Wednesday, October 8, 2014


Your Life Depends On It!

In recent years, I have succumbed to a series of health issues which were not only affecting my daily activities, but were placing my future health in serious jeopardy. Having enjoyed a pretty robust lifestyle and blessed with mostly good health, it came as a huge shock to find out that my health had deteriorated to such a degree that I couldn’t work, or enjoy the simple things in life. It all came to a serious conclusion with multiple visits to the doctor, surgeon and diabetes clinic.
We never really appreciate good health until it is threatened or taken away. I have always prided myself on being well educated and versed on the benefits of eating healthily and well. So to be warned of the pending outcome, was like a bolt of lightning.  I don’t smoke, drink or do drugs, yet here I was popping 19 tablets a day, unable to walk more than ten minutes without having to lay down, or sit. I took this challenge poorly at first but came to realise that it was I that had to make a stand. At the beginning of 2014, I had extremely high blood sugar; H1C’s abnormally high, High blood pressure, regular use of inhaler to combat angina and respiratory issues, unable to sleep or do a day’s work without pain medication due to a prolapsed vertebrae.  Of course all these conditions place pressure on ones state of mind and spiritual wellbeing.
This week, I met with my family doctor of 33 yrs.’, to have him pronounce a clean bill of health.  Blood pressure excellent, blood sugar normal, H1C’s normal, Cholesterol normal and healthy weight loss amazing (14kg in 9 months).  The diabetes nurse was so amazed that she rang me at home to say, “we are so used to progressing patients medication, that Its so amazing to see the control you have taken and the results achieved.” The results have been so effective that I have reduced medication steadily and has mostly stopped.
So what has changed? Well, firstly I have to acknowledge my faith in a God that heals. Secondly, taking personal responsibility to play my part in what foods I eat. And finally taking the time required in doing the research, (thus educating myself in the appropriate diet and lifestyle).
Here are the critical factors I discovered:
1.       The predominance of processed foods is engineered to sell produce (and added value) as a food source, not necessarily foods which are best for our health and well-being.
2.       Gluten and sugars are products used to bulk out and extend shelf life and occur in more products than are good for us. Many are hidden and addictive
3.       Excessive Carbohydrates can induce diabetes, increased weight and the storage of fat in the body. Reduced carbohydrate cause the metabolism to burn fat, assisting weight loss, and developing a healthier BMI. Harvard School of Public Health
In my extensive research I discovered some great journalism and some quite insidious revelations regarding the food manufacturing industry. The men who made us fat I also discovered the long term effects  that genetically modified foods will have on us the consumer, but above all, I have shaken off the symptoms  of ill health that resulted in my ignorant (yet trusting nature) of my food consumption.
One must keep in mind that as with the tobacco industry, alcohol industry (and now the food processing industry), expecting an unbiased, honest and transparent stance, is somewhat like asking a vampire to guard the blood bank.  There is a vested interest to ensure that they can continue in business as long as it is possible. Until the “tipping point” is reached, don’t expect manufacturers, food processor, pharmaceutical body, or politicians to support their own demise.  I highly recommend that you read Fat Chance: The bitter truth about sugar by Dr. Robert Lustig.
One of the factors that concern me greatly is the lack of regulatory muscle that most governments are prepared to use to protect out health. Pharmaceutical companies have to go through a pretty rigorous process before selling their products on the open market. The food industry does not, yet more people are affected by the daily consumption of processed foods, than by medicines, which by and large are dispensed by a healthcare professional. I believe we are far too trusting of food manufacturers, processors, and governments, in taking the appropriate measures to ensure we are not slowly killing ourselves by simply trusting (and eating) the food on our shelves.  
I haven’t at this point raised my wholehearted objection to the insidious strategy that GM will have on us all. From full control of who owns the seed, what seed is available and grown, what chemicals are used on them and whose water is monopolised in the production, cropping, storage and what network they are sold! There is sufficient evidence to warn us that the future prosperity and security of Nations will not be based on the minerals in the soil, but the arable land, water supply and food it can produce. A kingdom takes its root from two words. King and Dom! A king is the one who rules, and Dom is the old English word for earth, soil, land. The kingdom is all about who rules over the earth. If we give up our sovereignty and the ability to choose what we grow, we lose our ability to sustain life.
Having taken considerable time in research, soul searching and prayer, I literally took back control and personal responsibility for:
·         The foods I buy and from where
·         What and when I eat
·         What pharmaceuticals I allow in my body
·         Who I listen to about my health and whose information I trust
Here is the action that I took:
4.       If a food has been modified, processed, or enhanced, I don’t buy it or eat it.
5.       If the food label has anything written on it (other than the product you are buying), leave it.  
6.       Potatoes, Grains, wheat, pasta, rice, flour, breads and bakery is avoided like the plague.
7.       Portion size has decreased by virtue of wholesome food which sustains longer
8.       Fresh meats, vegetables, nuts (tree), coconut products (flour, oil, cream, milk) eaten daily
9.       Follow paleo recipes, lifestyle and blogs to ensure I am kept aware of new products
10.   Eat more frequently, smaller but healthier foods and as little cooking time as is safe
“He that has an experience is never at the mercy of he who has an argument”.
Or to use the old biblical passage, “Once I was blind, but now I see”  John 9:25
Diabetes and the western world are at epidemic proportions. We have trusted too long the manufacturers and big corporates which ply us with foods detrimental to our health. We trust them and have done for oh so long.  It wasn’t that long ago that “fat” was the demon in our food products, but research is showing the effects of sugar are far more harmful to our bodies than fat, which the body can regulate, eaten appropriately and proportionately. We trust the marketing gurus (who are employed by corporate bodies) who in turn sway government policies by using political lobbyists.
I believe we are likely (in the years ahead) to see food manufacturers forced to place warning labels on the food they sell, just like the tobacco companies are today. We are far too trusting of our food manufacturers; after all, one only needs to study the history of tobacco, sugar, alcohol and the slave trades, to see how far corporates are prepared to go in the pursuit of profit.
The Game on TV is sponsored by the betting agency who legitimises their product by ending with “and please remember to gamble responsibly”, yet homes, families, careers and lives are wrecked by the ravages of gambling. The alcohol and tobacco adverts are prohibited on the player’s kit, but it appears in all other mediums, and advertisers work hard to present a wholesome image to its consumers. Sugared drinks are promoted as being the stuff of athletes, energy bursts and hip colours that look cool on television in the hand of a sporting icon. Truth is, they are killing us…over time.
The tipping point –
When the cost to the government for medical care, is greater than the revenue to the government from the food industry, we will see policy changes, for sure! Until then, we need to educate ourselves into taking personal responsibility for the foods we consume.  After all, we are staking our lives on it.
Some links: