Symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, fevers, pain & inflammation all have survival value. The body is working as designed. These are reparative, remedial processes the body employs to keep itself clean & well. Sometimes painful, but always having survival value.

Similarly, sensations such as hunger, thirst, tiredness, sleepiness etc all have survival value & are intelligently directed. They have been guiding humans for millions of years. Only recently were we told by supposed experts that these symptoms were wrong, &, in the case of fevers & inflammation, positively harmful.

There are however signs that a more enlightened approach is taking hold.

The attached document contains what is known as a medical reversal. A medical reversal is where a completely different recommendation is given, contrary to what has been the “party line” for decades. Whereas dietitians & many doctors have been saying for the past 15 years that we need to drink water all day because by the time we are thirsty we are already suffering dehydration, this article by Nicole Senior for the Glycemic Association, contradicts that view.

Dr Tim Noakes & Dr David Martin, from South Africa & the USA respectively, stated this : “it has been difficult to find any studies in which dehydration has been identified as the causative factor in even a single case of exercise-related heatstroke” 

Indeed, drinking too much water, or water gorging, has been shown to cause hyponatremia, or low blood sodium, with serious & rarely, fatal consequences.

Their studies led to the USA Track & Field, the governing body of track & field, making major revisions to drinking guidelines for athletes (www.usatf.org). Instead of drinking as much as they can, the guidelines say, they should drink when they are thirsty. Dr Martin said these changes were revolutionary & overdue. Following on from this the International Marathon Medical Directors Association also reversed its stance. Drink when thirsty!

Dr Heinz Valtin, a physiologist from Dartmouth Medical College, said he could find no scientific support for the common advice for adults to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. “The benefits”, he said, “such as weight loss, relief of constipation & headaches, less fatigue & increased alertness, have no foundation in scientific studies”. 

The Growth of Prosperity.

Since 1957 the Growth Domestic Product (GDP) per person has risen 300%. Houses today (2007) are on average twice the size of those our parents (or grandparents) lived in, in 1957.

Two cars (at least), two television sets (at least), commonly including large plasma or LCD screens & home theatre systems, an investment property & overseas holidays are now commonly seen in many families in the western world. Higher disposable incomes, more electronic toys & more labor-saving devices are more common now.

We have easier access to government welfare, greater emphasis on health care, better consumer protection & instant communication via mobile phones & internet.

Society has seen greater sexual freedom ( the contraceptive pill) & less victimisation of minority groups. Women have been liberated ??!! since the 60′s revolution, to the point where we now might soon see for the first time ever a female American president.

In Australia, the combination of unemployment & inflation, called the misery index, has been declining for the last 20 years. .

From the economic & equality standpoint, we have never had it so good. Conventional wisdom has been that as these markers rise, our happiness should correspondingly rise. Study after study has shown that this is NOT the case. Our Gross National Happiness (GNH) has remained the same or fallen over the past 50 years, despite our increasing affluence & comfort.

This is what is called the Happiness Paradox! It is also the subject of Clive Hamilton’s thought-provoking book ‘Affluenza’.

Most people cling to the belief that more money means more happiness, says Hamilton.

The only time that increasing income & greater happiness rise correspondingly is when incomes rise from a poverty level to a basic level. In the USA this basic level has been found to be $15,000 per annum. Once this level is reached then more income, wealth & material possessions do not see noticeable differences in happiness levels.

A while ago I attended a two day conference in Sydney titled  Happiness & its Causes with dozens of guest speakers, including the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. The same theme emerged here. Every speaker confirmed what we already knew with the age-old saying: money can’t buy happiness.

So what do we do in order to become happier, have greater peace of mind & lasting contentment? Do we eschew economic advancement & renounce our way of living as we now know it?

Or do we keep up the belief that the more we earn, acquire & invest the happier we will be? The more superannuation, the more happiness?

At my clinic I have seen countless people over the years suffering from chronic unhappiness. There have been many wealthy people who have been deeply unhappy. I have also witnessed financially poor people very unhappy. Conversely, I have consulted many wealthy people who were happy, deeply contented & well-adjusted & many low-income earners who displayed the same qualities.

Similarly with health. There are those with money who have excellent health & those with little finance who also enjoy high-level health. Again there are those who have lots of money but poor health & those who are broke whose health is also broken.

