my wife won’t let me find another good owner for him. This guy eats more than a person!

About medicine, I would say: run from doctors as well as from lawyers and priests. Of course you have to learn to do your homework. It is almost twenty years since I have seen a doctor (I was 11 years old). Everyone should learn to take care of themselves and of their family. It’s not only learning some tips. You really have to study. If you still think you need health insurance, you have to study harder. Learn about yourself, it’s the single most important thing every human being should do.

Why is the post being reposted from a couple of yours ago and not stated as such? I think readers need to know that when a blog is an old post, and state when it was originally posted. I am noticing that most of the recent blogs in this website are just reposts from the past. Some of them don’t need updating as they apply to all times. but some like about health care and insurance need to take into account the new health care law and need updating. thanks