We live in a society today where sickness and disease is almost epidemic. Americans are spending almost two trillion dollars a year on so-called health care. But, the suffering continues and few are completely healed.
Most of us have been trained from childhood that the
way to combat sickness is to take aspirin or some other over the counter
medication. If the problem is more
severe, we visit the doctor or the emergency room of the hospital. These usually result in a prescription for
medication. I remember my mother taking
my brothers and me to the doctor for regular check ups when we were children.
We
are the products of our environment and of our parental upbringings and
training. Most of our society has been
trained to deal with sickness through the traditional approach of doctors,
drugs and hospitals. This kind of
thinking has caused many of us to become passive concerning our health. Generally, our thought process is, “I hope I don’t get sick; but, if I do I’ll
try to get the best medical help I can and hopefully they’ll tell me which
drugs will help me to get healed. I sure
hope my insurance will pay for most of it.”
Of
course this logic puts the responsibility of our health into the hands of the
doctors. But the truth is that God gave
our bodies to us and made us the caretakers of them. We are responsible for our own health and
well-being. Doctors and health
professionals can help us and share information with us, but we are responsible
for our own health.
When we buy a house, it becomes our responsibility. Over time, the house can become a burden if
we do not maintain it by cleaning it, keeping things in proper functioning
order and uphold its good appearance. It
is likewise with our bodies. Our bodies
are the houses where we live; if we properly care for them, we can live happy,
healthy and long lives in them.
The good news is that the body comes equipped with a
self-healing system called the Immune
System. This system is truly the
healing power within. If someone cuts
his finger, the Immune System
immediately springs into action and causes blood to flow and cleanse the
wound. Then, miraculously, a scab forms
to protect it and eventually new skin appears.
What a miraculous self-healing system we have!
The same thing occurs when we have a “cut” on the inside. Healing
forces consisting of white blood cells – lymphocytes – spring into action
forming T cells and C cells. These
healing forces begin to protect, cleanse, heal and strengthen the body. The strength of this defense system is
primarily dependent upon the food that we use to fuel our bodies and the type
of lifestyle we have.
Let me make it perfectly clear that although the food we
eat and the drugs that we take affect the body, they do not heal the body. The body is designed to heal itself; it is
intelligent and automatically strives to protect and keep itself whole by
resisting anything that challenges its wholeness. Some things that challenge it are poisons,
toxins, deficiencies in vitamins and nutrients, germs, viruses and other kinds
of invaders. The Immune System will operate at peak performance and keep us healed
when we act responsibly to promote conditions conductive to our healing.
We hold the keys to health; therefore, we can do things
that either help or hinder our Immune
System. We influence whether it is
strong or weak by the choices we make.
However, most people do not understand what hinders and what helps the
body to heal itself. I have listed the
following to help you understand and to empower you to live a healthy and
sickness free life.
Hindrances to self -healing:
1. All animal source foods – Medical and health experts are
encouraging us to eliminate or consume less animal products. Animal
source foods usually contain growth hormones, antibiotics, pesticides
and they do not contain fiber. These foods are linked to cancer, heart
attacks, strokes, diabetes, arthritis, heartburn and more.
2. Refined sugar – Refined sugar is an Immune System suppressant.
3. Fast Foods – Most fast foods are high in fat and low in nutrients. They will make you fat and sick.
4. Lack of exercise – Muscles and bones become weak without exercise and the lymph system is not encouraged to eliminate toxins.
5. Drugs – Drugs including alcohol, nicotine, caffeine,
cocaine, etc, act as poisons in the body and cause side affects.
Prescription drugs and over the counter drugs also can have potentially
dangerous side effects.
6. Stress – Stress is very detrimental to the body.
Helps to self-healing:
1. Carrot juice and other fresh vegetable juices – These
juices go quickly into the blood stream to nourish the cells. In my
opinion, fresh juices are more beneficial than pills or supplements.
Jack LaLayne, the health guru who is in his nineties, has been juicing
for decades.
2. Mostly raw diet – The healthiest food to eat is raw food.
This includes salad foods, fresh fruit, raw nuts and seeds. Many
health experts recommend that your diet should consist of a minimum of
50% raw foods.
3. Exercise – Exercise is crucial to a strong Immune System.
4. Pure water – Nothing living can live without water.
Drinking the proper amount of fresh clean water daily is extremely
important to good health.
5. Proper rest – The body heals itself during the sleeping hours. Generally, adults need 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
6. Sunlight – Sunlight helps to build the Immune System and
provides the body with the essential vitamin D. It also energizes the
body and promotes healing.
7. Trust God – Being at peace with God will help us to be whole in our spirits, souls and bodies.
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