Nutrition, Exercise, & some related factors
How Nutrition Fights Disease
The Real Truth about Sugar
 Instant Cal-Mag
More Information On CalMag
Nutrition, Exercise, & some related factors...
 Health Articles
Why would anyone want to observe a good diet and make sure their vitamin intake was adequate?

We could say “to be healthy”, “to feel good” and similar things. Let’s pick up on these two for now. It is not difficult to discover that morale and a general sense of well-being is promoted by achievement. And achievement, of course, is the end result of production or productive activities. It is just as easy to observe, if you know what you are looking for, that correct eating promotes not only mental alertness but also a feeling of physical well-being.

Nutritionists and those active and effective in the field of natural healing seem to share broadly the opinion that disease is not natural and does not “belong” to a body as such. Just look how little disease there is out in the wilds where animals pursue their natural diet. Yet it is common to believe that you “get laryngitis” or you “get diabetes” as if these things were lurking in the atmosphere and if you happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, then that’s it - you “get” it.

You'll then go to someone and tell him “I have a sore throat,” whereupon he will look down said throat with a suitable instrument and tell you, “Hmm, you have laryngitis”. He has actually told you in Latin the same thing you just told him in English. But the good news is there is a new trend now - they tell you have a blah-blah disorder. Substitute some disability for blah, blah, blah. Nutritionists have been helping people prevent and remedy a variety of these conditions for decades using data originated by research from the medical world (and then often ignored or neglected or even denied by some of the medical profession). Some traditional communities have avoided many disease conditions for centuries through nutrition base on observation.

And of course, many medicos do keep up with nutrition and do employ the principles of it liberally to maintain the health of those in their care. If you have one, cherish him.

Often you’ll be told to “take it easy” for a while.

But wait! How do you both “take it easy” and keep up your production? The answer is you don’t.

There is no denying that there are times when one needs a rest. But if you look around you in a society that is far from healthy, generally, you may also discover that it is far more common for people to under-exercise than over-exercise (both have their bad consequences of course). So we find a vastly wider difference in body shapes in humans than in any other species, even though people have somewhat of an agreement on what someone looks like when he or she “has a nice build” or a “nice figure”. Tie wild animals up or cage them and see how long it is before they start contracting diseases. Well, they are being fed what we think they should eat, on the one hand, and being denied their usual exercise on the other. Man is the only species, too, that tends to seek taste and pleasure from food. Far be it from me, however, to try and cure anyone of chocolate, but it might be wise to go for the taste after you have done your duty to your body on health for the day; and to try and find healthy things to eat that taste good - they do exist, despite jokes that everything enjoyable is illegal, fattening or immoral.

An anomaly of sorts, is the fact that you need more nutrition when you do more exercise; but they both make you feel better than when they are not present. This is yet another factor that trashes the whole RDA thing that food label writers seem to be so fond of. They are about as accurate as saying “all people should breathe”. Vitamin and mineral requirements are varied by age, body weight, gender, and yes! even by the amount of exercise you get. And then, as we have covered in some detail in previous news letters, a diet that seems adequate for someone can become markedly inadequate during times of stress - the re-quirements of some nutrients skyrocketing to several times that of normal.

The bottom line on this is, in a field I am involved in where metabolism is regularly tested, regular exercise, even of a very mild nature, is found to promote metabolism in almost every case where it is employed. Metabolism can be loosely described as efficiency of converting food into energy when needed. So the recommendation is, get some regular exercise and get your nutrition adequate and you will enjoy the benefits of it both in achievement and in well-being. Don't be too surprised if you find that your mood is much more even and that those around you respond with increased friendliness, which reduces the amount of stress and effort in getting many jobs done. This then leads to even more output.
How Nutrition Fights Disease
Doctors are being forced to recognise that diet can often do more than vaccines. A five-year-old girl in Sheffield contracts German measles; in days she recovers. A four-year-old boy in Bombay has measles, within weeks he is dead.

Why? The answer is simple: nutrition.

