Monday 26 March 2018

Eight laws of health that could change your life forever!
Written by Valdi Swart          

(Inspired by and based on the Health Survival 2000 DVD series by Dr. Gary Martin)

Did you know that disease is not something that happens randomly or by accident? To a large extent disease is the result of the violation of one (or usually several) of a few very basic health laws. Our bodies were designed to heal themselves given the right conditions. If we adhere to a few simple principles, these conditions can be created and balanced and restored in our bodies.

The eight health laws are by no means a new concept. Quite the contrary. In 1905 a lady called Ellen G. White wrote a book called The Ministry of Healing wherein she explained these laws or principles in depth. She believed that disease was an effort of nature to try and rid the body of harmful things. Two of the main causes of disease are toxicity and nutritional deficiency. In our modern world we get exposed to so many toxins and generally speaking our Western diet is nothing but a recipe for disaster.

As is the case with any law of nature, there are certain consequences when we break the eight laws of health. These consequences are evident in the disease-ridden world we live in. The GOOD news? Many diseases and even serious conditions can be reversed by bringing the body back into balance. So, take heart – it is never too late to make a few adjustments and get your health back on track! Let’s have a closer look at the eight health laws that can bring back your zest for life.

1. FRESH AIR AND VENTILATION


This seems so basic, right? Yet there are very few people who get enough oxygen on any given day. The concentration of oxygen in the air we breathe has dramatically decreased over the past few decades. Also, people simply don’t breathe deeply enough. Many of us sit behind desks and take shallow breaths throughout the day. To make matters worse, we sit in air-conditioned offices and the air we breathe is anything but fresh.

Our bodies are craving oxygen!

We need to make breathing a priority as proper breathing helps the body’s elimination system get rid of toxins. You are helping your heart and liver when you breathe deeply. Deep breathing will also reduce your stress levels, improve your mental outlook, assist in concentration, promote better blood flow, aid in better sleep and increase your energy levels. It has a calming and relaxing effect on the body, so fill up your lungs!

Tips:
  • ·     Keep windows and doors open to ensure good ventilation.
  • ·     Start your day by taking 10 deep breaths before you get out of bed.
  • ·    Practise lateral breathing, i.e. fill up your lungs to the sides and the back of the ribcage by inhaling deeply through your nose and opening the back of the throat. Then slowly blow out all the air through your mouth.
  • ·     Be mindful to breathe deeply during the course of the day.
  • ·     Leave a window open in the winter and cover yourself with an extra blanket.
  • ·     Switch off the aircon and open the windows!


2. SUNLIGHT


You need at least 20 minutes of sunshine on both arms each day. Sunlight converts a body hormone into an essential nutrient like vitamin D3, which plays an important role in the absorption of calcium and in maintaining good bone health. Vitamin D also supports the immune system and has anti-cancer properties. An hour in the sun is even better and the more of your body you expose to the sun, the better. Obviously we are talking about early mornings (7:00 – 9:00) or late afternoons (16:00 – 17:00) and not when the sun is scorching hot. (NB: Don’t cover yourself in sunblock for your sun bathe and don’t burn.) So, get your booty outside and bask in nature’s healing rays!

3.  ABSTEMIOUSNESS

This refers to abstaining from harmful things and using temperance in the good things. Harmful things include things that pollute the blood and cause an imbalance in the metabolism. Tobacco, alcohol, too much caffeine, as well as unhealthy foods like hydrogenated fats, refined starches and sugar fall into this category. So too are pesticides, cleaning and beauty products containing harmful chemicals, etc.

Good things that should be used in moderation include fruits, which contain fructose – a good sugar – but one that can nevertheless be harmful if ingested in high quantities (causes inflammation and can raise uric acid).

The author of The Ministry of Healing adds to this: “Regularity in eating should be carefully observed.”  Dr Steven Gunn, Chief Medical Officer and Integrative Medicine Physician at ALTMEDCARE International Clinics recommends not to eat unhealthy snacks between your meals and to eat regular healthy meals, but eat when you are hungry and not according to the clock. Similarly, stop eating when you feel satiated.  Do not over eat, that is, until your plate is clear.  Drink water at least one hour before a meal or two hours after a meal, not with a meal, which dilutes the digestive enzymes.  (Note: Good nutrition is crucial in all your meals!)