THE HEALTH PARADOX

Most people believe that, as with money & happiness, more of the former will also mean greater health. We are continually hearing from opposition politicians, doctors, researchers, medical foundations & special interest groups that we need more funding for more hospitals, improved medical technology, more & better drugs & wider health services. It is widely publicised that the only way to conquer cancer & all the other diseases is through more money, raised through government spending & public awareness drives.The last 20 years has seen more money spent on supposed health care than in all previous years combined. In 1971, President Nixon in America declared war on cancer!Almost unlimited funds were channelled into cancer research & treatment.

America spends more money per capita on medical care ( health care), has the most advanced medical technology in the world & more money is spent on research in the States than anywhere else. There are more drugs available to consumers in the States where these drugs are even advertised direct to the consumer (DTC). Americans pop more pills per capita than any other people & these pills are the result of the belief that more money means more health.

In other words there is a widespread belief that the more capital growth & productivity there is & the more of this that is channelled into medical technology, the happier & healthier we will all be.

Just as happiness does not rise with increased income over a basic level, health also does not. In fact, once a certain point is reached in health care expenditure, more emphasis on drugs & technology means LESS health.

The situation in the States bears this out. America has one of the worst infant mortality rates amongst developed nations. Life expectancy lags behind many other countries & the rates of most major diseases are higher there than most developed countries where much less is spent per capita on health care. The States is one of the most medically regulated countries in the world, with the FDA ( Food & Drug Administration ) & the CDC ( Centres for Disease Control) ostensibly safeguarding public health & ensuring that the money invested is money well spent. Then how can it be that America is the obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease & depression capital of the world?

Here are some thoughts on the Wealth & Health Paradoxes, gleaned from my experience dealing with countless patients over the past 24 years, my own personal happiness/health experiences & almost a life-time of study on these issues.

Happiness

Many people confuse pleasure with happiness. They are different. Pleasure is temporary & sensual. Happiness is permanent & spiritual. Happiness cannot be caused as it is a quality we are all born with. We then proceed in our lives to CAUSE unhappiness.

To regain our inner happiness, we need to remove those things that are blocking us. Take off the layers that smother our true inner contentment.

Outside-in is NOT what confers happiness. Winning the lottery or buying a new car or a new mansion , marrying the prettiest person or having the brightest kids, getting the much sought-after promotion- these things are outside or external. Sure, they can confer pleasure but it is never lasting. Enough becomes a moving target. We at some point adapt to these externals & set our sights on more or bigger things. We are never satisfied.

Inside-out is where happiness resides. It starts inside. If it is sought from outside then the inner spirit is often neglected. The seed of happiness is within us all but it does not blossom if we search for it in the external world. Money is neither the cause of happiness or the root of all evil. Money is neutral. It can’t make us happy or unhappy. It’s our perception of its worth & value that is important. It’s our attachment to it that blocks us. When we let our egos attach too strongly to certain external things, we run into trouble. We find we might be working extra long hours chasing the money or promotion, becoming obsessed with some THING or continually comparing our assets to others- this is when we gradually lose ourselves. Remember self-worth is NOT net-worth!

We allow our happiness to flourish when we first honour our own basic needs. This requires some thought & reflection, which is best done in silence, stillness & solitude. Here are 7 ways to help manifest our inner happiness:

1) Become as healthy as you can be. This requires discipline in eating, drinking & our personal daily behaviours. There are a few rare people who can be blissfully happy even when chronically sick or in pain, but most people don’t fall into that category. Become gradually aware of the relationship between what you eat & drink & how you feel. Avoid taking drugs daily which alter your mood or energy levels. These include alcohol, tea, coffee, cigarettes, recreational drugs & stimulants.

2) Avoid soldiering on- don’t habitually push yourself. Question any tendencies you might have towards perfectionism, as this leads to a chronic feeling of unfulfillment.

3) Walk, run, swim, garden, row, dance, ride, climb, lift, bend, skip, jump- do whatever you like doing but move regularly.

4) Get adequate sleep & rest.

5) Have quiet time daily-meditating, praying, just being still & quiet.

6) Develop goodwill to others- wish the best for them, compliment people sincerely for something you admire, encourage people. Apart from being the right thing to do, it also adds to your own inner peace & happiness: The fragrance of the rose lingers on the hand that gives it.

7) Accept the fact that the only thing you have total control over is your attitude. Everything else is never 100% under our own control. Understanding & accepting this is like lifting a weight off our shoulders.

Don’t Spend Too Much Happiness Earning Your Money

What was I Losing With All the Gaining?

Don’t Pay for your Wealth with Your Health

We spend our Time Earning our Money & then we spend our Money earning our time.

The power of natural phenomena has likewise captivated man’s interest & awe. The power of the tsunami, the earthquake, the volcano, the storm, floods & such like are often breathtaking in their force. For all of man’s intelligence & technological advancement, he is virtually helpless when nature raises the ante.

These violent outbursts have been part of nature since life commenced. As they stem from nature, so they are NATURAL. They are not normal, but most certainly they are natural.

Read more:

The Miracle of Life, The Miracle of Health

Flesh foods, which are chicken, fish, red meat, milk, eggs, cheese & dairy foods, should be consumed minimally. It is recommended that these foods should account for no more than 4-5 meals per week, out of a possible 21. When eaten, they should be small serves (4 ounces), ambushed by liberal servings of cooked or raw vegetables  (4-6 in number).

It is best to avoid dairy food altogether for the initial few weeks. Plain yoghurt if you must would be the best of a bad bunch.

Caffeine ( see article The Effects of Caffeine) & alcohol are best totally avoided for a few weeks as your metabolism gets back to normal. The same with refined carbohydrates such as sugar, white flour products & sweets (see document Nutritious Meal Suggestions).

2) Eat when hungry. This is obvious but misunderstood. Hunger is NOT an empty or rumbling stomach. It is a sensation in the mouth. True hunger is where we salivate. We could lick our lips we are that ready for food. DO NOT SNACK! The only time we should snack is if we are truly hungry.

3) Drink when thirsty & NOT with meals. Wait 45 minutes or drink 10 minutes before eating. Contrary to popular belief, we should not drink continually. In fact, the USA Track & Field has revised the earlier recommendation to drink continually by stating that that advice is now WRONG! This is because over hydration causes the blood to become too dilute. Sodium levels in the blood drop & this can cause life- threatening consequences. Many scientists have been very vocal in warning people of this hyponatremia( low blood sodium), including Dr David Martin at Georgia State University, Dr Heinz Valtin at Dartmouth Medical College & Dr Tim Noakes at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

4) Get more sleep & rest than you normally would. This is critical, even more important than exercising at this stage. Remember: TIRED PEOPLE RARELY LOSE WEIGHT!  It has been discovered that sleep “deprived children (i.e. tired) are far more likely to be overweight than their energetic friends & it is not the extra weight that causes the initial fatigue, although this does have an effect on energy over time.

Over the years I have seen hundreds of tired, overweight patients lose considerable weight quickly, to their delighted surprise, when they rested more, exercised less & followed the no-stimulant, high-nutrient nutrition program. Most people are tired these days, particularly those carrying extra weight, so more rest means more energy & more energy means more weight loss. As energy increases, the next principle follows.

Slow down! Limit your commitments! Do a little less & do not feel guilty about this. When you are lighter, fitter & more energetic, you will be a pleasure to be around & life will be enjoyable. Then you will be able to add other commitments. It will all be worthwhile.

5) Exercise! Start with walking if you are sedentary. Aim for 4-5 walks of 20 minutes minimum & we build on that. Speed & distance increases as fitness improves & weight comes off. When ready, we then discuss other activities which burn fat, gain muscle & therefore improves shape, contour & appearance.

REMEMBER- When fatigued, do not exercise.

6) Guard your MIND! Be aware of negative thoughts, moods & attitudes. They creep in to all our minds at times but we must not entertain them. Acknowledge their entry & then evict them. Being aware of them is the first & most important step. Understand yourself. Weight loss (& life) becomes easier when we truly start knowing ourselves. Remember, our attitudes are the only thing we have full & total control over!

Recommended reading: Personality PluS by Florence Littauer.

* Highly recommended.

7) Follow the 11^th Commandment of Health For Life:

Thou Shalt Not Bash Thyself Up!

As a person, you are no better with or without extra weight. No better with or without extra money. No better with or without extra anything! You are a worthy human AS YOU ARE! Accept this without qualification. When you are lighter, you will be healthier, more energetic & less prone to illness but you will be the same person of value that you are now. No more worthy or less worthy than you were before. By understanding this & accepting it, you will lose weight more easily & life will be more peaceful. Things will flow better & your weight loss will be permanent. The torment of YO-YO emotions & weight gain & loss will be but a memory.

*FOLLOW THESE 7 PRINCIPLES AND WEIGHT LOSS WILL FOLLOW YOU!

