Our aches and pains - an alternate way of handling them
Mrs J. Maud Kordylas
Mrs J. Maud Kordylas, a Ghanaian consultant with the Laboratory for Research and Development of Tropical Food Products, Cameroon writes on how the right food and regular exercise may help African nations having a hard time keeping abreast with health care and hospital cost, solve the problem.Forty year old Alex Klutse felt so miserable. He had chronic constipation. His doctor's prescriptions had not given him the permanent relief he was hoping for. He felt bloated and distressed. His wife suggested he see a nutritional doctor.
He was given a diet which included a high amount of roughage: wheat bran, whole cereals and beans, fresh fruits: bananas, pineapples, mangoes, any fruit in season, and green leafy vegetables. After five years, Mr Klutse had not been bothered by constipation. He still sticks to his high fibre diet.
Five year old Johnny had frequent severe asthmatic attacks. A nutritional therapist advised Johnny's mother to give him nutritional supplements including B complex, vitamins C, E, A and zinc. Johnny was also put on vitamin B6. He was checked for allergies and was found to be allergic to chocolates and groundnuts. During twelve months on the nutritional supplements, Johnny had only minor attacks when he ate chocolate and groundnuts, foods he was allergic to.
Mrs. Torsu, 45, had knee joint, back and neck aches regularly. She couldn't move about as much as she used to, because of her unbearable pains. A nutritional doctor gave her a diet and advised her to take bone meal, containing calcium and phosphorous; she also took magnesium, vitamin C, zinc, B complex, vitamins D, A and some iron tablets. Within one month, Mrs. Torsu was walking without too much discomfort. By two months she had very little pain.
To most people nutritional therapy means nothing. To others it is a means through which their health problems are solved and a more natural way of handling sickness. During the past decade or so, nutritional therapy has given a number of people relief from all types of health problems all over the world. Its practice is based on the fact that our bodies are built and maintained in a state of health and well- being, through proper diet, assimilation, circulation, relaxation, elimina- tion and proper functioning of the endocrine system.
Well-being depends on proper and efficient nourishment. Nourishment depends on nutrition; and nutrition is the individual's capacity to utilize food eaten, and the body's ability to process digestion and elimination of indigestible material. What happens to the food after assimilation, depends to a large extent on the functions of circulation, relaxation, elimination and proper functioning of the endocrine system.
Given the right foods and the right environment, the body is self regulating and self healing. It is capable of putting right its own troubles, though sometimes, it can be helped in its efforts by biochemical, nutritional and other healthful practices.
Centuries ago, the human population lived on naturally grown food. These foods were neither chemically treated, nor were they processed. Our bodies adapted to the nutrients available in such diets and thrived on them
On these bases, a whole new way of life has come about and a keep fit movement has evolved. This new lifestyle involves: eating naturally grown foods, especially fresh fruits, vegetables, whole cereals and their products, beans and roots and tubers; taking nutritional supplements, in the form of vitamins, minerals and food preparations such as: garlic capsules, yoghurt, acidophilus. These supplements are sold in Health Food Shops.
Excessive use of certain foods are avoided. These are: animal fats, salt, refined sugar and sugar loaded foods, refined flour, alcohol, stimulants, and tobacco. Aerobic exercises are engaged in. These include jogging, walking, swimming, cycling, stretching or calisthenics, tennis, yoga, etc. Nutritional clinics, health clubs and holiday resorts have sprung up all over the world.
As a result of this health movement, exercise cassettes, nutritional books and health magazines are published regularly to keep the public educated and research is carried out in these areas all over the world.
The major components of the new health life-style are summarized as: eating naturally grown foods, taking nutritional supplements, avoidance of certain harmful substances and getting regular exercise.
Centuries ago, the human population lived on naturally grown foods. These foods were neither chemically treated, nor were they processed. Our bodies adapted to the nutrients avail- able in such diets and thrived on them. About 100 years or so ago, roller mills replaced stone grinding of cereals; foods got stripped of their vital nutrients through refining; and food processing and food manufacture became big business, and our foods got loaded with chemicals.
Although attempts are made to put back some of the nutrients stripped from foods, the end products are still a far cry from their original contents. These changes make our eating rather unnatural, and most of us, more likely, ingest inadequate amounts of nutrients. Chemicals used in producing food and in food processing can be toxic, and some individuals are sensitive to them.