Any nutritionally unfit person takes longer to recover from ordinary illnesses and contracts them more readily. Although the source of disease may be a baterium or virus, it is nutritional state that determines whether these micro-organisms harm us or are thrown off once they have invaded our systems. Yet when have you ever been told by a doctor to improve your nutrition to strengthen your resistance? This enormously important aspect of the fight against disease is almost entirely ignored.

In general, infection, coupled with malnutrition, produces far more dangerous conditions than either affliction produces alone. Although such a fact seems only sensible, it is surprising that it has not really been understood.

Normally, we produce blood proteins called antibodies when foreign pathogens (disease-producing organisms) begin to harm us. Yet, a general lack of protein reduces antibody formation. Protein deficiency also shrinks the size of the live, spleen and lymphoid tissue, where defence cells called phagocytes orginate. Phagocytes are special white blood cells which engulf harmful particles and later leave our bodies through urination.

Generally malnourished children show reduced activity of lysozymes, substances normally present in phagocytes. Deficiency of pantothenic acid (a B-complex vitamin) diminishes the level of properdin, a plasma component analogous to antibodies.

To resist infectious agents, cell structures must be in good condition. It is therefore not surprising that infection develops more readily if you have skin lesions, dried up mucous membranes, pellagra, or spongy gums, all manifestations of vitamin A, B and C deficiencies. Diet controls hormones

Diet plays a role in maintaining proper functioning of the endocrine glands, which secrete hormones. It is generally accepted that some types of malnutrition alter the endocrine balance and as such might be a factor in the susceptibility to infection of physically and mentally retarded children, such as mongoloids

There is evidence that certain intestinal bacteria inhibit multiplication of pathogens. Yet, poor diet and drugs can destroy these healthful bacteria. In many cases, diarrhoea is only aggravated by "purgatives" which actually interfere with intestinal absorption of needed nutrients. Although drugs may have their place, such common therapies as penicillin are admitted antivitamins. Is this what we want when the doctor offers us antibiotics?

Infectious agents speed up our metabolism and increase our need for vital elements. For this reason, above-average losses of nitrogen, zinc, copper and iron are common. Our appetites may decrease so that we eat even fewer nutrients, notably protein. To compound matters, even the liquid or soft carbohydrates, which we probably rely upon instead, are often left undigested because infection destroys important enzymes. Infectious agents also compete for sugar in our systems; the result if often low blood glucose levels or hypoglycaemia. Liver stores of glycogen, which becomes glucose when needed for energy, are further lowered by infection.

Disease reduces pre-existing low vitamin and mineral levels. While vitamin A is not normally excreted, pneumonia and jaundice can cause undue losses of the vitamin through the urine. Infectious diarrhoea can cause loss of thiamine (vitamin B1), the deficiency of which can lead to severe beriberi. Infections designated as Diphyllobothrium latum can lead to vitamin B12 depletions, resulting in a blood disorder called megaloblastic anaemia. Disease also upsets mineral balances of sodium, potassium and chlorine. We, who are fortunate enough to be able to obtain adequate food, can start now to guard against sickness. Be sure to eat enough protein for adequate antibody formation, plus vitamin and mineral supplements for healthy nutritional status. Don't give infectious micro-organisms a chance to weaken you.
The Real Truth about Sugar
(Cause of adrenal exhaustion, hypoglycaemia and diabetes)
Many people believe that sugar is a wonder food that is not fattening nor harmful and that "sugar gives you energy, sugar gives you go".

However, the truth of the matter is that refined sugar (and carbohydrates) is one of the most dangerous of the modern "foods". Refined sugar - without its fibres and natural sugar - bypass the pancreas' function and sets the body up for disaster. The disaster occurs on such a gradient that most people are not even aware that it is occurring and put it down to ageing or the pressures of life. If our bodies were well taken care of, the pressures of life would be very easy to handle. Don't think that your forefathers had a less pressured life. They didn't. They had to contend with sick children with no adequate medical facilities, poor or no schooling, disease and no medical facilities, dangerous animals that could kill a child or even themselves, and so on.

