Despite spending more on healthcare than any other nation in the world, Americans are becoming sicker—not healthier.

I'll cut right to the chase with some not-so-rosy statistics.

Our current healthcare spending in the U.S. exceeds $5.3 trillion, yet chronic disease rates continue to climb.

Half of all U.S. adults have high blood pressure. While that statistic increased after blood pressure guidelines were updated in 2017, it still doesn't fully explain why one out of every two Americans now has hypertension.

Cancer rates continue to rise, especially among younger adults and children. More than 2 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in 2025.

Diabetes affects over 40 million Americans, with the highly preventable Type 2 diabetes accounting for approximately 95 percent of those cases.

More than 40 percent of American adults and 21 percent of children are obese.

Current estimates suggest that 50 million Americans are living with one or more autoimmune diseases. Personally, I suspect that number is even higher because autoimmune conditions are notoriously difficult to diagnose, leaving many people suffering for years before receiving answers.

So...why?

There are many reasons behind these unsettling statistics, but one of the biggest is our modern healthcare system.

Sadly, today's healthcare system often has very little to do with creating health or preventing disease. Instead, it's largely designed to diagnose illness, manage symptoms, and treat disease after it develops.

Medication is frequently the standard treatment, but that approach has two significant drawbacks.

First, many medications help manage symptoms without addressing the underlying causes of chronic illness. While symptom relief is certainly important, true health involves much more than simply feeling better.

Second, virtually every medication carries the potential for side effects or unintended consequences. Over time, it's not uncommon for one prescription to lead to another as new symptoms emerge.

Unfortunately, many healthcare providers receive very little education in nutrition, supplementation, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and other natural approaches to wellness. Some embrace these therapies—but many remain skeptical.

That means you have to become your own best health advocate.

The good news?

There are simple, practical habits that can dramatically improve your long-term health.

Your Road to Creating REAL Health

1. Eat a Whole Foods Diet

You didn't think I'd start anywhere else, did you?

We all have different tastes and preferences, and that's perfectly fine. The goal isn't perfection—it's choosing real food more often.

Here are a few simple guidelines:

• Build meals around quality proteins, non-starchy vegetables, and healthy fats.
• Choose organic fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, and full-fat dairy whenever possible.
• Opt for wild-caught fish instead of farm-raised varieties.
• Minimize ultra-processed foods, fast food, refined carbohydrates, and added sugars.

An occasional slice of pizza, handful of chips, or homemade dessert isn't the problem. A steady diet built around those foods is.

Finally, avoid highly processed fats whenever possible. Despite years of marketing, products like margarine and many highly refined vegetable and seed oils may contribute to inflammation. Instead, choose traditional fats like real butter, tallow, or lard.

2. Drink More Water

You knew this one was coming.

Water should become your beverage of choice.

There are many formulas for determining how much water you should drink each day, but a simple place to start is aiming to drink more filtered water than anything else.

And don't panic if you're currently a soda lover.

You don't have to change everything overnight.

Start by replacing just one soda each day with water. Small changes often lead to big results.

That's exactly how I quit drinking Diet Pepsi.

Back in my early twenties (before I knew better!), I was a complete Diet Pepsi addict. One day, the vending machine at work happened to be out, so I reluctantly bought a bottle of water instead.

I couldn't believe how much better I felt.

I never went back.

3. Optimize Your Vitamin D Levels

While every nutrient plays an important role, vitamin D is truly a nutritional superstar.

Optimal vitamin D levels support:

• Healthy nutrient absorption
• Healthy blood pressure
• Cardiovascular health
• Brain and mental wellness
• Nervous system function
• Bone strength
• Immune function

Vitamin D deficiency is incredibly common—especially throughout the Northeast during the colder months. Personally, I suspect this may play a role in our ever-growing rates of autoimmune disease.

To help maintain healthy vitamin D levels year-round, supplementation with our Optimum DK Formula with FruiteX-B® is an excellent choice.

It provides a therapeutic 5,000 IU of Vitamin D3, along with its important partners—Vitamin K1, Vitamin K2, and boron.

4. Quit Smoking and Vaping

I know quitting isn't easy.

But your body will thank you in countless ways.

Research also continues to raise concerns about vaping as a "safer" alternative to smoking.

A study from the University of North Carolina found that the primary ingredients used in many vape products—propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin—can be toxic to cells, with toxicity increasing as additional ingredients are added.

Vaping has also been shown to produce chemicals such as acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde, all of which may contribute to lung and heart disease.

Get whatever support you need. Counseling, nicotine replacement, support groups, and even acupuncture have helped many people successfully quit.

5. Brush and Floss Every Day

Brushing your teeth is only half the job.

Flossing removes plaque and food particles that your toothbrush simply can't reach.

It only takes a minute or two each day, yet it can make a tremendous difference in protecting both your teeth and your gums.

6. Get 7-9 Hours of Sleep

Consistently falling short on sleep affects nearly every system in your body.

Poor sleep can:

• Weaken immune function
• Increase chronic pain
• Accelerate aging
• Worsen depression
• Promote weight gain

If you're a night owl, consider easing into an earlier bedtime.

Your body—and your future self—will thank you.

7. Exercise Regularly

Now don't roll your eyes.

Nothing replaces the benefits of regular movement.

Choose an activity you enjoy—or at least don't dread—and commit to 15 to 20 minutes, four times each week.

As your endurance improves, gradually work toward at least 30 minutes most days.

You don't need an expensive gym membership.

Even a brisk walk counts.

Remember: consistency matters far more than intensity.

As always, check with your healthcare provider before beginning a new exercise program.

8. Schedule Annual Checkups

Many health conditions are easier to address when they're caught early.

That's why it's important to see both your physician and your dentist for routine checkups each year.

If it's been a while, consider making that appointment today.

9. Keep Stress Under Control

Chronic stress quietly chips away at your health.

It can:

• Suppress immune function
• Raise blood sugar
• Cloud your thinking
• Encourage emotional eating
• Contribute to digestive problems like IBS
• Increase blood pressure

Healthy ways to reduce stress include:

• Prayer
• Meditation
• Counseling
• Yoga
• Deep breathing
• Regular exercise
• Acupuncture

And if you're an animal lover, many people find that adopting a pet brings comfort and companionship while reducing daily stress.

10. Support Your Gut Microbiome

Your gut microbiome is home to approximately 80 percent of your immune system.

It also plays a central role in digestion, nutrient absorption, waste elimination, and communication with virtually every other system in your body.

When your gut thrives, your overall health benefits.

Start with your diet.

Feed your microbiome with fresh vegetables, whole fruits (rather than fruit juice), herbs, spices, fermented foods like sauerkraut, healthy fats, nuts, coconut oil, butter, and wild-caught fish.

Then replenish beneficial bacteria with a high-quality probiotic like Super Shield Multi-Strain Probiotic Formula.

Many people don't realize that beneficial bacteria aren't permanent residents. They typically remain in the digestive tract for only about 12 days, making regular replenishment important for maintaining a healthy microbial balance.

One Healthy Habit at a Time

Improving your health doesn't require changing your entire life overnight.

Choose one healthy habit.

Practice it consistently.

Then add another.

Those small decisions, repeated day after day, are what create lasting health and vitality.

I truly believe that if you follow these principles consistently, you'll notice a difference in how you feel while laying the foundation for healthier years ahead.

And I can't think of a better investment than that.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia