Debbie Vail, NC
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"Go Slap Your mother," he said

11/21/2013

6 Comments

 
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It's just our nature to want to blame someone or something else, rather than own up and take control of the situation ourselves.  We all like to have a pity party and bask in our misery, especially if we think that the bad situation is out of our control.   It's somewhat comforting though, knowing that it's not our fault, and especially when a doctor says this to us and tells us that it's not our fault.  Just "go slap your mother," was the advice given to me by a doctor many years ago when referring to a health problem I was faced with.    Maybe it didn't help the situation I was in, but at least it let me know it wasn't my fault.  But wasn't it?

 I'm talking about genetics.  Back then, I just gave in to the seemingly scientific fact that we all are predestined to doom or delight when it comes to our health, depending on the genetic hand that was dealt to us.  But with new research now after over 50 years since Francis Watson and James Crick first proposed their model for DNA and genetics, we can take this matter of doom or delight into our own hands when it comes to our health.  I know, I know, I hear you say, "well, we all still die, 10 out of 10 people die."  Yes, you are right.  We will never defeat death in this perishable body on this earth, but while we are here, we can sure put up a good fight, and we can possibly save ourselves from living out our days on a bed of ill health.  I believe our bodies are God's temple where the Holy Spirit dwells, and we need to care for it as much as we can.  

Now don't go slap your mother.  I'm about to tell you about new research that points to the fact that our genetic tendencies are not set in stone, that they can be influenced by the choices we make.  It's really hard for me to believe that we can alter our propensity toward a certain disease by the foods we eat, but that's what new research is trying to say.  

Take a look at these two words and the meanings given to them:

          Nature:  The inner blueprint that has its own rules and regulations
          Nurture:  Everything you do, like eating, sleeping, working, exercising, learning, environmental exposure (the sum total of it all).

It's not an all or nothing kind of thing, it's not all nature or all nurture when it comes to our health or lack of.
What would be the first thing you would think of if given the word from your doctor that you have heart disease or cancer?   Your first thought would probably be that of wondering if this is something that is genetic, that you couldn't possibly have done anything about it (nature), or is it caused by the way you are doing things (nurture).

New research is indicating that what we inherit (nature) is only a genetic potential or tendency, but how we live and the quality of our environment (nurture) determines what our genes actually express.  For instance, you may inherit a tendency for heart disease or cancer, but these diseases may only be expressed depending on how you live, eat, and the toxins you may be exposed to.  You may never develop that heart disease or cancer if you don't smoke, and you do exercise, eat right and avoid toxins as much as you can.

Now isn't that good news!  You don't have to slap your mother, and she doesn't have to slap her mother, but both of you can work on nurturing your body for the sake of good health.  To get you started, I have listed a few simple steps to work on:

1.  Avoid as many contaminants as you can:  pesticides (go organic if possible), heavy metals (cook in stainless steel, cast iron (see comments below about cast iron), glass, or porcelain cookware instead of aluminum), plastic packaging (especially in the microwave), cosmetics or anything you are putting on your skin that contains toxins.  The skin is our largest organ and can definitely absorb chemicals we put on it.  

2.  Avoid as many processed foods and sugar as possible:   Think about what kinds of foods the Pilgrims must have eaten when they landed here in America and try to avoid foods that they would not recognize.  Would they have eaten Twinkies, Fruit Loops Cereal, Ramen Noodles, Hamburger Helper?  No, but they would eat whole foods like vegetables and fruits, wild game, or sea foods.  

3.  Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of filtered water, broths, soups, and herbal tea

4.  Get plenty of sleep

5.  Exercise regularly but do not overdo it.

6.  Eat a diverse array of foods with many colors.  Learn what factors influence the nutrients in our foods.

May God bless your efforts to be healthy.

Reference:
Mateljan, George. (2007). The World's Healthiest Foods. (1st Edition). Canada: GMF Publishing

6 Comments
Deb Burlingame link
11/20/2013 08:50:17 pm

Debbie you are a voice of reason crying out in a desert of nut jobs. Thanks for a great post today.

Reply
Debbie Vail
11/20/2013 11:35:39 pm

Thanks, Deb. I appreciate your comment. As you are well aware, posts do take a lot of time to research and get the facts straight. Hopefully people will begin to be aware of the fact that they can play a big part in the outcome of their health.

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Kristen Berry
11/21/2013 01:35:20 pm

Sleep - that's one I struggle with. I like your statement about the Pilgrims. I recently titled our diet "the homestead diet" or the "pioneer diet." Of course, we do cheat sometimes :-( And have to compromise on some things because we are, in fact, not pioneers or homesteaders. I came up with this title because I don't believe in the paleo diet, but agree with certain aspects of it... and I needed something to tell people when they ask about our diet, lol!

Reply
Debbie
11/21/2013 03:30:13 pm

Good for you, and I agree - not everything in Paleo I agree with, but most of it is OK.

Reply
Kristen Berry
11/21/2013 01:36:55 pm

Also, do you have recommendations for affordable cast iron cookware? What do you primarily use to cook with? We currently have Calpahlon Hard Annodized cookware (not the non-stick version), and have been contemplating slowly switching to something else.

Reply
Debbie
11/21/2013 03:28:49 pm

Good questions! There is controversy with cast iron cookware with some sources being against it and others for it, specifically over the fact that cast iron cookware will impart iron to the foods cooked in it. I have a cast iron skillet, but do not use it on a regular basis. I don't think people should use it all the time, or if so, keep a watch on blood iron levels, and it should never be used with acidic foods like tomatoes or anything containing vinegar, as it leeches out a lot of iron and can really ruin the taste of the food. So it depends on the need of the individual, and that need changes from time to time, so that's why I would be conscience of this when using cast iron. My personal favorite is stainless steel. Invest in good heavy quality stainless steel. Another good cookware is glass pots and pans. Yes, I miss the days of teflon skillets and those eggs sliding right out. Now I have to really work with the right temp. and fats in the stainless skillet to avoid eggs sticking, and cooking right behind the bacon always makes the eggs stick, so I have to wash the pan and start over with the eggs. Living this healthier lifestyle does bring on more time consuming ways, but, we wouldn't know any better had the convenience stuff not been made in the first place.

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    Debbie Vail, NC
    ​Greetings from east central Alabama and welcome to my site.  I am a graduate of Hawthorn University, a leader in holistic education.  
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