A Story to Illustrate the Power of Letting Go

There’s a little story that beautifully illustrates the simple power of letting go. A professor holds up a glass of water and asks his class how much it weighs. Various answers are thrown up and the professor admits that they won’t know for sure unless they weigh it. He then asks them what would happen if he held the glass up like that for an hour. Of course his hands would pain, say his students. The professor then asks them what would happen if he held up the glass like that for an entire day. His students laugh and say that he would definitely get some severe muscle problems—maybe even paralysis. But did the weight of the glass change at all, however much time you hold it up, queries the professor. So what causes this muscle ache and stress? Why not put it down, chorus the students. “Exactly!” says the professor.

Life’s problems are something like this. Hold it for a few minutes in your head and they seem fine. Think of them for a long time and they begin to ache. Hold it even longer and they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything. It’s important to think of the problems in your life, but even more important to “put them down” at the end of every day before you go to sleep. That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh and strong and can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way.

Letting go is our way of embracing life, of living in each moment, engagingly and refreshingly.

Why Letting Go Is the Key to Health and Happiness

The simple act of letting go has profound benefits—physical, mental and spiritual.

Holding on, on the other hand, makes us more vulnerable to health problems. For instance anger and hostility are prime suspects in heart diseases. Gastric problems, including acidity and irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] owe their onset to pent-up emotions. This phenomenon is known as somatization, the tendency to translate repressed emotions into actual physical symptoms.

Emotion, kept in cold storage, and reheated and rehashed, is a sure recipe for looking and feeling old. We become susceptible to allergies, racked by chronic ailments, and the more we remain locked in old patterns, the more we close ourselves to new experiences. Just imagine how much energy we expend each day just holding on to all these things, and the frustration, disappointment, anger, and sadness that we accumulate as a result.

Psychologically, letting go is invaluable in building ourselves up from within. We learn from experiences instead of being carried away by their emotional content. We learn to accept and remain neutral, not allowing anger to fuel an already volatile situation, make choices with clarity and without fear.

Related » The Dangers of Emotional Suppression

How to Practice Letting Go in Daily Life

So, how can we let go? How can we release that which keeps us blocked? How can we let clogged up patterns and emotions flow on, away from us? Here are three suggestions to help you “loosen up” and embrace what life has to offer.

1. Practice forgiveness

Forgiveness is extremely liberating. It frees us; and though we may not excuse the act, we can forgive the person who committed it. Thus, we allow negativity and resentment to loosen its tenacious grip on our psyche, and open ourselves to leading a happier life in the present. It is a decision to let go of resentments, while not condoning the act. Forgiveness is the act of untying yourself from thoughts and feelings that bind you to the offense committed against you. Medically, it has proven effects—lower blood pressure, stress reduction, lower heart rate, better anger management skills and enhanced interpersonal relations.

2. De-clutter your mind

Just as you clean your closets and sanitize your homes, how about taking time out—perhaps once a month— to sit down and evaluate exactly what you have kept in your mind? What is it that you have “hoarded” that is bogging you down, hampering your productivity, decreasing your efficiency and pulling you down? Then, simply let it go. Let go for a few minutes each day to start with and then for a longer duration, till it becomes second nature to not think about it. It will be difficult at first, but with meditation and practice, you will master the skill. You will feel so rejuvenated; you will be tempted not to look back.

3. Try creative visualization to let go

This is a process through which you harness the power of your mind to meet your objectives. Picture yourself releasing, letting go of all that is holding you back from peace, contentment, health and happiness. It could be an old resentment, a co-worker’s bad attitude and your hostile feelings associated with him/her, or a lost love. Next, picture yourself exactly as you want to be. Make sure you see this very clearly.

Once you’ve got the picture in your head, think of it often. Not only when you are relaxing or meditating, but also through the day. This is the process of sending that positive energy out into the universe. The more positive energy you send out, the more you will get back.

Lastly, believe that the person you visualize is really you, free from painful attachments and negative memories, already having “let go”. Any disbelief is negative energy, and will counteract what you’re trying to achieve. And once you see it come true, acknowledge that you made it happen. Give yourself a pat on the back. To reward is to reinforce the feeling, energizing it to make it your.

4. Use a Prop

Another powerful technique through which you can release the need to respond to whatever it is that is stirring up your emotions is to visualize and practice this by holding a small, unbreakable item [like a coin or eraser] in your open hand. Imagine that this item is a physical manifestation of what is bothering you; this problem is literally in the palm of your hand. Now, close your fist around the object as tight as you can. Notice the energy that it takes to hold it in such a manner. You may even be squeezing it so hard that it hurts, and you can feel your muscles fatiguing. Keep squeezing, but turn your hand over so your knuckles are up and your palm is facing down. Now – here’s the secret – take a deep breath and just open your hand, letting whatever it is you were clutching simply fall on the floor. This, in essence, is letting go.

You don’t have to have a physical object to practice letting go, but it can be very useful in the beginning to help you develop this response to life’s stressors. You may even consider carrying a small stone, or other items, in your pocket that you can use throughout the day as necessary while you hone this skill.

Regardless of whether or not you use a prop, the idea is that rather than trying to get a better grip on the situation and trying to control it so fiercely that it’s fatiguing, you let it go instead. It certainly seems counter-intuitive, but that only reflects our fear-based desire to exert control over situations that seem to be threatening.

Letting go offers an opportunity to relax into an uncomfortable situation instead of pushing against it. This approach helps calm the mind and nerves, slows down your breathing and racing heartbeat, and makes space for thinking that is less emotionally charged and more likely to be productive.

Conclusion

Letting go of tension and energy that have you emotionally bound up does not mean that the problem at hand will probably simply disappear. But that’s okay because letting go isn’t about evading problems. Rather, it is about giving you an opportunity to release yourself from your own spiraling negative emotions.

Letting go can be very useful for helping you to come back to your center in everyday situations. As with most things, practicing it often will result in greater flexibility and facility. When used frequently, it can literally transform your life.

This is an updated version of the article that first appeared in the September 2008 issue of Complete Wellbeing magazine.

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So how do you determine which supplements are superior and which are not worth their weight in cash? It can be hard to tell a “good quality” supplement from one that is inferior, and there can be any number of reasons why an inferior product is the way it is.

As far as vitamins go, fillers, binders, lubricants, disintegrators, colors, flavors etc., for example, typically do not have to be listed and often aren’t. Yet some of these things make some supplements harder to digest than others or may be downright toxic—which means that your body isn’t really getting all that it should from a nutritional supplement and/or may be getting something it shouldn’t!

When choosing a supplement brand that is safe and healthy, you need to be aware of the following factors, without which you won’t be able to make informed decision.

How to Choose the Best Supplement Brand

1. Brand reputation

One simple step you can take to help recognize value is through brand name recognition and reputation. While certainly not a statistical standard, it makes sense that those companies which have been around a long time and have steady return of customers have remained in business because they have quality products.

We expect good products to sell well and bad ones to fade away into anonymity. Finding a supplement brand or company that has been around for a while and whose name you and your friends recognize is a good way to start shopping for vitamin and mineral supplements.

2. Ensure that your supplements are free of toxic fillers

Choose supplements that are free of stearates, talc, “natural” flavours [MSG], sodium benzoate etc., Even if you don’t see such ingredients listed on the label, you can ask the manufacturer/brand company to send you a written guarantee [provided the guarantee is not already on the label, or in some other written company literature].

3. Check if every batch of ingredients has been tested

Few supplement companies test every batch of raw materials to see that they are truly free of heavy metals, toxic chemicals and pesticide residues, not to mention whether they contain the potency and ingredients actually promised by the supplier. If you want to be sure that you’re getting a premium-quality supplement brand each and every time you buy it, then it behooves you to buy from a company that wants this same assurance itself.

3. Go for only liquid, powder, or vegetable capsules

One thing you may not have thought of, but which makes sense, is to avoid tablets. By their very nature, tablets need glues [also called “binders” or “binding agents,” as mentioned earlier] to hold them together. In addition, nutrients become highly heated when pressed together to form tablets. Tablets are difficult to digest and can actually pass through your body undigested, especially if you have a compromised digestive system. It’s a good idea to avoid gelatin capsules as they are made from animal parts and contain toxic preservatives, hormones and antibiotics given to the animal.

4. Choose supplements that use Grade-10 ingredients

Where herbal supplements are concerned, there is an International Herbal Grade-10 Scale that manufacturers can use when sourcing their ingredients. You would do well to find a company that uses this scale, as it gives you assurance that the ingredients are truly potent.

5. Look for third party certifications

In general, go for brands that have their products tested by third-party organizations for quality, purity, and potency. ConsumerLab, NSF International, and US Pharmacopeia (USP) are some of the reputed certification companies.

There is yet another standard of quality available for supplements you’d depend upon, trust and use. It is called GMP and it stands for “Good Manufacturing Practices.” Supplements can only carry the GMP logo if they meet certain criteria. According to the GMP Institute, US: “GMP regulations require a quality approach to manufacturing, enabling companies to minimize or eliminate instances of contamination, mix-ups, and errors. This, in turn, protects the consumer from purchasing a product which is not effective or even dangerous.”

GMP regulations oversee all sorts of issues from record-keeping and personnel qualifications to sanitation, equipment verification, and even the handling of complaints. As with most sets of rules and regulations, there is still some wiggle room within the GMP badge of honor. But, this may be a case where some standard is better than no standard at all.

Important Note About Taking Supplements

Nutritional supplements, by definition, are supplementary and you should, first and foremost, strive to get all your nutrition from a healthy and balanced diet. Take supplements to complement your diet or to address any specific nutritional deficiencies you may have. Consult your health advisor or nutritionist before taking supplements.

Summarizing

Nutritional supplements certainly have a place in the world of health and wellbeing. Often, they alone can make the difference between disease and good health. However this may be, it is always better to play safe than be sorry with anything you take, be it food, medicine, or nutritional supplement.

If you have a question about the supplements you are taking or want to take, visit a trained nutritionist, herbalist, or holistic health practitioner, who will be able to help you determine whether they are of good quality and right for you.

This is an updated version of the article that first appeared in the December 2006 issue of Complete Wellbeing magazine

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“There goes my diet,” she says to herself. Realising her mistake three bites too late, she shrugs and skulks to the couch, hugging the ice-cream pack closer as she settles down to start flipping through channels on TV.

Sounds familiar?

At the top of this list are probably things like ice-cream and chocolate, two comfort foods that typically taste great, but pack more of an unhealthy punch than they are really worth. We know this. We’ve read it in the newspapers and magazines, and heard about it on the radio, and also decoded the health dangers associated with the sweet treats that we like to give ourselves when we need a fix. And, yet, though we logically know better, we continue to buy that candy bar, or indulge in our favourite dessert.

Understanding Emotional Eating

Do you eat when you’re not hungry? Do you overeat on a frequent basis? Do you eat when you are bored, angry, sad, excited, or depressed?

Emotional eating is the term given to a set of habits that all come down to the same point: food consumed in response to feelings instead of hunger.

This problem is widespread and if you find that you relate to this more easily than you wish, you’re certainly not alone.

Several factors may contribute to emotional eating. A poor diet can lead to carbohydrate addiction and low levels of mood-boosting neurotransmitters. A depressed emotional state can affect energy and motivation to make healthy choices. A downtrodden spirit may not even recognise the need to pursue health and wellbeing.

But, just as illness, whether of the body, mind or spirit, can manifest as emotional eating, positively affecting one of them can cause a healthy ripple effect that helps heal the others.

How to deal with your urge for emotional eating

Let’s understand how to deal with your urge for emotional eating at the levels of the body, mind and spirit.

Body

Good nutrition is always the basis of good physical health. Assuming your digestive system is in good working order, you really are what you eat. Additionally, your body is a creature of habit and as such tuned to crave more and more of what you give it. If you eat loads of sugars, that’s what it will want. Likewise, start feeding it fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and you’ll see a shift in your cravings towards these foods. To break habit that involve poor food choices, seek you a good nutritional consultant who will help you determine what foods will help you turn around a cycle of nutritionally empty and addictive foods .

Exercise in proper amounts will energise you on many levels. It helps stabilise the appetite and boost the metabolism. A stronger, healthier body will also help you feel good about yourself and motivate you to stay active and make positive food choices. Even a small amount of exercise can make a big difference.

Mind

Mental and emotional concerns are at the centre of emotional eating. Negative emotions, in particular, tend to fuel overeating and poor food choices. One of the things that our modernised food production capabilities have done is changed our relationship with food.

Now, a growing number of people have developed an unhealthy relationship to food, viewing it as a reward, compensation, or activity, rather than what food actually is meant to be: fuel. If you find yourself repeatedly craving certain foods in direct relation to an emotion, chances are that you could use a bit of healing.

Luckily, emotionally-based addictions are now treatable through cutting-edge psychological counselling techniques. In conjunction with traditional therapies such as hypnotherapy, or the use of positive affirmations, these techniques can be incredibly effective at curbing emotional eating.

Spirit

Ironically, our rapidly growing hyper-connected world has had an isolating effect and the resulting disconnection is one that many people feel on a deep or even subconscious level. Connecting with something deeper than ourselves can have tangible healing effects.

Not surprisingly, research suggests that a healthy sense of personal spirituality is a powerful ally in making and sustaining positive lifestyle changes. As you work to transform patterns of emotional eating into healthy living, developing a deeper sense of self and spirituality can only strengthen your resolve, boost your results, and provide calm direction in moments of temptation.

Building spiritual strength can be easy, though it takes dedication, whichever path you choose. Remember that the results are well worth the effort!

A regular prayer or meditation practice, for instance, can help calm internal dialogue and help you connect with your deeper self. Frequent journal writing or artistic expressions—such as painting, singing, or dancing—are wonderful ways to explore your truest feelings, thoughts and ideas.

Active people enjoy yoga, ta’i chi, and martial arts as spiritual disciplines which also engage the body and mind. Whatever your choice, taking the time to connect with and expand your inner landscape and relationship to something greater than yourself can help you find your centre and utilise untapped strengths and resources to help you overcome emotional eating.

How to stop the trigger

Experts say that about 75 per cent of overeating is caused by emotional eating, which means that a lot of us are guilty of using food to cope with our feelings.

While you’re working on what triggers emotional eating, make a list of other things you can do besides eating. If you get busy with something else, the urge to eat will usually pass. Here are a few ideas that you could consider when the urge comes…or even otherwise.

• Exercise: It helps relieve stress and anxiety and it makes you feel good.
• Call someone: Talking to a trusted friend or relative can be a great support and a nice distraction.
• Dance
• Meditate for 20 mins
• Read
• Walk the dog
• Run an errand [somewhere, without food!]
• Clean something
• Organise your wardrobe or your kitchen shelves
• Stretch, or do some yoga.

Another thing that can help is to make it difficult for you to reach your comfort food. Create a list of “comfort foods” that you tend to overeat or eat without hunger—chocolates, pastries, cakes, ice creams, chips. Avoid stocking them at home or make them difficult to reach. Strictly avoid storing them in places where you will see them often.

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A world full of toxins

Expectant mothers certainly have their work cut out for them! It’s a terrible truth that we live in a toxic world, and no one is more susceptible developing a toxic body burden than unborn children. In fact, the Environmental Working Group [EWG] recently found 287 toxic chemicals in the blood of just 10 humans. What was so shocking is that those 10 people were newborns! These were babies who had never spent even a day in our contaminated world, and already played host to any number of dangerous chemicals.

A toxin is anything that is injurious, destructive, or fatal. For the pregnant woman, the word ‘toxins’ refers to just about anything that may harm the unborn child: chemicals, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, household cleaners, and other air and water pollutants…it’s a fairly long list. Obviously, unborn children are highly at risk. The good news is, there is much a woman can do before and during pregnancy for her baby’s good health. Most mothers recognise the importance of a good diet, free of the foods and chemicals that can poison and negatively affect a foetus. One of the first things every pregnant woman should know is that—if at no other time in her life—it is vital that during her pregnancy she avoid as many toxins as possible. This means reducing household toxic cleaners, buying and consuming only organic foods, considering a good air and water filter.

A complete detox

I advise a thorough full-body detoxification programme prior to conceiving. This helps cleanse and prepare a woman’s body for the awesome journey ahead, ensuring that her child will grow in as clean and toxin-free a womb as possible.

Pregnant women, on the other hand, should never undergo detoxification. The components of a good detox programme [even an “all natural” one] can be too strong for a developing foetus. As a result of the detox, the woman’s body too will release toxins, which may pass into the unborn child instead of being thrown out, putting the foetus at risk. Instead, adhere to a sound programme that includes an optimally healthy diet, appropriate supplementation, and life-supporting lifestyle choices.

Common sense

Most mothers-to-be know that they need to avoid some of the most identifiable toxins: tobacco smoke, alcohol and as many medications as possible. But they don’t know why. Consuming heavy amounts of alcohol during pregnancy can cause foetal alcohol syndrome [FAS, the most common—and entirely preventable—cause of mental retardation], miscarriage, and even stillbirth. Most experts will reassure a pregnant woman that she needn’t worry herself sick about that drink she had before she knew she was pregnant. All the same, a mother wouldn’t give alcohol to a baby, so she certainly shouldn’t be drinking any during a pregnancy.

Smoking and pregnancy don’t mix well, either. Babies born to mothers who smoke tend to weigh less, probably due to restricted blood flow, which may also impair the passage of nutrients from the mother to the baby. Additionally, the carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke that enters the mother’s bloodstream reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the uterus. What this means is that not smoking is only part of the equation; pregnant women also need to avoid second-hand smoke.

Whether or not to take medications during pregnancy can be a tough decision. In fact, most doctors will suggest that mothers-to-be remain on medications while pregnant if their health depends on it. Remember that whatever a pregnant woman consumes is passed directly to her child. Because of this, it’s best for a mother-to-be to avoid over-the-counter medicines whenever possible and certainly within the first eight weeks of pregnancy. This is an important period because the baby’s heart, lung and brain systems form during this time.

This was first published in the Feb 2009 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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Good nutrition is of paramount importance for pregnant women. In fact, optimal nutrition helps prevent many pregnancy-related problems, including serious complications. Not only will getting plenty of right nutrients ensure that your baby is healthy, it will also ensure that the mother  too remains healthy during and after pregnancy.

Most women have some knowledge of what it means to ‘eat right’. However, many do not know what goes into a healthy diet.

Diet basics

The first step toward becoming well nourished is to make a commitment to do so. Ideally, this commitment would also involve the baby’s father and other family members who can lend support. Pregnant women need to learn to eat when they are hungry, as opposed to emotional eating [a common act that accompanies feelings of frustration, anger, depression, and boredom]. Similarly, it is important that mothers-to-be learn not to skip meals if they are upset or stressed. This is important for women who dread gaining weight. Pregnancy is a time to worry only about what and how much you eat, not how much you gain.

If possible, a pregnant woman should eat every few hours. This does not necessarily mean feasting all day long, but it does mean enjoying a wide variety of high-quality, nutrient-rich foods throughout the day. While a good prenatal supplement can help a woman take care of her body and her baby during pregnancy, it is always ideal to get the bulk of essential micronutrients [like vitamins and minerals] from foods rather than from supplements. In order to do this, mothers-to-be will need to include a wide variety of healthy, natural [and if possible, organic] foods into their diets. Of course, the best sources of good nutrition are foods that are close to their natural state as possible, minimally processed with no additives or preservatives.

Essential nutrients

As with most aspects, there is some debate as to how much of each particular nutrient is optimal for a pregnant woman. Each nutrient plays a vital role in helping the developing foetus. And though it is not often said this way, remember that babies are incredibly effective, loveable parasites. That is, they take from the mother everything they need for their health, regardless of how it affects their ‘host’. If the mother is not getting enough nutrition, for both herself and her baby, then she is likely to suffer signs of deficiency, both during and after pregnancy.

