1. General Introduction about Health care in the United States Health care in the United States is

provided by many separate legal entities. More is spent on health care in the United States on a per capita basis than in any other nation in the world. A study of international health care spending levels published in the health policy journal Health Affairs in the year 2000 found that the U.S. spends more on health care than other countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and that the use of health care services in

the U.S. is below the OECD median by most measures. The authors of the study conclude that the prices paid for health care services are much higher in the U.S. Medical debt is the principal cause of personal bankruptcy in the United States, weakening the whole economy. According to data compiled and published by the international pharmaceutical industry , the US is the world leader in biomedical research and development as well as the introduction of new biomedical products; pharmaceutical industry trade organizations also maintain that the high cost of health care in the U.S.

has encouraged substantial reinvestment in such research and development. Despite that, the US pays twice as much yet lags other wealthy nations in such measures as infant mortality and life expectancy, which are among the most widely collected, hence useful, international comparative statistics. For 2006-2010, the USA's life expectancy will lag 38th in the world, after most rich nations, lagging last of the G5 (Japan, France, Germany, UK, USA) and just after Chile (35th) and Cuba (37th).

Active debate over health care reform in the United States concerns questions of a right to health care, access, fairness, efficiency, cost, and quality. The World Health Organization (WHO), in 2000, ranked the U.S. health care system as the highest in cost, first in responsiveness, 37th in overall performance, and 72nd by overall level of health (among 191 member nations included in the study). The WHO study has been criticized, in an article published in Health Affairs, for its failure to include the satisfaction ratings of the general public.

A 2008 report by the Commonwealth Fund ranked the United States last in the quality of health care among the 19 compared countries. The U.S. has a higher infant mortality rate than all other developed countries. According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the United States is the "only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not ensure that all citizens have coverage" (i.e. some kind of insurance).

2. Health Care Facilities in the U. S.

In the United States, ownership of the health care system is mainly in private hands, though federal, state, county, and city governments also own certain facilities.

The non-profit hospital's share of total hospital capacity has remained relatively stable (about 70%) for decades. There are also privately owned for-profit hospitals as well as government hospitals in some locations, mainly owned by county and city governments.

There is no nationwide system of government-owned medical facilities open to the general public but there are local government-owned medical facilities open to the general public. The federal Department of Defense operates field hospitals as well as permanent hospitals (the Military Health System), to provide military-funded care to active military personnel. The federal Veterans Health Administration operates VA hospitals open only to veterans, though veterans who seek medical care for conditions they did not receive while serving in the military are charged for services. The Indian Health Service operates facilities open

only to Native Americans from recognized tribes. These facilities, plus tribal facilities and privately contracted services funded by IHS to increase system capacity and capabilities, provide medical care to tribespeople beyond what can be paid for by any private insurance or other government programs. Hospitals provide some outpatient care in their emergency rooms and specialty clinics, but primarily exist to provide inpatient care. Hospital emergency departments and urgent care centers are sources of sporadic problem-focused care"Surgicenters" are examples of specialty clinics. Hospice services for the

terminally ill who are expected to live six months or less are most commonly subsidized by charities and government. Prenatal, family planning, and "dysplasia" clinics are government-funded obstetric and gynecologic specialty clinics respectively, and are usually staffed by nurse practitioners.

3. Medical products, research and development in the U.S.

The United States is a leader in medical innovation. In 2004, the health care industry spent three times as much as Europe per capita on biomedical research. Companies provide medical products such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices. In 2006, the United States accounted for three quarters of the world’s biotechnology revenues and 82% of world R&D spending in biotechnology. The amount of financing by private industry has increased 102% from

1994 to 2003. Most medical research is privately funded. As of 2003, the NIH was responsible for 28%—about $28 billion—of the total biomedical research funding spent annually in the U.S., with most of the rest coming from industry. The National Institutes of Health play a larger role in funding basic research. The top five U.S. hospitals carry out more clinical trials than all the hospitals in any other country. Between 1975 and 2008, the Nobel Prize in medicine or physiology has gone to U.S. residents more often than recipients from all other countries combined.

