You don’t have to be sick

Chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer are now the biggest killers in developed countries with the developing world rapidly catching up. The challenge for developed countries now is decreasing the prevalence of chronic disease, particularly diabetes, CVD and cancer. Lessening the prevalence of these diseases will not only contribute to living longer but will also enable individuals to enjoy an enhanced quality of life. This is, of course, possible. Research shows our Paleolithic ancestors (100,000 years ago) consuming a hunter-gatherer diet...

Stop being sick

The current medical model, which focuses on treating the symptoms with toxic pharmaceuticals, rather than preventing illness, is simply not working. We use more drugs than ever before and we are sicker than ever before. Unfortunately, most of us are very sick by the time we recognise we are ill or decide to do anything about our health. It is never too late, but it is more difficult. By comparison, if you have not serviced your car for 20 years, you don’t expect to repair the damage with one oil change. The key to treating chronic illness is to act sooner rather than l...

Creating Medical Myths

Creating myths History tells us that when money is involved the medical establishments will do anything to keep profits and power. Good examples of this include tobacco and alcohol. Most people may not remember but the various medical associations around the world have been prominent supporters of these deadly products in the pursuit of profit. All too often our memories are too short or we think the basic behaviours of people will change. While evidence of the toxic effects of tobacco smoke has been around for hundreds of years, the correlation between tobacco and canc...

It is inflammation not cholesterol.

Here is another nail in the coffin of the cholesterol theory. For the last 40 years the cholesterol theory (yes theory) has continued to change to suit the growing evidence against it. In science if a theory is disproved it is tossed out. Not this one. It keeps being reborn and of course you are now told it is the oxidized LDL cholesterol. And it is. But the problem is not the cholesterol it is the oxidation which leads to inflammation. Stop the oxidation and stop the inflammation. The study—which monitored more than 10,000 heart patients—was inspired by the observat...

A flawed health system

Unfortunately illness has become one of the most profitable businesses of the 21st century. Too many big companies earn too much money on chronic illness to have any interest in disease prevention. Profit is made from treating an illness that is not cured. In Australia, the pharmaceutical benefits scheme has risen by 10% each year since its inception, with no decrease in chronic illness. In fact chronic illness continues to increase. This is not sustainable and, worse, not working and no we are not living longer (see the chapter later in the text) but we are a lot sicker ...

Don’t be afraid to ask questions or speak out. Don’t shoot the messenger

“I may not agree with what you have to say... but I will defend to the death your right to say it...” –Voltaire, 17th Century French Philosopher Upon receiving a compass at age five, Einstein immediately began questioning what made the needle point the same way no matter the position of the device.[i] Later, at fifteen years of age, he was expelled from school for asking too many questions, as the faculty believed he was setting a bad example for his peers. Einstein continued to display this inherent curiosity throughout his life, and later attributed his ...

Our sense of purpose keeps us healthy.

Research shows a sense of purpose is a major factor in living longer and the benefits of perceiving and living a life directed toward a broader purpose are widespread. Having a purpose in life provides individuals with a sense of direction and goals for the future, as well as a marker of flourishing and a life well-lived. Purposeful adults tend to outlive their peers and experience a diminished risk for both cognitive decline and disability in older adulthood. Moreover, having a purpose in life appears to lead to unique health benefits relative to other aspects of psycholog...

Inflammation and cancer

Inflammation and cancer The link between chronic inflammation and cancer has long been recognized since the 19th century German pathologist Rudolph Virchow first hypothesized that the origin of cancer was at sites of chronic inflammation. Now it seems that modern science has caught up with the observations of the 19th Century. Considerable advances in cancer research relates to the role of inflammation in the development of cancer. Research in 2003 demonstrated that there is a link between inflammation and tumour growth 12. In 2010 several piece of the puzzle came tog...

Coffee for Healthy Ageing

Coffee, one of the world's most consumed beverages, has many benefits and only a few shortcomings (sleep). Coffee has phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid that have strong antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory effects. A number of studies have now shown habitual coffee consumption is associated with lower prevalence of diabetes or pre-diabetes, insulin resistance, stroke, Parkinson's disease, and cardiovascular disease. There is also evidence that coffee consumption is associated with decreased risks for some types of cancer. Increasing studies ...

Inflammation linked to weight gain

The foods we eat turn some genes on and off, thereby influencing the normal growth of cells as well as protecting against inflammation, cancer, heart disease and weight gain. In addition, the nutrients, including antioxidants, function as cofactors in myriad biochemical reactions and sometimes provide structural roles in cells. Vitamins and minerals are important in the body for structural integrity and as cofactors in many enzyme reactions. Without lots of these we cannot burn the fuels (sugar) and we have low energy no matter how much of the fuels (sugar) we eat. Antioxid...