White House Correspondence Award Goes to Series about the Disparity of Health by Zip Code
http://www.contracostatimes.com/life-expectancy
A bit of bias here, as my sister Suzanne Bohan co-wrote this series, receiving her award from President Obama in May to our family’s great pride. But this in-depth 5 part series report included conclusive evidence that where you live does matter for your health. Findings showed increased death and disease based on proximity to dirty roads and air pollution, lack of access to healthy foods from local stores and farmers markets, increased stress due to fear of crime, lack of open space for hiking, jogging and biking, and more, and this was unrelated to access to health care insurance.
We in our little valley could not be luckier to have easy access to so many farms for weekly produce boxes and our farmers market filled with healthy foods including not only veggies and fruit, but milk, cheese, meat, fish, bread, honey, eggs and more. We have beautiful trails for hiking, jogging and biking. We are separated by two valleys from pollution from heavy vehicle traffic. We have a sense of personal safety to the point of not having to lock doors or hide purses, and being able to walk the streets at night without fear.
Preventative health care can take place with ease in this setting. A philosophy of preventative health is something each of can be empowered with, if we choose to. My sister, with her husband also wrote a book ’50 Ways to Live a Longer Life’ and eating lots of greens such as kale, chard and collards showed up in many of those ‘ways’ along with walking or jogging 30 minutes or more per day. These and many more are simple things that can make all the difference.
So, maybe you can walk to market today and get some greens! J