Column #72

Is America the world’s worst in the cost of healthcare versus longevity? Well, maybe not the absolute worst in longevity, but our country is certainly not a shining star. Out of a total of 224 countries, 42 have longer life expectancies than America. But when it comes to healthcare costs our country is the worst.

The chart compares 24 familiar countries. The red line is America’s track with yearly dates. Rising lines show how life expectancy has increased since 1970. As the lines move to the right they indicate higher healthcare costs which are adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity. In 1970 most countries had similar healthcare costs.

But that similarity has changed dramatically. The life expectancy in Japan is 83.5 years with healthcare costs being $4,152. Chileans have a life expectancy of 81.5 years with healthcare costs of $1,689. American numbers are 79 years and $9,024.

Compared to other countries, how extreme is $9,024 per person? The world’s second highest healthcare expenditure is Switzerland at $6,787.

Humans have lived an estimated 8,000 generations, but only in the past four have mortalities decreased to modern-day levels. This is amazing. Genetic mutations played no role while all advancements were due to education! What is really encouraging is that mankind has a lot more to learn. So our future prospects are outstanding if we don’t go broke getting there.

The primary factors increasing longevity include improved medical technologies, breakthroughs in germ theory and antibiotics, widespread vaccination, public-health advances in sanitation and regulation, abundant food, better education from kindergarten through high school, better housing, safer cars and work places, and far lower child mortality rates.

Since 1900 maternal mortality rates for most countries have decreased about 99%, significantly increasing longevity. Strangely, after similar improvement in America, since 1980 maternal mortality rates have doubled as healthcare costs have soared.

Unfortunately, increases in life expectancy in America are not associated with quality years. People live longer but more of them are suffering from multiple chronic diseases. Being sick is considered a part of aging. Healthy people are oddballs. Of course, every chronic disease means more healthcare costs. Quality of life sewers as diseases and costs increase.

The only way our country can solve its health and healthcare costs dilemma is more education. Nearly all chronic diseases are body failures caused by abuse with the greatest being improper food. Pollution, agricultural practices, pesticides, factory farming, and non-local foods are not the main issues. Most problems are caused by processed and whole foods that people have been instructed to eat!

Unfortunately most of today’s foods are the wrong choices. Our education, media, medical, marketing systems perpetuate the problem by saying meat is bad while whole grains, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and fruit are good. Their emphasis is on low-fat, gluten-free, organic, and other feel-good words that have little or no impact on health.

The most critical need for Americans is to lose weight and the most effective way is to eliminate sugars and carbohydrates (grains/seeds) from the diet. Adding quality fats helps the body burn fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. This will improve health and lower healthcare costs.

But there’s more. Americans must be taught which foods provide dense packages of all nutrients along with balanced essential fatty acids (EFAs). They must learn the importance of the 1:1 balance of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids in our foods and our bodies.

When these changes are enacted, health will improve and healthcare costs will go down. That will increase longevity and the quality of life. For now, most consumers are clueless, making them victims of healthcare scams and the medical system.

To your health.

Ted Slanker

Ted Slanker has been reporting on the fundamentals of nutritional research in publications, television and radio appearances, and at conferences since 1999. He condenses complex studies into the basics required for health and well-being. His eBook, The Real Diet of Man, is available online.

Don’t miss these links for additional reading:

What Are the Worst Food Scams?

Dining on Pesticides

The Importance of the Ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids

Health Spending by Country

Data on Maternal Mortality: Historical information compiled for 14 countries (up to 200 years)

U.S. Healthcare Is A Global Outlier (And Not In A Good Way)

Living Longer

Purchasing Power Parity

Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development – OECD Stats