ETERNAL HEALTH JULY NEWSLETTER

HAPPINESS AND LONGEVITY

  Your level of happiness can add nine years to your life which is six more than you get from giving up smoking.  If like me you thought that happiness was all about money, having the perfect relationship and having more material acquisitions than your neighbour then you might have to rethink your strategy.  I discovered the exact opposite at the recent international conference on happiness held in Sydney which was attended by none other than His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  One simple action by the Dalai Lama encapsulated the Buddhist approach to happiness. During a panel discussion in which he was involved, as each member of the panel was introduced he arose and with the utmost humility and deference greeted each one with hands bowed in acknowledgement. 

   Despite a significant increase in affluence depression is on the rise.  This might have a lot to do with our massive preoccupation with self-promotion and advancement or our own financial interests.  Happiness according to experts at the conference is much more about compassion, kindness and getting in touch with the divine spirit that unites us.  One of the meditation exercises presented at the conference was to identify someone less fortunate than ourselves who was struggling with life’s difficulties and to imagine what it would be like to be this person and to walk in their shoes with all their suffering. This is a process that you might like to try on a daily basis and see what happens to your level of happiness.

PREVENTING CANCER

  With regard to preventing cancer in women recent studies indicate that a combination of calcium and vitamin D together with the hormone melatonin might go a long way to stopping cancer cells in their tracks while prostate cancer which is the second most significant cause of death amongst men might be inhibited by a combination of folate, polyphenols found in green tea and olive oil, lycopene in tomatoes, vitamin E, phytoestrogens in soy and selenium.  It might just be as simple as that. More information on preventing cancer is found in ‘You have the power.’

ECHINACEA and INFLUENZA

  Taking the herbal remedy echinacea can more than halve the risk of catching a common cold.  US researchers found it decreased the odds of developing a cold by 58% and when echinacea was taken alongside vitamin C this combination reduced the incidence of a cold by 86%.  Echinacea may also reduce the duration of illness and decreases the severity of cough, headache, and nasal congestion.  When taken along with zinc and vitamin C the duration of influenza is further truncated.  Other remedies for boosting the immune system include the herbs andrographis and olive leaf, garlic, selenium, vitamins A, B6 and E, alpha-lipoic acid which increases glutathione, coenzyme Q10, magnesium, the hormone DHEA and a substance called transfer factor.  For all those in the Sydney area interested in discovering ways to augment the immune system, treat auto-immune diseases and fight cancer the Sanctuary of Health Wellness Centre will be hosting a seminar on Friday July the 20^th at 7pm.  For more information contact 88833655.  ‘You have the power’ also contains detailed information in this area.

Q & A segment-Your enquiries answered

QUESTION:  I just read your article on the helicobacter pylori bacteria. I had the infection and it was treated with antibotics.  What can I do to restore my stomach lining to prevent gastric cancer?

ANSWER:  You need to ensure a healthy diet with good organic sources of protein found in meat and eggs, fish, beans especially red kidney beans, as well as essential fatty acids found in deep sea fish, avocado, nuts and seeds.  Taking a digestive enzyme supplement temporarily would provide you with maximal value for your consumption.  Then you need to ensure that you replenish the good germs with acidophilus and bifidus supplements.  Nutrients that assist with gut repair are glutamine and zinc, as well as vitamins A and C and taking these in supplement form over a two-month period would also be helpful.  An American colleague has suggested that a lack of acid production in the stomach leads to the multiplication of helicobacter and that stimulating acid production by daily drinking a cup of water with 1/4-1/2 added squeezed lemon would help stimulate acid production. 

QUESTION:  Can you recommend an anti-aging supplement please plus any add-ons to make it complete. All supplements seem to have some essentials missing or low doses. Do blueberry & blackcurrant jams lose any properties for there convenience?

ANSWER:  Having a healthy diet including good quality protein and fats which are both essential and are found in organic meat, eggs, deep sea fish, nuts, avocado and seeds together with a functional digestive system which gets maximal value from the foods you consume would be a good start.  Then you need to include powerful antioxidants like dark chocolate, green tea and red grapes and superimpose upon this supplements like memozeal which contains alpha-lipoic acid an antioxidant which recycles other antioxidants, co-enzyme Q10, vitamin E and carnosine.  For further information on a supplement programme ‘You have the power’ has a chapter which details an anti-aging supplement programme and the Life Extension foundation found at www.lef.org has a similar programme documented on their site.  The jams would contain some level of antioxidants but you would have to consume those that are not sweetened.

QUESTION:  I've been battling High Blood Pressure(150/60) for many years. My health is otherwise good. I’m 5'11 and weigh 202 lbs. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

ANSWER:  High blood pressure can be difficult to manage with natural remedies and these are outlined in ‘You have the power.’  Ensuring that you are not suffering from elevated homocysteine levels and insulin resistance together with consuming five serves of fruit and vegetables daily will help to lower blood pressure as will regular meditation and exercise.  Then there are beverages and nutrients like psyllium, soy protein, calcium, cod liver oil, co-enzyme Q10, fish oil, garlic, green tea, extra virgin olive oil, potassium, oolong tea, stevia, vitamin C, sweet orange and pycnogenol which can help to lower blood pressure.

QUESTION:  I had a gastroscopy and then received treatment including nexium 20g and motillium 10mg which I have taken for six months.  Now I’m getting pain and feel full in the stomach which is becoming bloated.  Why do I get pain and what else could I do?

ANSWER:  Food allergy/intolerance can also cause discomfort and it would be a good idea to have tests which identify these.  I have often found that yeast, gluten found in wheat, rye, oats and barley as well as dairy products are the common offenders.  Aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) and cigarette smoking, regular use of alcohol and medications such as antibiotics can inflame the lining of the stomach.  Carrot and cabbage juice together with digestive enzymes and acidophilus made from yoghurt culture can be most helpful as can remedies like DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) slippery elm, marshmallow root, L-glutamine powder and a substance called mastic gum.  For more information on these treatments and their doses go to www.vrp.com.