This was the genesis of one of the most popular selling diet book in history. And the most dangerous! I read his first book- The Atkins Diet- in the early 70′s & was amazed then that many people would give credence to it. One statement that jumped out at me when I read the book was enough to convince me that the good doctor’s claims were not to be taken seriously. Back to that later. However, most authorities at the time savaged the book & it faded out of mainstream consciousness until it resurfaced again in the late 90′s under the name The Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution. It went gangbusters! Some Hollywood celebrities endorsed it after losing weight & the world went crazy for it. It led to the low-carb, high- protein fad which spawned subsequent best sellers like The South Beach Diet & The CSIRO Diet. The new book quickly sold 15 million copies & was followed by a plethora of Atkins low carb, high- protein foodstuffs & a range of Atkins vitamins & minerals. Atkins Nutritionals Inc. became a multi- hundred million dollar enterprise.To

read more

This is an amazing technique which, if done daily & with other health-supporting habits, can help transform emotional blocks, anxieties & depression, low self-confidence & low self-esteem.

1. Primer: Approximately 3 inches down from top of sternum & 3 inches across to the left, between the ribs, apply circular frictions while stating: Even though I am experiencing anxiety,I deeply & profoundly love, forgive & accept myself unconditionally. With each passing day, my health in all areas is improving. Each day I am getting better & better.
2. Tap with 2 fingers the inside of your eyebrows ( 2 hands) & repeat above;
3. Tap as above the ends of the eyes, 2 hands, repeating affirmation;
4. Tap as above under the eyes, 2 hands, as above;
5. Tap with 2 fingers of one hand above the top lip & under the nose, again vocalising;
6. Tap as above below the bottom lip, one hand as above;
7. Tap below the ends of the clavicle (collar bones) at sterno-clavicular joints, 2 hands & affirming again;
8. Wrap arms around & tap the lats as above;
9. Tap the crown of the head, one hand & repeat affirmation with added positivity.

The EFT technique works best just after meditation but can be done at any time, anywhere, as frequently as needed.

I have been advising patients for years that they would not lose weight if they were chronically exhausted. Some doctors informed these patients that this advice had no basis in fact. One of the serious causes of weight gain is the effects of caffeine long term.

Now all that has changed. The latest research has conclusively proven that children, teenagers & young adults are far more likely to be overweight if they are getting insufficient or inadequate sleep, & hence become chronically tired. This applies to all ages.

It takes energy to burn fat. Also, tired people suffer from slower metabolic rates, which means they burn fuel (food) slower than if their metabolic rate was higher.

Weight loss occurs more readily when the person changes their diet to a basically hygienic diet, eats when hungry, drinks when thirsty, rests until their energy returns & avoids all stimulants, refined sugars & alcohol. These things all lead to increased metabolic rate, which is a result of overall health improvement.

There are two important points regarding chronic low energy. Firstly, as mentioned metabolic rate drops & weight loss is far more difficult. Secondly, when the person is very tired it is very common for self-discipline to fly out the window & self-indulgence to fly in. We lose our discipline & give in to ourselves too easily. This is normal. Protect your energy.

When energy returns, this is the signal that some activity is now appropriate. In fact, activity now becomes absolutely critical to sustainable & healthy weight loss.

In future issues we will discuss the various types of activity. No matter what age the person is, health can be improved, weight can be lost, muscle tone improved & premature disease avoided. Remember, movement is life & the cessation of movement is death.

BUT I HAVEN’T GOT TIME!

For those who feel time constraints preclude them from doing some activity or exercise, do little sessions frequently. Ten minutes of non-stop walking every day is invaluable, compared to doing nothing. Ten minutes here, fifteen minutes there, twenty minutes occasionally will make a big difference in the long run.

It is highly advised to prioritise some regular, rhythmical activity at least 4-5 times a week. It would be no exaggeration to say that our lives depend on i

SUPPORT HELPS – GETTING & GIVING!

Loneliness & isolation will often be psychological triggers for weight gain & health decline.

Many studies show that those people who have active social networks (not overcommitted however) are healthier, happier & leaner than those who feel isolated. Those people who desire to lose weight, it has been shown, do far better when they feel that someone is there to talk to them & encourage them regularly.

It is very important to receive support while losing weight & getting healthier, however here is a little secret that will elevate you to greater success in your endeavours: offer encouragement & praise to others who also could do with it. It costs nothing, takes hardly any time & makes you feel better about yourself, thus leading to higher self-esteem, confidence & greater self-discipline. Start today. But be sincere. The encouragement or praise must come from the heart with no hidden agenda. We do it because it is the RIGHT thing to do.

The fragrance of the rose lingers on the hand that gives it.