Here are some statistics that you might find disturbing about our country:

• The worlds highest rates of bowel cancer in women. Three to four women die a day.
• Second highest rate of strokes in the world
• Second highest rate of hip fractures in the world
• One of the highest rate of obesity worldwide.
• Fourth highest rate of diabetes
• Fifth highest rate of breast cancer in women
• Sixth highest rate of heart disease in the world. Every 90 minutes a New Zealander dies from coronary heart disease.
• One in five New Zealanders older than 15 smoke cigarettes. Approximately 12 people a day are dying as a result of smoking.

Now, here is a really scary statistic. Did you know that on average a person in Australia (NZ figures not available) spends 12 years in dependent care before they die.

Worldwide:

• Cancer, heart disease and diabetes account for 7 out of 10 deaths in the U.S. These statistics are mirrored in the Western world.
• Alzheimer’s disease is the fourth leading cause of death. It is expected to quadruple over the next 50 years.
• Cancer is increasing at 15% per year.
• Depression affects one in four people. This is expected to double by 2030.
• Between 1990 and 1998, diabetes increased 70%. It is expected to double in the next two decades, increasingly affecting younger people.
• Our children are the canaries in our coal mine: 1 in 10 can be expected to get ADHD, 1 in 6 asthma, 1 in 80 autism, 1 in 6 behavioural disorders, 1 in 5 eczema and 1 in 3 allergies.
• Adrenal fatigue, infertility, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and a host of other conditions are all on the increase.

Do you find these facts disturbing? How many people do you know who fit into the above statistics? What are you doing so that you are not one of these statistics? You have a high chance of dying of a disease but what about before you die; the loss of independence, the loss of faculties, the discomfort and the price on your family. Extension of life, cognition and health in life is very achievable.