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!