PUTTING HEALTH IN PERSPECTIVE

In recent years we have become aware of terms such as the immune system, vitamins, micronutrients, nutrition, bio-rhythms and their values in our health. We have come to know about a host of different diets, foods and their ever changing "predicted" benefits or harmful effects to our health. We are being constantly bombarded by an influx of promises about some "new miracle" drug or cure for such conditions as Cancer, Aids, Multiple Sclerosis, Asthma, Anxiety, Chronic Heart Disease, Depression, right down to the common Cold and Flu. Most of them have been proved unsuccessful, short lived or never coming to fruition. In addition there has been an enormous technological advancement in medicine and despite all that, it has now, more or less, been recognised that our current methods of treating major diseases are not working or being effective in a way that one may rely entirely upon them. Saying all this where does it exactly lead us?.. who or what should we believe?...what is health and well being and how can we maintain it?...is disease an opportunist that suddenly jumps indiscriminately onto some unaware soul? it is now clear that society has become overwhelmed with so much controversial information. What is true?... what is right?...

Some scientists would have us believe that disease is a natural progress that comes with the aging or as a genetic package and that our health depends largely upon drugs such as sleeping pills, antibiotics, vaccinations, anti-depressants, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety agents, or practices such as radiation treatments, chemotherapy, prophylactic surgical removal of certain parts of our bodies, (hysterectomy, radical mastectomy, prostatectomy, back surgery for slipped disc, appendectomy and cholecystectomy).

Other practitioners would lead us into a maze of dependency in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, a host of stringent diets and homoeopathic or herbal formulas. While so-me of these procedures may carry weight in a few rare and extreme cases or in a series of laboratory tests and experiments, it is certainly not always the case with all of us.

Health is a state of equilibrium. It is an orderly functioning of all our organs and systems of our body as well as the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of ourselves. Certainly something that is hard earned and with much of it depending on how we apply ourselves in our day to day living. It is a harvest of a crop. A result of a definite seed sowing.

Disease (the lack of ease and harmony) never comes without a cause. Often the way to disease is paved by a long term disregard of the natural laws and their many warning sings, until finally we reach "the limit of tolerance...."

Some of the most common causes of disease are:

• Continual exposure to ‘stress' by poorly defining our goals.
• Numerous unfinished issues in our lives, whether social, economical or family matters.
• Extreme calorie and fat restricted, or over consumption diets.
• Tin can, on the run microwave meals, drive through or take away fast foods.
• Lack of rest, exercise, recreation and meditation (the dictionary term for engaging in thought reflecting into one's life and its many issues).
• Harbouring onto anger, resentment, bitterness and unforgiveness are all definite recipes for ill-health.

Any symptoms such as sluggishness, lethargy, hyperactivity, continual head-aches, insomnia, mood swings, aches in muscles and joints, discoloured tongue, bad breath, hair loss, over weight or under weight, chronic fatigue and frequent colds, to name only a few, are all signs of an undermined and overloaded organism "knocking on the door" to awaken our "spirit" and put us back on the path of harmony. However, if medical assistance is sought at this times chances are that doctors, whether mainstream or not, will prescribe a myriad of different medicines. And when all else fails, they may resort to a "specialist," furthering distress and anxiety, without ever addressing the actual cause of the disease. Alternatively patients are simply sent home reassured that all is right. Subsequently, precious time runs out while the ever worsening symptoms are "happily" ignored. There hasn't been one to a few cases of negligence in which people have been complaining for years having 'under the weather' feelings that don't fit in one particular fixed illness classification (nominalisation) and that have been sent away only later in time to get struck down with a chronically debilitating group of new symptoms requiring now massive amounts of effort in order to bring about restoration and balance. "Every drop of prevention is an ounce of cure."

If diminished personal power and awareness over your life and health don't fit your picture, here are some principles that will lead towards a healthy life style:

