Health for life

Laurel Miller, via Salon.com, reviewed Mark Bittmans new cookbook, "Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating With More Than 75 Recipes." (Bittman writes a food column for the New York Times and blogs for the NYTs at Bitten.)

How To Live What Michael Pollan Preaches, Salon.com, January 2009

Here are some excerpts from her article:

"[Bittmans book is] an unusual blend of manifesto, self-help manual and cookbook designed to convince people that they can drastically improve their diets with relatively little discomfort."

Bittmans formula: "Eat less of certain foods, specifically animal products, ined carbs, and junk food; and more of others, specifically plants, in close to their natural state."

"At 57, [Bittman had] gained 50 pounds over his college weight and had developed high cholesterol, high blood sugar (especially scary for someone with a family history of diabetes) and sleep apnea, a condition caused by his excess weight."

Bittmans specific tactics ...

"With a colleague, Kerri Conan, Bittman devised a plan they called "vegan until six." They ate almost no animal products at all until dinnertime, no simple carbohydrates and no junk food. (Simple carbs are sugars, white flours and other processed grains like white rice.) At dinner, they ate as they had before, although in time Bittman found that even his evening meals came to include more "vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains and less meat, sugar, junk food, and overined carbohydrates."

"It was easy, and in a matter of months hed lost 35 pounds, lowered his cholesterol and blood sugar, and had no trouble sleeping through the night. Most important, he continues to eat this way and is content to do so for the rest of his life."

________

The Medicare Modernization Act - signed into law by President Bush on December 8, 2003 - added an outpatient prescription drug benefit for all people with Medicare. Coverage under this benefit goes into effect on January 1, 2006. (Clicking on the new "Medicare-Approved" seal shown will take you to the Medicare site.)

You must enroll to be covered by the prescription drug plans. Enrollment begins on November 15 of this year. You have until December 31 to enroll if you want your coverage to start on January 1.

There will be a number of plans to choose from with differing monthly premiums ("generally about $37 in 2006") and copayments. Your health or income cannot prevent you from benefiting from one of these plans - even if you have prescription drug coverage from an employer, union, or other policy (e.g. Medigap). Those with limited income will get help paying for their coverage.

Medicare lists the following important dates regarding the new prescription drug plans:

• October 2005 - Medicare recipients will receive the Medicare & You 2006 handbook with information on how to sign up.
  
• November 15, 2005 - Sign-up begins.
  
• December 31, 2005 - Last day to sign up to receive coverage beginning January 1, 2006.
  
• January 1, 2006 - Coverage begins.
  
• May 15, 2006 - Last day to sign up for coverage in 2006. (Late fees are charged after that date. Enrollment begins again on November 15, 2006 for coverage in 2007.)

More information about the new prescription drug plans is available at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

________
Below are a few links that answer basic questions. They are all pdf files requiring an Adobe reader to view. (You can download an Adobe reader for free here.) More links about the new prescription drug plans can be found here.

• Basic Information (Very informative, detailed, and recent text file. August 2005)
  
  
• Quick Facts about Medicare’s New Coverage for Prescription Drugs (May 2005)
  
  
• Who Can Help Me Apply and Enroll? (July 2005)
  
  
• Protecting Your Personal Information (July 2005)
  
  
• A Message for People who Care for Someone with Medicare (July 2005)