Why You Shouldn’t Exercise

Imagine a health practitioner telling you not to exercise!  I cannot count the number of patients who tell me that they know they should be exercising more, but they just don’t make the time, don’t like it or have a health concern about the exertion. So, exercise becomes another stressor in their lives. They know they should exercise, and they may feel guilty because they don’t.

About half of adult Americans over age 18 exercise three or more times per week. http://www.statisticbrain.com/percent-of-americans-who-exercise-regularly/  In cold weather locations that statistic may drop lower as the temperature drops.  60% of Americans have jobs that require them to sit most of the day.

Some good news is that many people in sedentary jobs are getting more exercise. http://www.askmen.com/news/sports/people-with-sedentary-jobs-get-more-exercise-says-study.html  But if you are hitting the gym after work, you may not be helping your self as much as you think.

Working out, by weight lifting, cardio, biking or other specific types of exercise is only part of the picture. Men, in particular, may be able to lose weight by increasing exercise. But women and older men will find their weight climbing if they rely on exercise alone. Considering the amount of obesity these days, more exercise is not the answer.

Instead of trying to carve out time to fit in a trip to the gym, consider just getting more movement throughout the day. There are a number of movements you can incorporate at your desk. Check these out http://greatist.com/fitness/deskercise-33-ways-exercise-work The point is to get your body moving.

Good health is about blood and nutrients moving through the systems and reaching every cell. Then waste products need to be transferred through the detoxification channels for elimination. Think of your body like a city. Food has to reach distribution locations and garbage must be picked up and disposed of. Stop or inhibit either inflow or outflow channel and protest, riots, revolutions, and deaths will occur.

Symptoms in the body that you may be ignoring daily are protests from your internal “citizens”. Ignore them and they become riots, which is the first line of illness or disability. Revolution occurs when serious disease sets in and will lead to cellular deaths, and eventually may bring down an entire organ, system or the body itself.

So, next time you grab a coffee and head to the gym, stop for fast food, or have a few drinks with friends, think about the needs of your citizen cells. Exercise does provide much-needed training of muscles and improves circulation of blood and lymph (the white blood cell/immune protection system). But if you are not eating enough healthy nutrients, you are placing a greater demand on the body, which may deepen deficiencies. Every single thing your body inhales, digests, or absorbs through the skin is either beneficial, neutral or toxic.

Life is a marathon event, and training for it does involve keeping muscles strong and keeping joints flexible. But concentrate on your daily food first, get up and get moving throughout the day second. Add specific exercises third. Achieve an ideal weight for your body, but don’t make the mistake of thinking you can do that by working out alone. The number of calories burned with exercise is usually not enough to cause significant burning of excess body fat.

What is your ideal weight? The goal to reach for is not numbers on a scale, but a waistline smaller than your hips. If you are holding excess weight at your waist, consider a blood sugar stabilizing program, and adrenal/hormone supplements. The Japanese government has imposed new laws that penalize people who do not meet the guidelines for waist to hip ratio determined to minimize risk for Diabetes Type 2. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/world/asia/13fat.html?_r=0  Sugar dis-metabolism in diabetics is also a risk factor for cancer and heart disease and is the real cause of obesity

My dad was often asked what kind of exercise he did to maintain his trim figure throughout his elderly years. His answer, “I push myself away from the table.” Great training advice for all of us. 

Hugs for Health

Last weekend I spent the Memorial Day Holiday in the heartland of America. Far from LA, we drove through golden fields and green forests to arrive at a beautiful lakeside community where families have gathered since the beginning of last century. 

Canoeing through an inlet, we saw fuzzy cygnets being shepherded by Mama Swan while Papa swan swam guard, his feathers ruffling as we glided closer to his family.

The teenagers kayaking or fishing gave courteous nods when we passed. Toddlers frolicked in the shallows at the edge of the lake. Families relaxed on docks or terraces and waved a greeting to passers-by. 

It was a holiday out of my childhood, when good manners and family gatherings seemed to go hand-in-hand. 

Studies show clearly that people with strong families, warm friendships, and community ties, are healthier and live longer. The relationship between our social health and our bodily health is so strong, that close social ties may trump obesity and sedentary lifestyle. http://www.webmd.com/balance/news/20100727/social-ties-can-add-years-your-life

The pleasure and enjoyment of family life was expressed unreservedly at Klinger Lake. What could be finer than plenty of fresh air, Spring scented woods, and outdoor sports creating shared experiences that span generations? Sprinkle liberally with love and laughter, and this is a recipe for solid families and good health.