Here’s a simplified breakdown of some of the most vital nutrients, as well as how many servings to have in order to meet the guidelines each day:

Proteins [4 servings/day]: They aid in the production of new cells by providing amino acids, the building blocks of the baby’s body. The body also requires proteins for the placenta. Proteins contribute to formation of breast milk, and are essential for healthy blood clotting. Additionally, protein is required for a baby’s hormones, growth, metabolism, and sexual development. Inadequate intake of protein is associated with toxemia [an abnormal condition characterised by hypertension, oedema, and protein in the urine]. Meat, eggs, yogurt, cheese, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds and nut butters are good sources of protein. Take care to consume only organic, free-range, and fresh meat and dairy products.

Carbohydrates [4–6 servings/day]: Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for all body functions including digestion, assimilation, and muscular activity. Therefore, good quality carbohydrates should make the bulk of the diet. A woman’s body will use protein and fat for energy if carbohydrate intake is insufficient. Before you let that sound like a good idea, remember that this can also lead to a harmful chemical residue in the body known as ‘ketones’, which if present consistently or in high amounts can be dangerous for both the mother and the baby. As a result, pregnant women should be consistent and conscious about their carbohydrate intake. Of course, not all carbs are equal. Avoid simple processed carbs for sustained energy, better digestion, and optimal nutrition. The best sources for healthy, complex carbohydrates include whole grains, unprocessed whole-wheat pastas, seeds, and a variety of starchy vegetables like potatoes, squashes, and beets.

Fats [2 servings/day]: Fats are a necessary part of the diet for any person, pregnant or not. Steer clear of trans-fats [hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils] and saturated fats Have monounsaturated fats, and watch your polyunsaturated fat intake. I approached a friend of mine, Shannan Kirchner, MD, and asked if she had any sage advice for pregnant women. Dr Kirchner spoke of a new research that indicated the incredible benefits associated with an increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy. Numerous studies, websites and researchers confirm that omega-3 fatty acids help—among other things—to develop the eyes and the brains of unborn babies.

One way to supplement the diet with healthy fats is to take one tablespoon of fat daily in the form of a pure vegetable oil [unrefined, cold-pressed oil], as well as foods rich in this nutrient. Nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils are good sources of quality fats. Alternately, both evening primrose oil and high-quality fish oil supplements help get a balance of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Calcium foods [4 servings/day]: Calcium is an important essential mineral. It aids in the baby’s skeletal development and helps with the growth of healthy nerves, muscles, and heart tissue. A deficiency of calcium in the pregnant woman’s diet may result in muscle cramps, backache, high blood pressure, intense labour, osteoporosis, tooth problems and pre-eclampsia [hypertension and fluid retention]. Also, calcium and magnesium work together. Therefore, a pregnant woman must opt for calcium supplements that include magnesium. Calcium sources include dairy products, spinach and other dark leafy greens, legumes, broccoli, enriched-soy and -rice drinks and juices. Herbal sources are alfalfa, dandelion, kelp, and dulse. Remember, the safest dairy products will be organic, and not from cows treated with hormones.

Folate/Folic Acid [400–800mcg/day]: Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate [vitamin B] essential particularly during pregnancy and infancy when there is an increase in cell division and growth. As a supplement, it prevents neural tube defects in the baby [such as anencephaly and spina bifida]. During pregnancy, it acts as a safeguard against anaemia, miscarriage, premature birth, and birth defects and hence is needed in great amounts.The sources of folate include green leafy vegetables, wheat germ, nutritional yeast, eggs, whole grains, lentils, nuts, and liver. Of course, it is  advised  to get folic acid through supplements and any good prenatal vitamin contains it.

Iron [27–60mg/day]: Iron is vital in forming blood in both the mother and child. It supplies oxygen to cells for energy and growth, and plays a part in the formation of healthy bones and teeth. It is common to have iron supplements during pregnancy, but unless blood tests indicate anaemia, there is no need to take iron tablets. Iron levels normally decrease during pregnancy as blood becomes more dilute.

Wholegrain cereals, green vegetables, dried fruits, blackstrap molasses, sea vegetables, legumes, eggs, and liver are good sources of iron. Herbal sources include nettle, dandelion, yellow dock, kelp, alfalfa, watercress, and fennel. Combine the iron source with a good vitamin C source for it to be absorbed better.

Zinc [11–20mg]: Zinc is essential for a healthy development of foetal cells, organs, nerves, skeleton and circulatory system. Unfortunately, women often have a lower intake of this essential nutrient than is recommended. Dietary sources of zinc include oysters and shellfish, herring, nuts, seeds, beef and other meats, whole grains, peas, soy products, fruits and vegetables.

This was first published in the March 2009 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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Take care of your body

The following tips can help your body function at its optimum.

Eat well. Your body is made out of the foods you eat…literally. Depending on your activity level, 6 to 8 months from now, nearly 100 per cent of the cells that make up your body will have regenerated. It’s important to remember that these new cells will actually be created from what you eat between now and then.

If you want a stronger, leaner, and healthier body, you need to eat foods that will create this reality. You need to lay off the candies, sodas and alcoholic drinks, and start eating those things that you already know are good for you.

The University of Michigan recommends a daily diet consisting of: 8 to 12 glasses of water, 4 to 11 servings of whole grains, 1 to 3 servings of legumes, 3 to 9 servings of healthy fats [such as nuts, seeds, and some vegetable oils], and 1 to 4 servings of lean meats and fish on a weekly basis. What’s more, it also suggests eating mindfully: truly savouring each bite of food so that you enjoy and focus on what you are eating.

Include dietary supplements. Is it possible to get all the essential nutrients you require from food? Perhaps, but only if we eat a wide array of organic fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes on a daily basis. Not to point fingers, but chances are that we don’t. Vitamin and mineral supplementation can help make up the difference.

This is a ‘pay now or pay later’ situation. Either you regularly buy and take nutritional supplements now, increasing your health and wellbeing and preventing potential illnesses. Or, you pay later by falling sick.

Tip: To find out which health–preserving nutritional supplements suit you, consult a trained nutrition consultant.

Exercise often. The human body was created to move. Research suggests that even modest amounts of exercise can substantially reduce a person’s chance of dying of heart disease, cancer and other disease. It also increases self-confidence, overall wellbeing and slows down ageing. You don’t have to spend hours everyday at a gym or on a treadmill to reap the benefits of exercise. To move quickly from being out-of-shape to top fitness, simply walk.

Brisk walking for 30 – 60 minutes a day is all it takes [‘Briskly’ means that the walk should be at a fast but not uncomfortable pace]. Among other benefits, brisk walking improves cardiovascular fitness and blood circulation, reduces cholesterol, and lowers the risk of heart attack and high blood pressure.

Mind your mind

Good health isn’t necessarily just a physical concern. A strong and active mind certainly plays its part. After all, can a physically-fit person really claim to be radiantly healthy, if s/he is chronically depressed, anxious or stressed?

Here are a few suggestions for treating your mind right and helping you lead a long and healthy life.

Make time to relax. Not only does stress sap your energy, negatively affect your immune system and lead to chronic physical problems, but it also steals your attention, exhausts your inner reserves, and keeps you involved in negative thought patterns.

Stress may be hard to dodge in this fast-moving world, but you can take steps to relax and recover each day. One important rule is to allow yourself at least 10 minutes between stressful tasks, whether at home or work. This gives your mind an opportunity to unwind before you get into another potentially stressful endeavour.

During these 10 minutes, try gentle or deep breathing techniques, muscle relaxation exercises, visualisation, stretching or any combination of the above. The more often you take time to relax, the better you will get at it and the better it will work for you.

Laugh out loud. Read funny books, watch movies or television shows that make you laugh, share funny stories or jokes with good friends, or even “fake it until you make it” by forcing yourself to laugh. Laughing is a powerful stress-buster that helps relax the mind. Research shows that it gives the immune system a boost and reduces the levels of stress hormones that lead to premature ageing.

Deep laughter—straight from the belly—can have a truly cathartic effect, releasing pent-up emotions and frustrations. It can also serve as a distraction from feelings of anger, guilt or stress. Studies have also shown that laughter improves creativity, thinking ability, problem-solving, memory, recall and learning.

Challenge yourself. While physical exercise is certainly good for the brain [as it maintains blood flow and helps prevent the death of brain cells], mental exercise is just as important. It takes some effort to build a strong mind, but the results are certainly worth the exertion. Research is continually uncovering the relationship between an active mind and reduced risk of several debilitating conditions including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. A lifetime of mental activity is the best protection against mental decline in old age. However, it’s never too late to put your mind to use. Simple and fun things like crossword puzzles and number games such as the recently popular ‘Sudoku’ help keep a mind sharp.

For more adventurous people, studying a foreign language and learning a musical instrument have proven effective in keeping the mind healthy and active.

Stretch your spirit

Holistic health involves not only the body and mind, but the spirit as well. We are more than our physical body, thoughts, and feelings. We are also spiritual beings. Refining your spiritual energies helps improve your health and relationships, as well as your outlook.

Here are some ideas for encouraging spiritual growth and health.

Discover your inner landscape. Do you know who you really are? It’s common to set up a mental list of what you like, what you don’t, what your strengths and weaknesses are, and how you think life is meant to unfold for you. What if there is more to you than you give yourself credit?

Spiritual teachers have always encouraged plumbing the depths of our inner selves. Engaging regularly in practices such as meditation, journaling, and visual and kinesthetic arts can unlock parts of you that you didn’t even know existed. Truer understanding of yourself, the more freely you can live your life.

Encourage connection. It’s very easy to live a solitary life. In an age of unprecedented global communications, it’s ironic that people are feeling increasingly lonely. Mystics and scientists alike have confirmed that we are intrinsically connected to everyone around us in a variety of ways, from the energetic and subatomic, to larger relations involving cultures and societies. Honouring and valuing the connection you have with those around you, can help create happiness in your own life and in the life of others. When you share time, thoughts, hopes, dreams, heartbreaks and joys with the people you care about, you open yourself to a rich world of relationships. Whether sharing deeply and intimately with a partner or spouse, or building community with others of similar mindset and values, you gain an opportunity to experience the fullness and vibrant energy of love that comes from being part of something larger than yourself.

Serve others. Give your time and energy to causes that you believe can deepen your sense of self-worth, broaden your faith and understanding of humanity, and energise your own spiritual growth. However, it’s important to serve for the right reasons. Serving others because you think you should or because you feel obligated to will only drain and exhaust you. Authentic service, on the other hand, is a natural human tendency.

We are hardwired to spontaneously feel drawn to do service that engages our hearts and minds. This kind of service, a natural outpouring of the human heart manifest in the work of our hands, actually nourishes the one who is giving as much as those receiving.

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Nori found herself laughing aloud at her father’s immaturity, instead of crying as usual at memories of physical abuse at his hands.

There had been no medical intervention, no endless hours with a psychotherapist, and no medications involved, yet each of them have successfully defeated their troubling emotions. When combined with new research, these powerful anecdotes suggest that such rapid and long-term healing is possible. What’s more, it is the result of literally tapping into a system of energy that already exists within each of us. Too good to be true? But Richard’s story is actually my own. I overcome my fear due to my surprising encounter with an ancillary therapy called Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT.

The basis

EFT is an alternative therapy that belongs to the new area of speciality called Energy Psychology, which focuses on how your body’s unique energy can dramatically affect your emotional health, your success in the world, and your level of personal joy and wellbeing. As a field, Energy Psychology is both new and well-received. The journal Clinical Psychology describes it as “an exciting and rapidly developing realm,” concluding that “emerging research suggests that [Energy Psychology’s] methods are very effective indeed, extremely rapid, and thoroughly gentle.”

Most techniques that fall under its umbrella—EFT included—are at least partially founded on the ancient Chinese medicine theory involving the circulation of energy in the body. Just as fluids flow through our body [i.e. blood, lymph], an unseen system of energy circulates, as well. Eastern medicine has long acknowledged the presence of this energy flow and has, over 5,000 years, steadily perfected its approach to utilising these energies to affect health and healing. Acupuncture and acupressure are part of this long legacy. The latest ‘cousin’ in the family, EFT is rapidly gaining respect and validity as a tool for quick, efficient, and relatively painless healing.

The principle

The primary principle of EFT is that all emotional disturbances are caused by a disruption in the body’s energy system. It follows that smoothing out or ‘fixing’ that disruption should ‘heal’ emotional troubles. This makes it an excellent ancillary therapy for depression, anger, jealousy, phobias, paranoia, addictions, performance anxiety, low self-esteem, and a host of other mental and emotional ailments.

But EFT also connects the brain with this dynamic energy system. In their groundbreaking book, The Promise of Energy Psychology, authors David Feinstein, Donna Eden, and [EFT creator] Gary Craig explore the connection between the human brain and emotional health. They conclude that “every thought or emotion that you experience causes a reaction in a specific area of your brain.” Through EFT, practitioners help patients shift their brain’s response to external and internal stimuli. As a result, things that used to emotionally disturb a person, suddenly elicit a more rational emotional response. [Remember my spider phobia?]

Another reason EFT may help heal physical maladies is that it smoothes out the energy system in the body. People with significant health issues may have developed a disturbance in their energy system. Recalibrating the energy flow with regard to the illness or disease in question may allow the body to more easily heal and rejuvenate itself.

Granted, EFT may not cure every ailment and situation, but the ease of its use, the painlessness of its delivery, and the odds of its success certainly make it worth investigating.

As an advanced practitioner, I will certainly suggest that a positive outlook or ‘hope’ may increase a patient’s rate of success due to the power of intention, but I have yet to see proof that incredulity keeps EFT from working its magic at least on some level.

The procedure

Perhaps one of the most surprising aspects of EFT is its simplicity and non-invasiveness. At the centre of EFT is a working knowledge of what are called the body’s acupoints. There are at least 360 acupoints distributed throughout the body, tiny areas of the skin that, when stimulated, send signals directly to areas of the brain that are connected with our emotions and our bodies’ energy systems. MRIs have demonstrated that “stimulating specific points on the skin not only changed brain activity; it also deactivated areas of the brain that are involved with the experiences of fear and pain.” Further, working with acupoints has been shown to increase the release of serotonin [a natural, beneficial neurochemical], necessary from a neurochemical standpoint to minimise depression, addictions and mood disorders.

With EFT, however, you take two fingers of one hand and use them to conduct a series of gentle taps on only a handful of these points to provide an incredible healing journey.

Perhaps just as important as the tapping itself is the Set-Up Phrase used to isolate and address the issue in question. This phrase is typically comprises two parts: the statement of the problem, and a positive affirmation. For example, if you are working with a fear of spiders, you would start with the phrase: “Even though I am terrified of spiders.”

This establishes the problem and helps trigger your body’s subtle energies surrounding this issue. The next step in the Set-Up Phrase process, however, is to tell your body/mind that, regardless of the issue, it is loved and accepted: “.I deeply and completely love and accept myself.”This entire phrase—”Even though I am terrified of spiders, I deeply and completely love and accept myself.”—simultaneously addresses the issue and primes the energy system for what I like to think of as ‘recalibration. Essentially, you allow your body to slip into the negative energy pattern [by calling out the problem] and then offer yourself love and acceptance in spite of the perceived negative response.

This statement is repeated a few times while tapping on a point on the hand, and then the rest of the tapping sequence commences. What stands out to most EFT newcomers is that when tapping on each of the acupoints, they are asked to repeat the problem indicated by the Set-Up Phrase [e.g., “I’m terrified of spiders!”].

In my practice, most patients ask me, why we don’t repeat the positive affirmation. “Aren’t I just tapping the problem in even deeper?” they ask. To the contrary, by repeating the problem while stimulating the acupoints, the body is sent a signal to release the disruption in the energy system around that particular issue, in effect ‘recalibrating’ it so that the problem no longer shocks the energy system.

The result of this tapping and problem-repeating—the negative emotion is reduced and a cognitive reframe occurs. The circumstances haven’t changed, but the way the patient perceives them shifts dramatically.

The benefits

EFT has the capacity to help with many physical ailments—carpal tunnel syndrome, neck pain, backache, headaches, PMS [premenstrual syndrome], toothaches, migraines, IBS [irritable bowel syndrome], common cold, high blood pressure, and many other health concerns.

Remarkably, EFT has the ability to release emotional, mental and even physical pains that far surpass simple fears. Indeed, it has been known to help with sports performance, reduce many body aches and pains, and even disarm traumatic memories and events such as abuse and rape. The power of EFT is only now starting to become widely recognised, and I foresee it being used in many situations as a first-response approach to a wide array of emotional and physical issues.

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The powerful technique has been endorsed by physicians, acupuncturists, chiropractors and Reiki masters. Some of the Reiki masters using Q-T in combination with Reiki have found it so effective that they call it ‘Turbo charging Reiki or Reiki Empowerment’. The statement may appear exaggerated, but using the two systems together does seem to augment their combined effect manifold as a result of synergy so generated. What is most thrilling about Q-T is the electric speed and the intensity with which it works.[Also read Essential Therapies, CW March 2007]

What is Quantum-Touch?

According to mind-body guru, Deepak Chopra, “In order for consciousness to affect matter, it must affect it at a quantum or subatomic level”. Richard Gordon believes that there exists an intersection point on a subatomic or quantum level where consciousness and matter intersect. By manipulating this point, Q-T, dynamically and positively, activates the body’s own healing process through love and intent.

From the DNA to the bones, all cells and systems effortlessly respond to the healing vibration of love.

How does Q-T work?

Q-T activates the body’s in-built healing mechanism through a conscious manipulation of the area being healed at the subatomic or quantum level and changing the vibration of the area by matching with the raised resonance [vibration of one body in response to that of another] of the practitioner through entrainment [the process by which things align their movement and energy together to match in rhythm and phase].

Q-T works on the principle that energy follows thought; the practitioner directs his intention and focus to create a high energy field and uses that field to surround the area to be healed.

It works its way up through the atoms, molecules, body-cells, tissues and organs to produce the desired healing response.

How are Q-T and Reiki similar?

The healing systems of Quantum-Touch and Reiki work on the common principle of raising the vibratory level of the practitioner. Only the modus operandi differs. The former employs resonance and entrainment and the latter uses universal life force energy to boost the innate life force energy of the body. Both systems are hands-on-healing and work on the premise of intent and love. So blending them together is quite safe and effective.

Some Q-T exercises

At the core of Q-T are the body focusing, and special breathing techniques. A combination of these techniques enables the practitioner to powerfully focus and amplify Chi [life-force energy] with the hands placed on the area—the role that the Power Symbol performs in Reiki. No symbols are, however, used in Q-T.

Body awareness exercises

Feeling your finger

Hold your finger in the air and be aware of it. In about two minutes, you will feel vibration/ buzzing/heat/heaviness on it. Some may feel an increased awareness of the finger itself.

Feeling your body parts

This exercise is best done seated in a chair with the help of a friend. It is meant to bring energy and sensation to all body parts.

Start doing gentle sweeping strokes upward from toes of the feet to the ankles, patting and stopping at ankles. Repeat the sweeping without touching, if no upward movement of energy is felt, then resume gentle stroking. Continue moving upwards, gently stroking shins, knees, thighs, hips, lower pelvis, stomach, chest, neck and up to the head, in that order. Then come down from both sides of the head [right hand moving down the left side and left hand down the right side] stroking down the opposite shoulders, arms and ending into the hands, feeling the sensations of heat, vibration, tingling or buzzing all over the body parts. The toe to head stroking stimulates the directional flow of energy throughout the body. You may repeat the exercise a number of times to enjoy the sensations.

You may find it cumbersome to do it on the back of your body by yourself and may need help.

18 Inch sweeps

Repeat the Exercise 2 [“Feeling your body parts”] pattern. This time, employing longer sweeping strokes of 18 inches in length each. Start with a sweeping touch from the feet up to the knees. Stop to feel the sensation and gradually move to the head, then down to the shoulders and to the hands.

Conscious and controlled breathing

The 4-4 breath

Do thorough body sweeps mentally from feet to top of your head as you inhale to the count of four [of one second each]. You should feel as much sensation as possible as you bring your awareness through your body. Exhale to the count of four and let all the sensation, so generated, concentrate in your hands. This is an easy breathing exercise.

The 1-4 breath

Completely inhale to the count of one and exhale to the count of four. Inhaling to the count of one requires mouth breathing. Stop if you feel dizzy.

Deep abdominal breathing–2-6 breath

Two counts of one second in length for inhalation and six counts of one second each for the exhalation complete a cycle. This is a very powerful breathing technique and there is no holding of breath involved.

Connecting energy to breath

Linking body awareness exercises with breathing techniques helps the flow of energy in the session. Mentally, do a full body sweep on yourself. You may sit or stand. Start a 2-6 breathing pattern and place all your awareness in your hands. Feel the energy building on exhalation. Do this for a few minutes till you are able to coordinate the exhalation with sensation. Focus on the 6 counts of exhalation.

Keeping the hands gently cupped, start 1-4 breath pattern. Notice the change in sensation in your hands. Work to feel the sensation increase on exhalation. Now start doing the fire breathing technique. As you breathe keep your hands closed/cupped [as done in Reiki]. After you have finished the rapid inhalations and exhalations, take a large inhalation and go into 1-4 or 2-6 pattern.

Tip: Notice the change in sensation in your hands. If you feel increase in sensation on exhalations, you are doing well and are ready to proceed to next step i.e. passing the energy and doing the healing session as explained.

How to heal

Place your hands on both sides the patient’s pain area. If you are working on the neck or back, place one hand on each side of the vertebrae of the spine. Running energy with the tips of ‘tripod’ [tips of the thumb and first two fingers joined together] into the occipital ridge for about two minutes is an effective way to treat neck pain. Remember to take large breaths throughout the treatment. While working, pay close attention to the changes in sensations in your hands. Chase the pain and shift your hands to the area of shifting pain, if any. Treat for 20-30 minutes if pain contines. The trick is to use the breathing techniques through the session.

Focusing the energy through the tips of the ‘tripod’ is also a highly effective way to treat pain in very small areas such as jaws.

How to integrate Reiki with Q-T

Combining the two hands-on-healing techniques together is easy. It can be achieved by focusing the energy on each of the Reiki hand positions using Reiki symbols. Simultaneously connect breathing to the sensation in the hand and continue the breathing.

Concurrent use of Reiki symbols, especially laying power symbol on each of the position adds to the focus of resonance and entrainment and makes it a still more powerful healing technique. The other advantage of using Reiki Power Symbol while you run the energy doing full body sweeps [an essential Q-T exercise] is that it acts like a spiral spinning the energy through and around your body at the same time. Making the energy spin raises the vibration and the potential for the energy to penetrate deeper.

This Q-T technique of treating the area by sandwiching it between the two hands also amplifies your healing power manifold.

Benefits

Quantum-Touch has been found especially effective in addressing bone-related problems. Bones move into alignment with just a light touch. The technique is remarkably effective in dealing with all sorts of neck or back pains with a fire fighting speed and safety. When combined with the healing power of Reiki, the results are amazing. You may use the two together to send distant healing, balance emotional distress or even to heal your pet dogs, cats, horses or other pets. Those who have no access to Reiki, will still find the Q-T technique as outlined here, useful for practice.

Disclaimer: This article does not purport to be a substitute for proper training either in Quantum-Touch or in Reiki, though knowledge of latter is presumed.

The post Quantum Touch: Energy Healing appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

New research suggests that there are various dietary and herbal supplements you can utilise to preserve the health of your brain, and to maintain or even improve your cognitive function^*. With the increased prevalence of brain-affecting disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, this is one of those 18 million thoughts actually worth pondering this year. Interest in natural means of working with these particular brain-centred ailments is growing. Research supports the idea that cognitive function can be maintained, and in some cases increased, by changes in diet and lifestyle.

Your fatty brain

Much of your brain’s tissue is composed of fat and, as the cells that make up brain tissue are replaced, your body requires dietary fats to create new, healthy brain cells. About 20 per cent of the human brain comprises docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]. Eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA], another brain chemical, is an anti-inflammatory substance that promotes hormones in the brain which directly contribute to the regulation of normal brain function. Both these chemicals are a component of omega-3 fatty acids, which are an important part of a healthy diet. Not surprisingly, studies indicate that people with low levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood have a greater decline in cognitive function. Indeed, research indicates that Alzheimer’s patients tend to have low levels of DHA in the brain.

Add omega-3 fatty acids

Given the above, it doesn’t take much brain power to deduce that supplementing the diet with proper amounts of omega-3 fatty acids is vital to maintaining healthy brain function. So consume foods that contain omega-3s: seafood [such as salmon, sardines, and mackerel], flax seeds, pumpkin seeds and eggs. If you can’t consume these foods regularly, a good omega-3 supplement can certainly help. Such supplements will be fish or seed oil capsules. Whichever you prefer, be sure it is fresh and of good quality, and try to take between 1,000-6,000 mg daily.

Add phospholipids

Beyond omega-3s, however, is a group of fat-like organic compounds called phospholipids. These substances are a major component of all cell membranes, including those of our brain. Of the four classes of phospholipids, phosphatidylerine [PS] is most concentrated in the brain, where it contributes greatly to cognitive function by, among other things, stimulating neurotransmitter release. Unfortunately, aging causes a natural decline in PS throughout the body and the effects of its decrease are especially noticeable in brain functioning.

Supplementing with PS can have surprising results for those with cognitive decline, as it helps maintain cellular membrane integrity and protects brain cells against brain-related deterioration. Research suggests that doses between 75 mg and 500 mg are necessary to reap these cognitive benefits. What’s even more exciting, is that combining omega-3 fatty acids with phospholipids has proven to have a positive synergistic effect.

But before you decide that a carefree high-fat diet is just what the doctor ordered to jumpstart your brain, take a good look at which fats are good for the brain and which are most certainly not. Avoid saturated fats, which raise your risk of heart disease and certain kinds of cancer. Arguably more dangerous, however, are trans fats, one of humanity’s most unfortunate anti-nutrient creations.

Cut trans fatty acids

Trans fatty acids [sometimes listed as “hydrogenated” or “partially-hydrogenated” fats and oils on food labels] are simply unnatural. And while we consume them regularly, they don’t belong in our bodies. Found in products such as french fries, margarine, potato chips and many other highly-sugared or high-starch “snack foods”, trans fats actually disrupt communication in your brain. They do this by taking the place of DHA in your brain’s cell membranes. By their nature, trans fatty acids are less flexible than DHA, and the result is the inevitable slowing and disruption of brain activity. If you’re interested in improving your cognitive function, removing trans fats from your diet may be just as important as getting more omega-3s and phospholipids.

More brain boosters

Vitamin E – Vitamin E is an essential vitamin, necessary for life. It’s also a powerhouse of an anti-oxidant and protects the brain from the ravages of aging. In people dealing with a decline in cognitive abilities, vitamin E may be especially helpful. In one study, high doses of vitamin E actually slowed the progress of Alzheimer’s for up to seven months. Found naturally in wheat germ, soybeans, vegetable oils and many nuts, it can also be taken in supplement form.

Ginkgo biloba – Ginkgo biloba also tops the list of natural cognitive-boosting supplements. Packing a double-punch, Ginkgo biloba increases blood flow to the brain and fights free radicals that may contribute to inflammation there. In one study of 80 healthy women in Germany, researchers found that taking 600 mg of Ginkgo biloba significantly improved short-term memory only one hour later. To receive maximum, cognitive-enhancing benefit, a standard dose of 90-240 mg daily for a period of 8-12 weeks is recommended.

DMAE – Finally, consider supplementing with DMAE [dimethylaminoethanol]. Like omega-3s, this nutrient is readily found in fish [especially anchovies and sardines], and it passes easily into the brain where it is converted into essential phospholipids. DMAE has been shown to elevate mood, improve memory, increase intelligence and give a boost to physical energy, as well. A slow-acting stimulant that can be used as an alternative to antidepressant medications. A daily dose of 100-500 mg of DMAE can help bring your brain back into cognitive balance.

*Before making any dietary or lifestyle changes, or using any dietary or herbal supplements, check with your physician. While most dietary and herbal supplements are benign in nature, some may exhibit specific interactions with certain prescription medications and should not be used without proper medical direction and/or supervision.

The post Food for thought appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Oxygen, as we all know, is essential for human life. But, did you know that it can also help you overcome disease, fight cancer, promote cellular repair, and improve overall body functioning?

In general, oxygen therapies are classified according to the type of chemical process involved: “oxygenation” involves adding oxygen to blood or tissues, while “oxidation” involves the splitting off and transference of microscopic electrons.

Oxygen therapy and ozone therapy may not be very popular yet the world over. However, they have been used for many years in Europe.

Oxygenation therapies saturate the body’s cells with oxygen. Typically, this is done through the use of gas, and sometimes at high pressures, known as “hyperbaric oxygen therapy” or HBOT.

However, a word of caution would be helpful. While oxygen is necessary for health, too little may promote the growth of harmful bacteria and viruses, and too much may damage otherwise healthy tissues.

Oxygen is essential for all cells, organs and bodily functions throughout the body. But, oxygen therapies certainly require the guidance and skill of a trained practitioner.

The Basics of Oxygen Therapies

A variety of conditions such as illness, stress, a poor diet, shallow breathing and inadequate lung function can lead to oxygen depletion. When this happens, disease-causing micro- organisms that thrive only in low-oxygen environments multiply and negatively affect your health.

Some studies have even indicated that low oxygen levels in the blood can contribute to premature aging. Otto Warburg, the two-time Nobel laureate and Director of the Max Planck Institute for Cell Physiology in Germany, suggests that a lack of oxygen at the cellular level may actually be the primary cause of cancer, as well. His work with tissue cultures showed conclusively that oxygen therapy can kill cancer cells.

Oxygen therapy aims to restore optimal cell function. It can take several different forms. It can be professionally administered in many ways: orally, rectally, vaginally, intravenously, intra-arterially, through inhalation, or by injection into the skin.

One of the most popular forms of oxygen therapy is HBOT, which introduces oxygen into the body via a pressurised chamber.

Oxidation therapies are quite different altogether. Oxidation is a chemical reaction in which electrons are transferred from one molecule to another. Oxygen molecules are frequently, but not always, involved in these reactions. Molecules that “donate” electrons are said to be “oxidised,” where those that receive electrons are called “oxidants.”

Oxidation is a natural and necessary process in the body, but a body’s oxidative function can be weakened by prolonged exposure to environmental toxins, or stresses. Introducing oxidation therapy can help “jump-start” the body’s natural oxidative process, while additionally destroying disease-producing bacteria, viruses and other microbial organisms.

Oxidative therapies also deactivate toxic substances in the body without harming otherwise healthy tissues. An example of this is topically applying hydrogen peroxide to a wound: the normal cells thrive, while bacteria and other pathogens die.

Hydrogen peroxide and ozone are two substances typically used in oxidation therapies.

There are three main types of treatments utilised today that fall under the “oxygen therapy” umbrella: HBOT, ozone, and hydrogen peroxide therapy.

Ozone Therapy

Ozone therapy is unique in that it is both oxidative and oxygenating. The trick lies in the ozone molecule itself. Where oxygen is comprised of two oxygen molecules [O₂], ozone is comprised of three [O₃] and is molecularly less stable. Because of the added oxygen molecule, ozone is more reactive than oxygen and readily enters into oxidative reactions with other molecules. During oxidation with ozone, the extra oxygen molecule in ozone breaks away, leaving a normal O₂ molecule. This increases the oxygen level in the blood and tissues.

Ozone itself is antiviral, anti-bacterial and antifungal in action. This means it can be used to treat a wide-spectrum of health issues including skin ulcers, slow-healing wounds, burns, chronic infections, viruses, and yeast infections. Like oxygen therapy, it can be administered in different ways: topically, intravenously, intra-arterially, intramuscularly, intra-articularly, and subcutaneously.

Ozone can be added to water, and introduced to the body orally, rectally, or vaginally. Because ozone is dangerous when inhaled, it should only be administered by a trained specialist. Research also suggests that taking supplemental vitamin C in conjunction with ozone therapy is important to prevent uncontrolled oxidation – which is detrimental to the body.

Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy

Hydrogen peroxide therapy, like ozone, works by oxidation. It is a liquid comprised of two atoms of both hydrogen and oxygen [H₂O₂] that, when entering an oxidative reaction, becomes oxygen in water [O+H₂O]. In this way, it adds oxygen atoms to the body.

Intravenous hydrogen peroxide has been used since the 1920s, and since that time it has been evidenced to be helpful in cases of poor circulation, heart disease, angina, emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, influenza, chronic fatigue, candidiasis, parasitic infections and arthritis, among other ailments. It has also been shown to cause cancer cells to become more sensitive to radiation therapy, making it helpful in treating cancer, as well.

Oxidation through hydrogen peroxide regulates tissue repair, respiration, growth, immune and energy functions, and most hormone systems. It also destroys bacteria, viruses, yeast and parasites, without causing injury to healthy tissues.

To find out more about either oxygen or ozone therapy, speak to a naturopathic physician, or trained holistic health practitioner.

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