Biden Should Read The Epoch Times' Health Section

President Joe Biden speaks to the media before he and first lady Jill Biden depart the White House in Washington on May 29, 2023 . (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Commentary

President Joe Biden's fall at a graduation ceremony for the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado on Thursday made headlines around the world. People are rightly concerned for his health—both as a human being and as the president of the United States.

Biden may have been “sandbagged” as he joked, referring to a sandbag used to secure a teleprompter that tripped him up, but his struggle to stand up easily, and the risk a fall presents, are challenges that any 80-year-old well understands.

Every second of every day, an older adult—age 65 and above—suffers a fall. Falls are the leading cause of injury death in this group.

Biden no doubt has a team of experts advising his health—including his daily intake of medications—but is he giving himself the time and attention required to stay well as age raises its toll?

If the president is like many older Americans, he is on several drugs meant to sustain him but that bring their own potential risks, falls being one of the most prominent. In order to counteract this risk, it is essential that he be proactive about his mental and physical well-being. He would certainly be aware of this if he was a frequent reader of The Epoch Times’ health section.

He would also know that vitamin D reduces falls and fractures, and the best ways to supplement if he can’t manage to get enough sunlight. He would know you can replenish collagen for healthy joints and that you are never too old to build muscle—and muscle ensures stability and function. And when pain inevitably strikes, he would know there are relatively risk-free alternatives to common painkillers.

If the president is concerned about osteoporosis drugs, as many Epoch Times readers rightfully are, he would be glad to know that there are other methods that can help with or prevent osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and knee degeneration.

The president may even be inspired to take action on certain toxins that are prevalent in everyday food and products. These substances may also be harmful to bone, muscle, and neurological systems, which may all contribute to falling. This includes aluminum, a brain toxin found in countless products.

Biden would also recognize that eating well is only part of a healthy life and that a poor psychological state is a major culprit of accelerated aging, even worse than some common chronic diseases. There are no doubt incredible stresses that come with being president.

He may be reluctant to acknowledge it, but the president would also know that the COVID-19 vaccine might also increase his risk of movement problems. He would even find a simple test to measure his sense of balance and health risk.

At a more fundamental level, the president would recognize that if he is to maintain his health, he will have to be a proactive and informed participant in all of his health decisions.

The president would know that his mind has a powerful physiological effect—that his thoughts can direct his body to readiness or repair through the cascading effects of hormones. He would also know that researchers have begun examining the powerful impact of meditation and how this can transform the electrical and chemical symphony of a human being.

He would recognize that his physical body is a miracle of impossible complexity that modern medical science is still unraveling, and that for all our advanced medical technology, we still have only the most rudimentary understandings of how major elements of the brain and body operate.

And because of that mystery, there are certain key lessons we should take from our ancestors, like that the core of our health is closely tied to our character, and that our impact in this life will reflect the health of our body, mind, and soul.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.