As the debate over the proposed healthcare bill intensifies, I wanted to share with you some thoughtful words from Michael Pollan about how we could drastically reduce our healthcare costs while greatly improving our health. As part of his keynote address given earlier this year at the Georgia Organics Conference, Mr. Pollan explains the connection between the rising cost of healthcare and the reduction of household income spent on food.  As a freelancer whose monthly health insurance premium was just raised, you can imagine where I stand on wanting a better system put in place.

Too many people in this country cannot afford the coverage they deserve and too many people do not have access to healthy, affordable food that would help to not only cut down on medical costs, but go a long ways towards preventing the diseases and ailments that plague us.  The two issues are inextricably tied together, and we can no longer continue to ignore the need for positive change in both areas.  Here’s Mr. Pollan to drive home the point:

Check out the rest of Mr. Pollan’s talk, including the transcript, at MNN.