It looks like health is becoming more and more of an issue nowadays. While we are the most medicalized culture in the history of humanity, we are also the sickest. We are constantly being bombarded about health and about what being healthy is or is not. But do we really know what health is? Do we even know our own body? Whether you answered yes or no to those questions, you might want to know that health can be simple… if we understand some basics about how our body works.

First of all, the body needs some essential nutrients, without them, it cannot do the work of growing and repairing itself. Without these basic nutrients, we will be headed down the road of degenerative disease, which is simply the body falling apart for lack of raw materials to build itself. Just like a car that doesn’t have the right maintenance would stop working . Ironically, most of us know more about how our car works than how our own body works.

Fortunately , we can reverse the process of degeneration with a little bit of diligence on our part. In simple terms, the body needs protein, fats, vitamins and minerals, all of which work together as a team. Deficiency in one of them can cause the rest to not work properly. So let’s break it down.

First, protein is so essential to the body that our need for it is hard wired in our brain, meaning, if we don’t get enough, or good quality or our body cannot digest it, our brain is going to send us on an unstoppable quest for food which will manifest in the form of uncontrollable cravings. Now, if our purpose is to take control of our body so we can be in control of our health , this situation doesn’t look very appropriate, does it?. Specifically, our bodies need around 1/2 a gram to 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight. You do the math, but above all , pay attention to your body as you give it the protein it needs, because once the body gets what it needs the brain will send signals of satiety to the body. Only when this happens will you be able to avoid the millions of food temptations in the TV commercials, the food smelling malls and the new pizza flavors and combinations that will not only wreck your appetite but your health as well.

Second , but not less important is fat. Like with protein, our need for fats is hard wired in our brain. High quality fat is essential, we will go into details in the next blogs, but for now you need to know that EFA’s (essential fatty acids) are, like the name says, “essential”. Your brain is fat and each of the 100 trillion cells in your body has an outer membrane that is made of fat. What is more, deficiencies in EFA’s are associated with a long list of health problems including skin issues, degenerative disease, impaired mental health and heart pathology to name just a few. There are many products in the market , so it can be confusing, but the ones I recommend are ‘Udo’s blend’, which you can find here http://udoerasmus.com/products/oil_blend_en.htm, Youngevity’s ‘EFA Plus’ http://pharmacistben.com/youngevity/ or BiOptimizer’s ‘Protein Breakthrough’, which will also give you 17 grams of protein in every serving, more than 8 grams of fiber, and 3.7 grams of essential fatty acids. You can find it here:https://www.proteinbreakthrough.com/ordering/orderpage.php?a_aid=lifeforce&a_bid=7ec1292a or https://bioptimizers.com/?a_aid=lifeforce
Any of these three products will give you quality nutrition. Make sure you keep the oils in the refrigerator and away from sunlight to keep them fresh, and never consume an oil that smells rancid. Also, make sure your body is being able to digest the oils. Nowadays it is not uncommon to have digestive disorders, and since fats can be tricky to absorb, you need to make sure your body is able to digest them and assimilate them. You will know you have problems digesting fats if they give you digestive discomfort like nausea, or even headaches, or you ‘burp’ the oil. This is a sign of mal absorption, which can create more problems than benefits. If this is the case, get some digestive enzymes, lecithin and/or bile salts and take the fats with food instead of an empty stomach. Also, drinking some apple cider vinegar at the end of meals will help with absorption.

Third, vitamins and minerals. Both of them work together and deficiencies can create havoc in our health. We will go into more detail in the weeks ahead, but for now you need to know that the body needs a constant flow of both, specially the water soluble vitamins (B and C) which are excreted from the body when we urinate. So it is a good idea to replenish them afterwards, this will ensure you are not running low on a daily basis. The ones I recommend are Youngevity’s ‘Beyond Tangy Tangerine’, you can find it here: http://pharmacistben.com/youngevity/ or BiOptimizers ‘Primergen V’ and ‘Primergen M’ which you can find here : https://bioptimizers.com/?a_aid=lifeforce Either of them are high quality supplements in liquid form which makes them highly absorbable by the body as opposed to pills.

Forth, water. A big glass of clean water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach will give you unbelievable energy, plus, it will dilute blood sugar if you have elevated blood sugar. Water is essential to health mainly because our body is mostly water. This is why good quality water, without chemicals and pollutants, is essential. You might want to check your city’s/town’s water analysis report to know about toxic overload, but mostly all tap water is high in contaminants. A good water filter is a good idea and although it might require a small monetary investment, it is well worth it. Either this, or you may want to move to the Hunza Valley in Pakistan, whose mineral-rich clean glacier water irrigates the crops all year long, allowing the food to be so high in nutritional value that their inhabitants live to be more than 100 years old, they have no sickness, no jails, no hospitals and even the trees live to be over 100 years old! How do you like that ?!

Fifth, deep breathing. Breathing right is such an easy, quick and un expensive way to regain our health that it cannot be overlooked. It can be done any time of the day, specially when you want to relax and slow down your heart beat. To do it , inhale from the nose as you feel your chest go up. Do it for as long as you can , 10 seconds or so, then exhale with force from your nose for 10-11 seconds as your belly goes up. Don’t worry if you can’t do it this long at the beginning, but make sure you practice this on a regular basis, specially the exhale, as that is when the body releases carbon dioxide. This kind of deep breathing will also move the lymphatic system as the movement of the chest pushes the blood forward and backward. Take time during your day to do deep breathing and learn to relax, you would not believe how this single thing can help you feel better and add years to your life!

Sixth, exercise. Eating a high protein diet without exercising can elevate your blood sugar. According to 3-time Canadian Natural Bodybuilding Champion Wade Lightheart, we all need exercise, our bodies are made to move. You don’t have to do long strenuous exercise, which would be counterproductive, all you need is 10 minutes of your day and a rebounder. According to Wade, this is the best exercise there is. Rebounding moves the lymphatic system so the blood can circulate properly and it also moves the 100 trillion cells in your body, plus, it is easier on the joints than running on a hard surface. You will feel great after moving your body and everybody can do it.

Last but not least, good attitude. Attitude can be everything. Even in sickness we can choose to have a positive attitude. A good attitude can release chemicals of well being in the body. If you don’t believe me try smiling! It is a proven fact that the physical act of smiling will make you feel better!

To sum up, we can take our health in our own hands. Knowing how our bodies work is an essential first step , then knowing what we put in our bodies. If this is overwhelming to you at the beginning, go step by step. Incorporate one thing at a time and see how your body responds. Remember, our bodies are very wise and they talk to us constantly. Let’s learn to listen to our body.

Thanks for reading. Till next time.