Keeping our body (and those of our family) healthy is one of our key responsibilities and yet it is one which, in this modern age of drugs, surgery and medical experts, is most readily shirked.
Doctors will talk of patients who come to them with chronic complaints that can be cured merely with a change of lifestyle. The patient either looks at them aghast or pretends they will make the changes and then goes somewhere else. They want a quick cure (probably to do with drugs) which will enable them to continue in the same unhealthy lifestyle without feeling the natural consequences.
No one will deny there is a place for drugs and surgery, and that certain diseases of the body are genetic or just bad luck. However, current research suggests that the role of genetics in any disease is no more than 50% at most. In other words, two people may have a predisposition towards a specific illness, but only one develops it because of the environmental factors in each case. (BTW: that environment includes development whilst still in the uterus.)
A lot of research has gone into how we can have a strong immune system. Here is a list of things that have been found to cause the most damage:
Exposure to toxic chemicals - buy organic food where possible or grow your own. Choose cleaners and other household goods with great care. Eartheasy have good ideas for non toxic cleaning materials and other ways to live a chemical free life. Sleep deprivation - study after study shows that lack of sleep cripples your immune system as well as increases your risk of heart disease, hormonal problems and early aging. Constant stress - chronic stress lowers your ability to produce antibodies and depletes your white blood cells, leaving you open to all sorts of infections and cancer cells. Stress can be caused by your attitude to life, a stressful lifestyle or by life events. A negative outlook - in one study cancer patients who completed a course designed to make them more optimistic were found to have stronger immune systems than those who maintained a bleak outlook. Clearly it's important for our health to remain cheerful. A sedentary lifestyle - one study found that the inactive took twice as many days off sick as those who went for a regular walk. Moderate exercise is the key, and this is a lifestyle choice: for example, walking instead of taking the car, going up the stairs instead of taking the lift etc. (NB: moderate exercise has also been found to help with PMS.) Social isolation - studies have shown that the lonely get sick more often, are more anxious and die younger. Human touch and interaction are very important. Contact that is not physical (e.g. email or over the internet) is not good enough. It is important to have warm family relations, strong bonds with work colleagues or close friends that we see on a regular basis. Studies have also shown that getting out of the house and into the community is important: those who attend cultural events, sporting events or worship regularly at church live longer than the hermits amongst us. (Although relationships with those who make you feel bad or cause stress do more harm than good.) Junk food - junk food is high on fat, sugar and salt, all of which, in excess, are damaging to your health and immunity. Also, your body needs vitamins and minerals it doesn't get from burgers and french fries. Excessive alcohol - the jury is out on whether alcohol in moderation (e.g. a glass of wine a day) can improve your health, but without doubt drinking to excess greatly increases the chance of serious infections and cancer, as well as a long list of other health problems. At most, women should stick to no more than 2 units a day and men to 3 units. (A unit is approx a small glass of wine or half a pint of lager.) Overusing antibiotics - without doubt antibiotics saved millions of lives in the twentieth century. Now, however, we are finding bacteria that has become resistant because we have over-used the miracle drug. If you use antibiotics too frequently, you will become more resistant to them, and your body more open to infection. Only take antibiotics for bacterial infections, never for a virus. (The quickest cure for most virus infections is plenty of rest.) Don't use them to prevent infection. Limit antibacterial soap and cleaning products in your home. Eat organic meat to avoid ingesting the antibiotics that are often used as a matter of course on farm animals. Poor hygiene - if you don't wash your hands after visiting the toilet, or before preparing or eating food, after changing a baby's nappy or stroking animals you will greatly increase your chance of succumbing to that virus or bacteria in the first place. Recommended reading: many of these tips can be found in an excellent book called The Immune Advantage.
An excellent article Buffy. I've read a lot myself... and find most everything you've said to be true. Personally, we do have a great deal to do with our health and longevity. I think genetics do play some role, but not like the mainstream would like us to believe. :~D
Posted by: e-Mom | 04 July 2009 at 06:11 AM
SLEEP - I could use some of that.
Posted by: Vascustatin | 16 July 2009 at 05:09 PM