So, when you assess your life, count how many happy, warm relationships you share with others around you. Even if you don’t enjoy exercise, consider if you are having good times with friends and loved ones and if you feel cared for and connected. Good health may cost you some money, in terms of quality food and natural medicine. But good relationships may only cost you the time it takes to help someone, let someone know you care, or share a good laugh out loud. We are truly social creatures and that is a muscle that cannot be over-flexed, reaping many benefits that are good for the body and food for the soul. 

Wishing you lots of warm friends and daily doses of hugs.

Are You Drinking Skim Milk?

Did you know that full-fat dairy products are healthier for you in every respect? When the fat is reduced dairy products become processed. Nature intended dairy to have fat in it to balance the sugars and proteins in the milk. One of the best ways to avoid obesity and Type II Diabetes is to keep a balance between carbs, sugars, proteins and healthy fats.

And did you know that skim milk is about profit, not your waistline or health? The reason that dairies began to promote skim milk was so they could skim the cream off the top of the milk and sell it at a greater profit. www.butterbeliever.com/fat-free-dairy-skim-milk-secrets/

Some of the most vital nutrients are in the fat/cream, not the milk left over after skimming. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble vitamins. This means these vitamins are carried in the fat. Maybe one of the reasons so many people are Vitamin D deficient is because few people are eating cream anymore

Of course, how cows are raised makes a great difference in the quality of the milk to begin with. Growth hormones and antibiotics added to feed enter the milk, as well as pesticides and chemicals the cows might come into contact with.

So, your best choice is always organic dairy products. Look for raw cheeses, not the cheap colored cheeses that resemble more plastic than food.

The saturated fat in milk is more satisfying, helps balance blood sugar, and may help with weight loss. Low-fat foods have never contributed to healthy weight or weight loss. Consider all the low-fat foods manufactured and consumed in the past thirty years, and compare that to the epidemic of obesity and Type II Diabetes we have in the Western world. http://healthimpactnews.com/2016/full-fat-dairy-healthier-than-low-fat-dairy-eating-high-fat-linked-to-lower-risk-for-diabetes/

A new study published in American Heart Association journal Circulation followed 3000 participants suggested that full-fat dairy contributed to lower levels of Diabetes and better weight management. (The Full-Fat Paradox: Dairy Fat Linked To Lower Diabetes Risk. (2016). NPR.org)

Should you drink milk or eat dairy at all? It is estimated that 75% of the human adult population can tolerate dairy, and few people are actually allergic to dairy. So dairy intolerance may be linked to the quality and origin of the dairy, or to digestive weaknesses. I often see that patients with congested gall bladders and over-stressed livers have difficulty with dairy. And people who have difficulty with grain digestion will often have difficulty with dairy as well. But I see very little actual lactose-intolerance.

Yogurt is a mixed bag, as well. Again, look for organic dairy with no added sugar and flavor it yourself with fruit or stevia. Whey protein is different from casein or lactose, and may be well tolerated by many. Look for whey that says “non-denatured”, so that the protein is usable in the body. Whey helps the liver to make a powerful substance called glutathione, which is vital for detoxification processes.

I was able to get certified organic raw milk, cheese and yogurt delivered in glass bottles to our home in England. We owned a share in a local organic farm, and this was idyllic for my growing children. I also was able to recommend this milk for babies who had eczema, and often it would clear up quickly. If you have access to raw organic dairy products, try them and see if you can tolerate them better than the dairy you have been eating.

So, enjoy the wonderful taste of whole fat dairy, and know that you are doing your health, and your waistline, a favor.

Memorial Day Special!

Summer is almost here and it is time for family gatherings, graduations, school letting out, summer camps, vacations and getting swimsuit ready. Even wonderful events and changes can bring stress and time constraints.

To celebrate summer and help you be at your best, Well Body Clinic is offering a Memorial Day special. Mention this email and receive 10% off any supplement order, Saliva Hormone Testing, Food Sensitivity Testing, Toxic Metals Testing, and $15 off consultation fees. If you can't make it into the office, call Lucas and place a phone order at 818-562-1400. 

Kids don't always eat well, and they have their own stresses, so this is also a great time to bring the kids in to get checked. Building their immune systems over the summer is the best way to ensure strong immunity during the school year. If you don't live in the LA area, call for a phone consultation. We have helped hundreds of people long distance.

At Well Body Clinic we love making people healthy and we want you to have the best summer ever. Happy Memorial Day and hope to see you soon!