In 29 of the 34 years between 1975 and 2008, a scientist living in the U.S. either won or shared in the prize. Despite all the foregoing, and because of government priorities slighting immediate public health in favor of long-term research, the US pays twice as much yet lags other wealthy nations in such measures as infant mortality and life expectancy, which are among the most widely collected, hence useful, international comparative statistics.

4. Health Diet

A healthy diet is one that helps maintain or improve health. It is important for the prevention of many chronic disease such as: obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

A healthy diet involves consuming appropriate amounts of all nutrients, and an adequate amount of water. Nutrients can be obtained from many different foods, so there are a wide variety of diets that may be considered healthy diets.

Fresh vegetables are important components of a healthy diet.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) makes the following 5 recommendations with respect to both populations and individuals:

* Achieve an energy balance and a healthy weight

* Limit energy intake from total fats and shift fat consumption away from saturated fats to unsaturated fats and towards the elimination of trans-fatty acids

* Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, legumes ( 豆类 ), whole grains and nuts

* Limit the intake of simple sugars * Limit salt / sodium( 钠 ) consumption from all

sources and ensure that salt is iodized

Other recommendations include:* Sufficient essential amino acids ( 氨基酸 )

("complete protein") to provide cellular replenishment and transport proteins. All essential amino acids are present in animals. A select few plants (such as soy and hemp) give all the essential acids. A combination of other plants may also provide all essential amino acids. Fruits such as the Avocado( 鳄梨 ), and Pumpkin Seeds also have all the essential amino acids.

* Essential micronutrients such as vitamins and certain minerals.

* Avoiding directly poisonous (e.g. heavy metals) and carcinogenic( 致癌的 ) (e.g. benzene) substances;

* Avoiding foods contaminated by human pathogens( 致病菌 ) (e.g. tapeworm( 绦虫 ) eggs).

5. American Food guide pyramid (1992)

Chinese Food Pyramid

The food guide pyramid (historical) known as the food pyramid, and formally titled the Improved American Food Guide Pyramid, was published by the USDA(United States Department of Agriculture) in 1992 to replace the earlier food groups classification system. The food guide pyramid suggested optimal nutrition guidelines for each food category, per day, using a mnemonic graphic of a pyramid with horizontal dividing lines, to represent suggested percentages of the daily diet for each food group. Currently published every five years, an update to the 2005 system is expected in 2010.

MyPyramid, released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on April 19, 2005, is an update on the American food guide pyramid. The new icon stresses activity and moderation along with a proper mix of food groups in one's diet. As part of the MyPyramid food guidance system, consumers are asked to visit the MyPyramid website for personalized nutrition information.

The six divisions of the pyramid

MyPyramid contains eight divisions. From left to right on the pyramid are a person and six food groups:

Physical activity, represented by a person climbing steps on the pyramid, to illustrate moderate physical activity every day, in addition to usual activity. The key recommendations for 2005 (other specific recommendations are provided for children and adolescents, pregnant and breastfeeding women, for older adults and for weight maintenance) are:

1) Engage in regular physical activity and reduce sedentary activities to promote health, psychological well-being, and a healthy body weight. (At least 30 minutes on most, and if possible, every day for adults and at least 60 minutes each day for children and teenagers, and for most people increasing to more vigorous-intensity or a longer duration will bring greater benefits.)

2) Achieve physical fitness by including cardiovascular conditioning, stretching exercises for flexibility, and resistance exercises or calisthenics for muscle strength and endurance.

Grains, recommending that at least half of grains consumed be as whole grains

Vegetables, emphasizing dark green vegetables, orange vegetables, and dry beans and peas

Fruits, emphasizing variety and deemphasizing fruit juices

Oils, recommending fish, nut, and vegetables sources

Milk, a category that includes fluid milk and many other milk-based products

Meat and beans, emphasizing low-fat and lean meats such as fish as well as more beans, peas, nuts, and seeds

There is one other category: Discretionary calories, represented by the

narrow tip of each colored band, including items such as candy, alcohol, or additional food from any other group.