Eat Your Veggies, Improve Your Health

Health care reform is such a hot topic right now, so I thought I would throw in my 2 cents ;).

Technically, the company that I work for is the largest health insurer in the United States. Because of this I get asked by friends, family and clients all the time about my views on health care reform, the hottest thing since cupcakes.

Conventional medicine is basically reactive. Get sick then the doctor will give you a drug or do surgery to fix it. Get cancer then get chemo. Have a heart attack then get bypass, oh and they might throw in stop smoking and eat better. The advances we have made in this type of treatment are phenomenal, but as a nation we need to put a stronger emphasis on stopping the train wreck before it happens.

Over 75% of health care dollars are spent on chronic conditions and over 50% of these chronic diseases are due to lifestyle choices like what we eat and how much, how active we are, how we sleep, stress levels, smoking. It's not always genetic, my friends. And the good news is that we have the power to change that.

There is no question that preventive health care is hugely important, but that doesn't just include getting your annual physical. It includes things like cooking all of your greens from last week's box and eating your peppers and your beans! You have made one of the best choices you can make for your body by joining the CSA and having access to the freshest fruits and vegetables every week.


Our bodies were made to live off of fresh foods and the more whole, natural foods you consume, the more likely your body is to feel great and not get sick, therefore not increase health insurance costs. Fresh vegetables have complex structures made up of enzymes, vitamins, minerals and nutrients that naturally prevent disease, control blood sugar levels, and give your cells energy.

And it's not even just about eating any old vegetables that the grocery store has in stock. It's about the energy that these fresh vegetables from your White House Gardens CSA box contain and transfer to you. The energy from the fresh radishes that were just picked a few days ago is so much more vibrant and alive than ones that have traveled thousands of miles and have been in and out of trucks before making their way to your grocery cart. And it's about eating what is in season to get the most nutrients out of your food.

So congratulations on treating your body right and being a part of this CSA! You've already made a great decision for your health.