Texas Health Denton

Fall 2012

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Paving the Way for Change Texas Health Resources wants to be a catalyst in launching a well-being revolution in North Texas to fulfill its mission: improve the health of the people in the communities we serve. In April, Texas Health announced a 10-year agreement with Nashville, TN-based Healthways to dramatically change the model for health care delivery in North Texas. Greater emphasis will be placed on well-being and keeping people out of hospitals by working with physicians, employers, government officials and health plans. Healthways brings experience and tools in transforming and achieving better well-being of “communities” in their broadest definition. Healthways is the largest independent global provider of well-being improvement solutions. The collaboration with Texas Health is the first time Healthways has joined with a large integrated health system, although it has relationships with large health plans and employers. “Improving health by using a broader definition of well-being by incorporating dimensions of career, social, financial, physical and community is our mission. Health costs continue to rise around delivery models that are unsustainable. This relationship and model puts the emphasis where it should be: on keeping chronic conditions under control, changing behaviors and keeping people out of hospitals when feasible,” Texas Health CEO Doug Hawthorne says. “This is health care reform at the grassroots level: at home, where you seek care, with your family and support systems. Imagine the power of North Texas joining in all aspects to create a well-being revolution that extends across all our communities. It could be very powerful.” Brain Food Before you eat another bag of chips or drink a can of soda, think again. Junk food is not only bad for your waistline; it’s bad for your brain. “When excessive amounts of sugar and caffeine are consumed by the body, it prohibits the brain from properly processing insulin,” says Farzeen Sukheswalla, registered dietitian at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. “The pancreas has to work harder to process unhealthy foods, causing your blood sugar to crash, which ultimately drains the brain of energy.” Eat Smart According to the American Academy of Neurology, eating fruits, vegetables, aromatic herbs and spices, grapes, lean meats, fish, and heart-friendly olive oil may protect brain cells, slow degeneration and add a few years to your life. You may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or other neurological conditions by incorporating adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins into your diet. Try adding these brainpower-boosting foods to your daily meals: • Berries — Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries help combat free radicals and delay age-related memory loss. • Fish — Salmon, sea bass, halibut and mackerel are excellent sources of protein and are loaded with omega-3s that help protect the brain. • Nuts — Walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts provide high levels of vitamin E that may shield the brain from degenerative diseases.

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