A few days ago the New York Times published an article about this country's future health by blogger Tara Parker-Pope.  In the article Parker-Pope discusses the impact a recession will have on this country's murder rate, suicide rate, heart disease and cancer.  From her findings, she concludes that if people lose jobs it can create a larger gap between the poor and the rich and the poorer folks won't have access to cleaner eating and certainly not health care.  She also concludes better-off families will find an increase in health and well-being:  a laid-off parent will have the luxury of spending more time with their children and their needs while the other parent continues to work and bring in at least 100,000 smack-a-roos.

It's no secret that I'm an advocate for better eating and eating for cheap.  And yes, that requires growing roof or ground gardens, shopping at Trader's Joes [they're nearly everywhere now] and saying No to preservatives, too much sugar, junk food for those over 40, and white breads—they weaken the immune system and make you susceptible to all sorts of things, including influenza and cancer.  If you don't believe me, ask any informed and preventive physician.  Hell, ask me, I've seen it in action.

However, I'm a little concerned that many of my family and friends who pride themselves on meat, potatoes, pies, cakes and lots of alcohol will find their pockets empty and their health insurance zapped during a recession.  And that means the stress from the financial worry will up their chances for disease and illness and then what?  Lots of sick people with bad histories of eating for comfort, self-medication, or defiance against well-being, will be laid up in some doctors office and... well...

That's a bit extreme [possibly].  But if a recession or Depression has a track record for challenging the bodies of the poor and marginalized, or even the middle-class, then it's time people start getting a little smarter about priming their bodies with better eating habits, exercise and prayer or meditation [not to speak to their God, but to find their breath and center so they can avoid a pandemic of economic-inspired disease.]  Health nut, my butt.  You better crack that nut and eat it.  You might just need the protein in trying times.