Are Lifestyle Changes More Effective than Medicine?

It seems to me that everyone you speak to, has been diagnosed with a chronic illness or disease of some sort. I also sense, that you may feel that you don't have any control over your medical status; particularly, when you move into an older age bracket.

I am sure too, that you may have heard the comment, that it's inherent in your genes.

However, if you draw upon the latest scientific evidence available to mankind, the 'mind' plays an enormous role in our health system. Which, in my mind also plays a key role in determining how you identify and overcome any personal health challenges.

Some key question arise here. Can you prevent or reverse life threatening diseases? Do medicines really help us? Do you want to protect yourself and your loved ones?

If I said your were meant to have a healthier vibrant life, free of disease; what would you think of that? If I said you are not supposed to experience death between 60-80 years of age, what do you think of that? If I said you can make your body, 'disease proof' too, what would you think about that?

Lots of questions I know, but lets get real. Because, the modern day world we live in - is, becoming increasingly reliant on medical intervention. In fact, the global epidemic of legal drug dependency, is not only fueling the pharmaceutical industry into one of the most powerful ever known; its, also taking the concept of health out of our own hands too.

In bringing in a health expert for a moment. Dr. David Katz argues that using various lifestyle changes and various tools can be just as effective, or arguably better and more effective than medicine. Which, when you consider this more seriously, it may mean that there has to be a 'paradigm shift' in our way of thinking, before we can digest this as actually being the truth.

He goes on to explain that there are six key domains of 'lifestyle medicine.' These are as follows:

• healthy diet
• physical activity
• avoidance of tobacco and excess alcohol
  
• adequate sleep
• stress reduction, and
• meaningful relationships
  

I believe human beings have become somewhat hoodwinked or for a better word, brainwashed into thinking our health status is governed by the health fraternity.

I am sure your parents (bless their souls) tried to get you to eat more fruit and vegetables at some point in your life, and this may not be an uncommon occurrence during your fledgling youth. However, I am confident in saying, that if you took the time to sit and watch the hoards of people walking the supermarket isles doing their routine weekly shopping expeditions. You may not see too much fruit and vegetables aligning their shopping trolley.

Contrary, you may rather see a myopia of process food packaging's - which, in reality are slowly killing you. So, take the first step today and make your body disease proof, by following the lifestyle changes mentioned herein, and make yourself well.

Reference.

Katz, D.L. (2013). 'Disease proof - the remarkable truth about what makes us well.' New York, U.S.A.Hudson Street Press.