We're #29!!!

Generally speaking, we would say that the U.S. is a pretty healthy place right? We all watch CNN, we have seen other countries. They look they are wrecked with disease. We must be one of the healthiest nations... right?

Wrong. One of the ways to look at the health of a nation is look at life expectancy. In the 2004 World Health Report, the U.S. ranked 29th in life expectancy. That means there are 28 countries with a greater life expectancy than the U.S.

Quick, can you name 28 countries?

We are obviously not the healthiest country in the world. Why is this? We by far and away spend the most money on healthcare, take the most prescription drugs, have the best doctors, why aren't we the healthiest nation?

Well, I guess those things aren't the true gauges of health are they?

What we need to do is step back and look at the culture that these other countries. What are they doing differently?

They are doing some, if not all, of these three things better: they have less stress, they eat better food and they live a more active life-style.

Obesity is through the roof in this country and they are all enhanced by those three things. Not one country above us on this is more obese to than the U.S.

So how do we gain back the 6 years Japan has on us on life expectancy? It is improving the culture of health in this country, not throwing more money at it.