How come they held up better under these circumstances than we do today with the medical and modern day technical expertise? The biggest difference is that there were no refined sugars or carbohydrates around and they ate food grown in good quality soil and usually picked fresh daily - there being no fridges etc to store food. Refined sugars were a relatively unknown commodity. Let's have a look at how the body copes with these sugars. First of all, what is blood sugar? Blood sugar is the body's fuel and, without it, the brain, nervous system and tissues of the body would not be able to function.

So, blood sugar is vitally important to stay alive. How does the body keep the blood sugar at an optimum level?

There are two sets of glands that play a very significant role in the regulation of our blood sugar levels:

1. The pancreas: releases insulin into the blood stream and, through various processes, brings about a lowering in the level of the blood sugar.

2. The adrenal glands (two small glands just above the kidneys): secrete adrenalin into the blood stream and, through various processes, bring about an elevation in blood sugar levels. When we ingest refined sugars (or carbohydrates) there is no associated fibre present to absorb the sugar so a full blast of sugar hits the blood stream resulting in a totally unnatural elevation in blood sugar levels. We feel a surge of energy - for a while - and then bam! it shoots out the bottom and we need another "fix". Here is what happens in the body:

The sugar hits the blood stream, shooting the blood sugar levels way above normal. The pancreas, sensing danger, starts pumping insulin into the blood stream in a frantic effort to get it down. If the pancreas can't bring it down, one can go into a coma and die, so it has a very important function and takes it rather seriously.

It has now pumped huge quantities of insulin into the blood stream and now the blood sugar level just plummets way below normal. Some people get a horrible sick feeling, very irritated, moody, nauseous, palpitations, headaches, migraines, etc. These are some of the symptoms one could experience in varying degrees, depending on how often and how serious the situation is at that moment.

Now, for the next emergency. The adrenal glands, sensing danger, start to pump adrenalin into the blood stream in a frantic effort to raise the blood sugar level

Get the idea of holding your foot down on the accelerator of your car and gunning it into action every time you use it. You will eventually burn out the relevant parts and get them replaced. Fortunately, in cars this can be done and a car can perform like new again.

Bodies, however, are something else. You can't just put it into an engineering shop and get an engine overhaul. The body starts to pack up and ill health becomes the order of the day.

The average Westerner consumes between 35 and 43 teaspoons of sugar daily in some form or other. Can you imagine this see-saw ride going on, and it does, about 5 to 15 times a day in the average person. Here's what happens as a result of this dailysee-saw ride:

1. The adrenal glands become "worn out" and lose their ability to raise the blood sugar levels when they are low. This contributes to a condition known as hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) with its list of unpleasant symptoms such as anxiety, weakness, rapid heart rate, extreme hunger or inability to eat, dizziness, poor vision, headaches, irritability, irrational behaviour, poor memory, digestive problems, and more.

Does this sound like anyone you know? Is this what is known as a hyperactive child? (Look out for our article "What is the drug of Choice among our Children?" within the next two weeks.)

2. The pancreas becomes "worn out" and loses its ability to lower the blood sugar levels when they are high and suddenly, out of the blue, we are diagnosed as being diabetic. As a diabetic, we are not allowed to eat any more refined sugars for the rest of our lives. The body can no longer produce insulin so we end up having to inject it into ourselves daily.

This makes us more susceptible to heart disease, kidney disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension (high blood pressure), strokes, cataracts, gangrenous infections, loss of hearing, blindness, and even early death.

Many people believe or are told that diabetes is an hereditary disease or that it was caused by some vague unknown phenomena which is beyond our control. Not so. It would be nice to believe it, but it's simply not true. The foregoing facts are the real cause of such malfunctions in the body.

This is a very simple explanation of how the blood sugar levels work and is enough to demonstrate the mechanisms at play. Please remember that refined carbohydrates such as white flour, white rice, white pasta products, are converted into simple sugars in the digestive tract and these have the same ravaging effects as refined sugars.

The secret is to work out how to put less revs into the body while giving the taste buds some pleasure and the blood sugar levels what is needed.
KevinOwen@rehabilitatenz.co.nz
© 2002-2003 RehabilitateNZ. All Rights Reserved.
For Trademark Information