• Don't be satisfied with half answers. You owe it to yourself to question and test everything that anyone tells you until it makes sense. If it is true it will feel right, give you a sense of peace, liberate you and lead you on your path towards recovery. "The truth shall set you free"
• Remember that the people you are seeking help from, are also restricted by human limitations. Seek answers from within you. However, if you do choose to seek advice and counsel don't settle just for anyone. Use wisdom. If your physician is not a picture of health, integrity and genuine care, he will not be of any help. You may recall the famous maxim by Plato "physician heal thyself". How can anyone help someone else if he cannot help himself first?
• Don't use (if possible) any drugs to mask the symptoms. You need to develop a clear picture of the disease and your body's response to it in order to effectively remove the true cause. Drugs do not cure. They only relieve symptoms and suppress the organism from healing. "Fine tune and listen to your needs. Nobody knows what is going on within you better than your-self."
• Find time daily to be spent in reflection and relaxation, even if that is only for a few minutes. Disciplining your mind and body through light stretching and correct, deep abdominal breathing exercises will help you develop awareness and focus.
• Over worrying is one of health's worst enemies and never accomplishes anything. Try to look at things objectively and re-member that there is no "stressful" situation. It is only the way we deal with it that creates "stress". Love, faith and hope are certain antidotes to fear, worry and stress.
• What, when and how you eat and drink, will also determine your state of health. Conscious living requires conscious eating. "Let food be your medicine and medicine your food." Hippocrates. Ancient Greek physician.

In order to meet the essence of the above axiom, we must sieve through all the jargon and puzzle of our contemporary diets and break away from myths revolving around food and nutrition.

For instance :

• "Eating a large breakfast is good for you..." WRONG. The body eliminates in the morning and the energy that you use and need that day is from what was eaten (and assimilated) on the night before. No one breaks a fast (breakfast) successfully on bacon and eggs.
• "You need to drink large amounts of milk in order to get the daily requirements of calcium...." WRONG. Most milk in the market is providing you with nothing more than a host of allergens, except when it is raw, unhomogenized, unpasteurized and in its fermented state (kefir, quark and butter milk.) You can get the calcium requirements from fresh leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains and of course from quality bio-dynamic diary.
• "Fat restricted diets are good for you..." WRONG. What you need to do is to keep away from deep fried oils, chemically altered hydrogenated vegetable fats (margarines) and butters that contain colourings, salts and preservatives. Fat contains several essential nutrients, fatty acids and enzymes necessary for our health. Fat in milk is essential for calcium absorption. Good sources of fat are cold pressed virgin olive oil, raw butter, avocados, flax seed, sun-flower and sesame seed oil.
• "You need to eat meat to get the daily requirements of iron and protein...." WRONG. Iron is found in green and purple leafy vegetables and protein is synthesised from amino acids (building blocks of protein) found in all foods and in the organism. Meat seats in the intestinal track for up to three days causing putrefaction and many other troubles. It contains cholesterol, saturated fats, is acid forming, is devoid of fibre and increases the likelihood of toxicity in the body.
• "Salt restricted diet is good for you..." While this may be true about our commercial table salt, certainly it is not true for hand harvested sea salt which has similar benefits to those of vitamin C, E and many other nutrients. Finally, a good diet implies not over eating or eating between meals. One of the most important factors is that the food is eaten fresh so that the organism can assimilate it, that means it is bio-available. Generally 50 to 80% of meals must be raw and organic whenever possible. Studies reveal that common organic products have twice as much the nutritional content than ordinary super market products. Below, there is a brief outline of healthy eating habits:
• For breakfast have seasonal fruit, fruit juices, honey, bee pollen and small amounts of non-commercial cereal.
• Lunch: variety of vegetable juices, light soups, salads, small amounts of wholesome yeast-free breads, seeds, nuts and biological yoghurts.
• Dinner can be larger consisting of grains, (pasta, rice ,couscous, or freekeh) seeds, nuts, legumes, pulses and vegetables cooked in variable ways. Salads, fresh cheeses (ricotta, fetta, haloumi), small amounts of mature cheeses (pecorino, kasseri or parmesan) and yeast-free wholesome breads can accompany the meals.

There are many good quality vegetarian cook books in the markets that will help you get ideas and a variety of cooking tips.

SUMMARY

Health is a state of being and is a result of the constant attention and nurturing of our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs. Disease does not attack randomly and indiscriminately. Disciplining our mind, body and soul through daily sessions of yoga or other effective exercise forms, as well as meditation, reflexion and relaxation is of enormous importance to remain focused and at ease.

Food must be used as our fuel and medicine. Any foods that have no nutritional and therapeutic values should be thrown away and not in our stomach. Make sure you always satisfy your thirst with pure water or fresh juices and not with any type of carbonated, chemical cocktail. Use only quality unrefined, bio-dynamic and organic foods. Resting the digestive system, by going on a juice diet every now and then, is very beneficial. Suffices to say that educating and familiarising ourselves with our body, its function and needs is of a paramount importance in establishing good health. Lastly remember that prevention is easier than cure and that the quality of our health depends on us.

"LET FOOD BE YOUR MEDICINE AND MEDICINE YOUR FOOD"