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Real Health vs Western Medicine
In response to the article “The Healthiest Old Person on the Planet.”
Real health lies in optimising the vastly under-utilized, yet essential and natural areas of diet and fitness, not western medicine, which should ideally be reserved primarily for dealing with circumstances of last resort, and less as a system of sustaining chronic illness. There is a significant lack of interest in implementing preventive lifestyle measures in public health and correcting the overall physical robustness of the population.
I’ve worked on my diet, worked on getting as functionally fit as possible, worked on correcting my posture, worked on correcting psychological issues, and worked on improving the quality of my social circle and environment over the last few years, among other things. I recently had an eye test, my eyesight has improved slightly. I look as young or younger than I did ten years ago. I am a superior being to what I was before.
In our most basic state, we are merely animals with opposable thumbs and slightly thicker cerebral cortexes; we must respect our primitive nature, and connection to nature, in order to maximise our potential. The key factors essential to our health, at the centre of our primitive nature, is how we connect to our sources of food, and the mobility of our physical bodies.
#Health #diet #fitness #ageing #westernmedicine #preventivehealth#personaldevelopment #selfimprovement
THE PRECISION-ENGINEERED BREAKFAST
(From my Facebook Fitness page – https://www.facebook.com/ByronLeePT)
Good morning all.
This is my standard breakfast, and my favourite meal of the day (I like to wake up and be excited to have breakfast):
Oats, psyllium husk, peanut butter (full fat), greek yoghurt (full fat), honey, blueberries.
Black coffee is optional (depending on your opinion on the benefits of coffee, timing of coffee during the day etc.)
I would also suggest adding a glass of water.
This breakfast should theoretically provide:
– high energy with low GI
– balanced macronutrient profile (carbs, natural fats, natural protein)
– satiety to keep you full through the morning
– micronutrients
– antioxidants
– fibre, probiotics
*As a fitness trainer and former medical practitioner with no formal dietary education, I am required to inform you that these ideas represent my opinion only, and for definitive dietary advice you should seek the services of a professional registered dietician.
My Experience with SMR: Self Myofascial Release
Proper use of SMR has beneficial effects on mobility through two theoretical modes of action:
1) Mechanically allowing lengthening of fascial sheaths and muscle fibres through breaking down localised adhesions and contractures
2) Neurologically resetting the length-tension relationships of muscles and reducing the activation of the muscle stretch reflex.
SMR is not well understood by most gym goers but is beneficial if used regularly before and after workouts, or at any time of the day. It can be very useful specifically for postural correction, a common issue with modern office workers and students who spend their days hunched over a desk for hours.
There are a number of different foam rollers and trigger point balls available on the market at present. I would recommend starting with a less dense/firm roller and progressing to something more firm as your body adapts.
The roller pictured below appears intimidating but it is the highest density roller I have found, and I have worked up from softer ones to using this effectively!
SMR has been an instrumental tool in my scoliosis rehab and sporting endeavours, and helped me immensely in correction of muscular imbalances through regular daily use.
MORE ON SATURATED FAT
Great article on the historical basis of half a century of misleading dietary guidelines from the Wall Street Journal.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303678404579533760760481486?tesla=y
What I learned from this article was:
– how easily the general population can be influenced to believe whatever they are told
– how much power those in the know, have over those who aren’t
– how easily money, politics, egos and self-interest can lead to perpetuating falsehood as truth
– how easily scientific studies can be manupulated and promoted as gospel despite not being scientific
– how easily misleading ideas can be perpetuated through generations and through the population
Stay vigilant, do your own research, educate yourself, and ask the right questions for your sake and the community’s sake.
STAYING OUT OF HOSPITAL
This is in response to this article published on news.com.au
I always say, there are four main overarching reasons to end up in hospital, often a combination of these:
1) Elderly
2) Obesity
3) Foolish
4) Unlucky
Unfortunately for some, for whatever reasons (genetics, some unique circumstances or environmental exposure or who knows), they can do everything in their power and still get sick, like this poor man, who falls into the least common category of being exquisitely unlucky.
But the message here is not that we shouldn’t bother; because there are still plenty of other of ways in which we can end up in hospital, through aging poorly, eating poorly, gaining excessive weight and negatively affecting our body composition, or doing something stupid like getting addicted to drugs/alcohol/cigarettes or jumping off a roof while we’re drunk.
This man is in hospital by fate of misfortune; but his fellow hospital mates are there by their own design, and he is not impressed.
The point is, as expressed in the disgust this man has for his fellow patients: though on rare occasions sickness can’t be avoided, in the case of the 99.99999% of other reasons that it can be avoided, we should put in the effort and do the right things to stay out of the hospital. Because in the vast majority of the time it can be avoided, and thus we should not take our health for granted.
It is to the benefit of ourselves, and to our fellow man by the examples we set and the community resources we save by not ending up in hospital, that we do our best, within reason, to maintain as high a level of health as we can.
DJFlexure Music 