By Luc Chaltin, ND DIHom
Becoming old is associated with decline, disease, suffering and loss of vitality. Being young is associated with health, vitality, strength and well-being. Becoming older has to do with time. Health and well-being has to do with vitality, not with age. One can be vital at any age, including a very old age.
The association of old age with decline and suffering is due to the fact that in our society, the overwhelming majority of people become sick at an early time in life. It is disconcerting that diseases are inevitably connected with becoming older. But there are or were times and civilizations where this is or was not so. There are still some rare individuals who reach an old age with excellent health and lots of stamina. The problem of well-being and vitality does not only exist for the elderly, it has become a problem for practically everyone. Even children are plagued with ailments or are even born with them. This is so because there is something wrong with our lifestyle.
If we look closer, we see a picture arising, one of chronic disease. Adults and children alike suffer from allergies, digestive problems, asthma, diabetes, hypoglycemia, heart diseases, rheumatism, arthritis, even at a very early stage of life. I believe that even though these diseases carry different names, they are all chronic and commonly caused by deficient metabolism.
This is not what nature intended the human race to be. We were equipped with strong enzymes and multiple defense systems to fight against all kinds of attacks from bacteria and viruses. Obviously, we do not have to defend ourselves against germs as much as we have to against something “new” in our civilized world of today. That “something” is crippling our enzymes and causing chronic diseases.
Many naturopaths have investigated the lives of people that lived to a very old age and stayed strong and healthy. They continued working long after they became 65-years-old, and were able to enjoy everything they had enjoyed when they were 20- or 30-years-old. When we observe these people, we find that they had a special approach of taking care of their body and their needs. They lived simple lives, ate simple, natural foods, were always very active and had enough sleep regularly. Some of these people had been sick in their younger years and had been on a search for a solution to their problems. Once they discovered the cause of their illness, they proceeded to eliminate the bad habits and mistakes, and they recovered completely. Once healed, they grew older but became younger as the body improved their health over the years. The process continued until they were completely restored to normal health.
One such naturopath, a Canadian doctor named Jackson, who lived at the beginning of this century (20th Century), was suffering from terminal heart disease at the age of 48 years. This heart diagnosis was given by the world’s most renowned cardiologist of his time. When he realized after so many years, that he was sick because of the wrong kind of food he had been eating, he decided to start fasting because he did not know what else to do. After 3 weeks of fasting, his condition had so much improved that he was out of danger. He lived to the age of 82 years, when he was killed in a skating accident.
What is happening to the majority of the people of our society is that they have gone too far from a natural life style.
Conclusion: If we live on a balanced diet, we will be healthy.
The two most important functions for good health:
Liver function: Excretion of toxins.
Connective tissue: Kept clean and lean, not filled with toxins and no water retention.
Things we do wrong:
Diet: Too much processed foods; not enough unprocessed food.
Lack of vitamins, minerals and trace minerals: Causes metabolic problems, such as enzyme deficiency and malfunctioning of the glands (female problems), diabetes, hypoglycemia, and in children ADD, hyperactivity, ear infections.
Too much protein: Causes heart diseases, arthritis, nerve problems.
Additives, chemical residues, pesticides, etc. These substances create free radicals that kill our enzymes.
Drugs: Medical and other drugs are poisons that contribute to the toxic load of the body.
This includes tobacco, alcohol, coffee and chocolate, although conflicting data exists about over-indulgence and moderation.
The germ theory of classic medicine: A healthy body can defend itself perfectly, and if help is needed, it should not be given in the form of toxic drugs, but rather in a natural form such as with homeopathy or herbs.
It is not the allopathic doctor who will direct you to a healthier lifestyle. Becoming healthy is work you have to do for yourself over a long period of time and the best place to learn how to do this is to visit a health food store, buy organically grown foods, take supplements and exercise. You may also choose to use homeopathic and herbal remedies, as well.