I think it is different for everyone but I am actually allergic to latex, I liked the post from the person above that had a quote from an article about two different kind of avocado allergies.

“The other type of allergy to avocados, related to a latex allergy is more severe. This is known as the latex fruit allergy and is caused by the similarity of allergens in avocados and natural latex. The symptoms are more severe, including generalized urticaria, abdominal pain, vomiting and sometimes life-threatening symptoms like anaphylaxis.

Other foods which cause this type of reaction are bananas, melons, mango, chestnuts and kiwis.”

Oh, and to Dr. Know It All (lol) above, it has NOTHING to do with the combo of foods eaten with the avocado (I would eat it with EVERYTHING! Eggs, Salads of every kind, chicken sandwiches, guac, alone, etc, etc, etc.) It did however, get progressively worse the more I ate it (every day for weeks, with stomach aches to eventual horrible stomach pain every day). It took me awhile to figure it out because I thought I had some kind of severe stomach bug and it wouldn’t leave. It’s really bad stomach pain, Makes it so you can barely do anything, and hurts so bad your eyes are bugging out! (not literally, lol). Lasts many hours too and no relief (like gas or toilet time), just pure pain.

I guess I have no choice but to avoid it all together. Well, there goes my dreams of having my own avocado farm like Jason Mraz some day.

whaaaaa! booo hooo hooo.

My personal online site
<.http://www.healthmedicinecentral.com/liver-pain-symptoms/

I’m coming into this discussion as a dual citizen, Australia and the UK.

I’ve not been to the USA, but I have online friends there.

One thing that annoys me about the USA and its healthcare is the pre-existing illness = no/expensive insurance thing…

How can any modern country allow such a thing! I have friends in Australia with Cystic Fibrosis. It’s genetic and terminal. There are treatments, but no cure. I’ve seen absolute horror stories about people in the USA with CF and their struggles to get cover. So many people with CF cannot function correctly/efficiently in the work place, many spend so much time in and out of hospital as a child (more often in than out) that their schooling is adversely affected. Yet in the USA they must work their limited years away to try to get enough insurance to cover medication and treatment to hopefully allow them a few more years. It’s almost like the USA is saying it’s their fault for being born with such a disease.

In Australia, my friends with CF who can work do work, and are covered by free healthcare. Those who cannot work do not have to worry. They are covered for healthcare. Also covered by disability pension, and they can enjoy their average 31 odd years of life. At most, they may have to pay part of their medications as prescriptions in Australia are only partially covered by the healthcare system. The same goes for the UK, except prescriptions for them are free.

Shouldn’t people like that be covered regardless? Do they not have just as much right to live as the rest of us, even if they are unable to perform to the same level?

On another note, comparing Australia to the UK. Both have free healthcare and I LOVE Australia. But, whilst our hospitals back home are more modern and such, they are also busier, and in my experience have a longer wait time. I also find it easier and often quicker to get an appointment with a GP here than back home (unless I went to a massive 24/7 surgery where they just rush patients through).

As for dentistry. In Australia I could not afford the dental work required. Free dental only applies to those on benefits, which has been reason for me to get myself fired previously. So that I could go get a tooth pulled for free etc. Even if you are on benefits, there’s often a 2 year wait for treatment, and if you need emergency treatment you’ve gotta rock up at 7am and wait in line to hopefully get served that day (still only available on benefits!). Here in the UK, I signed up with the local doctor, got an NHS number, rang a local dentist, made a checkup appointment early the next week for an NHS visit. They have 3 bands of payment, first band is checkups and cleaning of teeth and such, 2nd is fillings and extractions, 3rd is braces and plates and caps etc. They do all work in a continuous stream, so one visit after the other until its done. If you have to get work done in multiple bands, the cost of the previous band is deducted from the cost of the next band. I think the most I will end up paying for all the dentistry I need is $500 Australian. The quote I got at a private dentist in Australia for the same work was $15 000 Australian, and I had to pay $180 Aus to get the checkup to get the quote!!!)

Now, my dental issues are not related to poor dental hygiene, but rather to medication I had been taking for 15 years that I was not informed was damaging to teeth and also weakening to their structure. That, combined with dry mouth. I brushed 2 – 3 times daily, flossed (mostly) at least once a day, ate relatively healthy, etc. It bewilders me that a country that I was not even born in is willing to fix my teeth and remove my pain/embarrassment. I mean, sure I am a citizen but I really wish Australia would cover dental too.

It’s funny ya know, people always go on about Brits having bad teeth. But I know far more Australians and have seen far more Australians with bad teeth than I have ever seen of the Brits since I’ve been here. Dental hygiene is very important, good dental hygiene is directly related to longer life span, healthier body and mind etc.

Come on USA, Australia, and whatever other countries are not offering proper health care. The NHS may not be perfect, it may have a lot of old buildings and outdated procedures. But it’s a start, its constantly being improved, its efficient and it is a VERY good return for your money. Healthy people means happy people, happy people means more productive people, etc etc etc! If you want your countries to continue to prosper, look after your people FIRST AND FOREMOST!!!

The UK has very nearly won me over, I honestly would not have a problem raising my kids here, growing old here. At the very least, I know they’d be well cared for after i’m gone. =)