There are studies that support Ellen Whites belief that you only slow down the process of metabolising your food properly each time you eat something between meals. It takes three to four hours for food to exit the stomach and up to twelve hours for the food to be digested therefore constantly eating between meals will result in the process having to start all over again. 

4. REST

Seven to eight hours of sleep is the optimum amount for an adult, but people who get a lot of pre-midnight sleep live the longest, according to Dr. Gary Martin, naturopath and co-founder of Living Valley Springs in Australia.

The body can only produce the sleep hormone melatonin when no light is entering the eyes, and the body cannot produce melatonin after midnight. Therefore the more hours you sleep before midnight, the better you will rest.

Also remember that your body will only start producing this sleep hormone after you have switched off the lights (and phones, Tablets, IPads, etc.). It is healthier to go to bed early and get up early than to go to bed late and get up late. Blackout curtains and switching off all lights can greatly improve your melatonin levels and therefore your sleep.

5. EXERCISE

You need at least 40 minutes of brisk movement per day. This does not necessarily have to be a hard-core workout in the gym, but can be as simple as walking, swimming or gardening. Get your heart rate up and your blood pumping! (You can also look into the benefits of Pilates as a form of exercise.)

6. PROPER DIET

According to Dr. Martin our diet should consist of 70% raw foods: veggies, fruits, nuts, etc.

We should avoid white bread and refined foods like pasta (Prof. Tim Noakes from The Real Meal Revolution calls pasta quite aptly a “non-food”), as well as hydrogenated fats like margarine (a “plastic fat”) and processed foods. Use moderation when eating red meat and remember that game is the healthiest red meat option available (think free range, no routine antibiotics, no growth hormones and much less fat).

We need to stick as close to nature as possible by eating whole foods in their original form. Our diet should include legumes and good fats like olive oil, coconut oil and omega 3 oils found in fish, flaxseed and walnuts. We should avoid sugar and sugary drinks and opt for healthy beverages like herbal teas instead. Let your food be your medicine! (I will discuss diet in much more detail in a later blog post.)

7.  WATER

The body of an adult human being contains about 70% water. Our bodies need water to function properly. Dehydration may be one of the main causes of toxic damage leading to cancer and many other diseases. When you don’t take in enough water, your body cannot flush out the toxins from your system. Have you ever tried washing your car with coffee, soda or fruit juice? Yep, the same is true for your body. It simply won’t work.

You need two to three litres of good, clean, high-quality purified with mineral or natural spring water over and above any other beverages you may consume during the day, (also depends on your level of work activity and environmental temperature).

Drinking alkaline water is even better. Water with a pH of 7.5 – 8.5 can help neutralise acid in the bloodstream. An acidic body will make you more susceptible to chronic inflammation, cancer, oxidation in the body, excess free calcium and numerous other health problems.

There are quick and easy ways to make your own alkaline water:
  • Add fresh lemon to your drinking water. You can mash the lemon to a pulp, peel and all, or just squeeze out the juice if you’re not particularly fond of the slightly bitter taste of lemon zest. Three lemons per day are excellent for your pH levels!
  • You can make your own Sole water by making a saturated Himalayan salt and water mixture and then adding a few drops of this mixture to your drinking water.


8.  TRUST IN DIVINE POWER

Our mental health plays a very important role in our physical well-being. When we trust in God we receive strength from above. Our attitude also has a significant impact on our health. Dr. Caroline Leaf and Dr. Michelle Strydom share this belief with author Ellen White. On the cover of her book, Healing begins with sanctification of the heart, Strydom asserts that “87-95% of all diseases have been traced back to what goes on in our thought life!” She states that forgiveness is a necessity for healing and argues that fear, jealousy, envy, rejection, self-hatred and a host of other negative emotions are the root causes of numerous diseases. We need to have a close look at our hearts and – with God’s help – deal with any sickness that may be lurking there.

So there you have it. Begin with the basics and you will be amazed by the results. There is no time like the present to make a U-turn and start your journey towards a healthy mind, body and soul.

Be blessed!  Be healthy! Be prosperous!

     

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