Many doctors have come to believe that the future of medicine depends upon a better understanding of how to boost the tools and defence systems that our bodies have for fighting disease. I have written several information sheets of things to avoid and alternatives but I do not wish to alarm you with more worries that you may have not even considered. Pick something that is achievable and appealing at first, that is a good enough place to start as we are all a work in progress.
Exercise –The Harvard Alumni society set up in the early 1960s to follow more than 17000 graduates of an average age of 46 when first recruited, reported that deaths from all causes were reduced by physical exercise. The amount of protection offered by vigorous exercise, as compared to not exercising, was the equivalent to the difference in the mortality rate between non-smokers and those who smoke 20 cigarettes a day. Exercise moves your lymphatic system to excrete toxins, tones your muscles including your heart muscles and raises your mood. Researchers at Duke University studied people suffering from depression for 4 months and found that 60% of the participants who exercised for 30 minutes three times a week overcame their depression without using antidepressant medication. Another study found that short workouts of 8 minutes in length could help lower sadness, tension and anger along with improving resistance to disease in healthy people. Many people exercise to boost confidence along with reducing anxiety and stress, all of which contribute to psychological health and well-being. Work your core muscles too (of the trunk, front and back) these support all of your body and use free weights, they are better than machines.
Mind/ emotional status-
Hope is what Drs and alternative practitioners need to provide as no scientist, no matter how learned, can predict how a given patient will respond to the challenge of illness and healing. Many a magazine or friend will tell you about miracles that have happened against all odds for people dying of various ailments and the common factor is often hope and a positive attitude.
If you feel stuck with a particular emotion like anger, guilt, regret, grief or fear then seek help, there are so many good therapies out there to help you get a better balance.
Spirit-
Illness remains one of the leading mysteries in life, ‘Why does it happen to me? What did I do wrong, what do I need to change, and with some illnesses – Will I live through it?’
Some of the following pages may well give you ideas of areas to address in your life but at some point you need to get past the questions and focus on your healing in the present time. Many people turn to the comfort of faith in divine guidance, they let go of their questions and give them over to ‘the divine’ or whoever that might be for you. The spirit needs nourishment to heal just as the mind and body do, so try to inspire yourself through the stories and wisdom of others who have changed their lives. Read the tales of the Hasidim, explore the Kabbalah, the Sufi parables, poetry of Rumi the biographies of Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa or Gandhi amongst many (I enjoyed Soul on the Street by William Roache of Coronation Street fame who had a lovely slant on life, death and spirituality). Go to your local library and see what finds you!!
As you absorb truths and stories that nourish the spirit, you will feel energy released within you, some people call this energy ‘Grace’. It can fill you with the perception that there is nothing you cannot handle and that all will be well no matter the outcome.
Diet-
Everything in moderation, try to avoid overly processed foods with no nutritional value, full of sugars, hydrogenated fats, salts, preservatives and flavour enhancers ( E Nos). Eat wholegrain, fresh and where possible organic. Drink plenty of filtered water, not too much meat (for the environment as well as your digestion) and include fibre to ensure that your body can pass a daily motion to avoid a build up of toxins. Reduce your intake of refined carbohydrates (foods made with refined white sugar and flour) that are stressful on your body to digest and provide little benefit. Eat little and often to stabilize blood sugar levels and mood. Rotate your protein sources to minimize your exposure to chemicals found in fish (mercury and industrial waste from polluted waters), nitrates are carcinogenic and found in sausages, bacon and smoked meats and pork often contains parasites. Barbequed mixed grill anyone? - not too burnt as that can be carcinogenic too!
Transfats produced by hydrogenation (look out for hydrogenated fats/ oils on the ingredients list on pastry, cakes, pre-prepared foods) raise levels of low density lipoprotein LDL or bad cholesterol. These types of foods also lower HDL or good cholesterol leading to greater risks of heart disease and stroke.
Source J Am Coll Nutr, 1996; 15;325-39.
A moderate amount of saturated fats from good sources such as live whole milk (not pasteurised) or organic butter may help prevent heart disease, osteoporosis and even cancer (read ‘Trick and Treat’ by Barry Groves who promotes a low carbohydrate way of eating and exposes many of our myths about healthy eating including low fat, high carbohydrate ‘healthy’ convenience foods that he feels contribute to our poor health).
Source J Intern Med, 2005:258; 153-65.
Sleep -
Get seven good hours of sleep a night. In a Spanish study, people who slept significantly more or less than seven hours were overweight or even obese. It was worse for people on five hours or less or nine hours and more and can also be linked to increased risk of diabetes as sleep deprivation alters hormone levels and the secretion response to insulin from metabolizing carbohydrates.
Source Am J Clin nutr, 2008; 87; 310-6.
It is important that we stop working one hour before bedtime to avoid over stimulating the mind and ensure that the bedroom is dark, well ventilated and free from electrical equipment that might be creating electromagnetic fields that disturb your peace.
Breathe through your nose, the Buteyko method may help as can yoga.
Fever and medications –
Fever is the body’s natural way of killing disease and taking medication to suppress your symptoms of disease merely moves it to another part of your body. In fact there have been studies using infrared energy and far infrared energy-FIR (different wavelength of energy found in sun rays). These studies used FIR sauna thermal treatments in 25 men of average age 38 with at least one coronary risk factor such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol or smoking and found that after two weeks their blood flow and blood vessel dilation had significantly improved.
Source; J Am Coll Cardiol, 2001; 38; 1083-8.
Our bodies know what they are doing when they create a fever, don’t interfere with the process.
Certain medications are over prescribed and should be limited where possible as their long term use affects the liver, your mood, your digestion and can lead to other problems such as the link between steroids and osteoporosis, the pill contraceptive and cancer in later life. Look for alternatives, take responsibility for what goes into your body and do your own research.
Before you vaccinate look up www.informedparent.co.uk, www.wddty.com and www.jabs.org.uk, look at both arguments
Get enough vitamin D - from sunshine without sunscreen (15- 20 minutes per day) and supplementation. People who regularly supplement with vit D increase their longevity and gain natural protection against most cancers. It may also boost immunity, and protect against a range of diseases including heart disease. Around one third of the general population is vit D deficient which is found in milk, yoghurt, eggs, fatty fish and yeast. The body naturally produces it when exposed to sunlight but in the UK our sun is not strong enough from October to April. For those who do not get enough, supplement with 400- 1000 IU (international units) of vit D3 (the natural form). Children especially need vit D to grow healthy bones. Deficiency signs are joint pain, stiffness, muscle cramps and tooth decay.
Source Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2008; 162;538-43. Curr Med Res Opin, 2008;24;139-49.
Stress and stimulants-
Foods can stress your body as well as caffeine, alcohol and hot spices that load up your liver and adrenals. Poor filtering by the liver leads to a build up of toxins in your blood stream resulting in possible damage to other parts of your body, not to mention poor energy and immunity against colds and viruses. Try to eat when you are calm, chew your food well and drink 30 minutes away from meals to avoid drowning your digestive enzymes allowing only partial digestion to occur.
If you are stressed through work, family, relationships or just life and need help in dealing with this then ask a professional or friend for their suggestions. Life is said to be 80% about how we take it which starts with calming the mind and learning to listen to our inner voice/ intuition dealing with this moment here and now, the future is for another time.
Cultivate a ready ability to empathize and forgive.
Find your tribe - Isolation is stressful. If you don’t have a close family, then assemble one through church, work or leisure, meet and share regularly.
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