To avoid such side effects or reactions from these chemicals, and food additives, the health movement advocates eating mainly naturally grown chemical free foods, preferably in the fresh form. Fresh fruits and vegetables, including complex carbo- hydrates, are considered desirable.
Foods containing complex carbohydrates are relatively low in calories and are good, not only for weight watchers but also for health. They help reduce blood fat levels; burn slowly to release sugar gradually into the bloodstream. Such foods include: whole cereal grains, legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables and nuts. Complex carbo- hydrate containing foods are also high in fibre.
Fibre has been put lately as a highly desired for efficient passage through the digestive system. Bran fibre is best known for its power to alleviate constipation.
Other sets of food which are also considered desirable with a health food programme are: foods containing poly-unsaturated oils. These oils are associated with lowering blood cholesterol levels. They also reduce the likelihood of dangerous clotting and prevent hardening of the blood vessels or arteries. Such oils are found mainly in fish: salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel and sardines are rich in them.
In addition to fish, leafy greens, yoghurt, citrus fruits and soybean products are also associated with good health of the heart and circulatory system. Chicken and brewer's yeast, mushrooms, etc, contain the trace element chromium, which helps to protect the circulatory system. It also helps control diabetes.
Other foods which are good for circulation are: pawpaw, mangoes, melons, guava, onions, garlic and alfalfa. These are especially desirable, as they clean up blood vessels of clogging deposits and are considered good for the health of the heart and circulatory systems.
The second desirable component of the keep fit programme is avoidance of or cutting down on certain foods and substances which are considered harmful to the body. These are: excessive intake of salt, which is associated with high blood pressure. Salt leads to fluid retention which tends to deprive tissues of oxygen and creates circulatory problems.
Excessive fat intake, particularly animal fats and cholesterol high foods: red meats, pork, organ meats, eggs, butter are among the culprits. Sugar, honey, soft sugary drinks, refined or white flour and its baked products: jams, sweets, etc. are all banned.
As a stimulant, caffeine obtained from coffee, tea and cocoa beverages, is associated with interruption of messages of tiredness to the brain, and makes tired people unaware of their tiredness. Stimulants like caffeine are also avoided with a health programme. To complete the list, cutting down on alcohol and cigarette smoking are also considered beneficial to health.
Taking nutritional supplements is the third component of the keep fit programme. As we grow older, most normal people find themselves under stress. This is based on job pressures at work, family problems, financial worries at home, etc. Even driving a car in a busy street or having a conver- sation can cause stress in many people.
In short modern lifestyles can cause blood pressure to rise, increase our susceptibility to heart disease, cause skin blemishes and also deplete the body reserves of many vitamins and minerals. Nutritional supplements in the form of vitamins and minerals and other food com- are pounds, such as: garlic, onions, acidophilus, yoghurt are taken to help people cope with our modern stressful way of life. The B complex vitamins, vitamin C, E and zinc are particularly effective under stressful conditions.
Dental problems seem to increase under stress and stress also gives headaches. Drugs like aspirin and anti-biotics, which are continuously taken for various reasons, also increase the need for certain vitamins. Calcium, vitamin D, vitamins A and B complex, especially vitamin B6, are useful for these stressful situations. People following the health movement take nutritional supplements for such reasons.
Staying healthy means more than being free from diseases and being able to withstand stress. The backbone of the healthful style of living is keeping fit and keeping fit means being able to prevent illness rather than curing it.
Exercise, the fourth component of the healthful life, is an essential part of the programme. Exercise increases oxygen intake and uptake by body cells to stimulate them to maximum cell activity. Exercise improves circulation on which all life processes depend and circulation takes nutrients to all cells. Exercise puts a sparkle in the eye and gives a sunnier look on life. It strengthens the heart, slows down bone loss and even helps a person shed a few pounds.
Regular, rather than vigorous exercising is more beneficial. Keeping moving even a little bit, regularly, is better than a lot of exercise irregularly. Just 30 minutes a day of brisk walking, dancing or swimming is good to give a person the beneficial effects of exercising. Unless exercise is made part of a life-style, it is difficult to follow it up regularly.
Convinced about these healthful attempts to keep fit in a more natural way, a few qualified medical doctors have set up nutritional clinics, where they work together with nutritionists and biochemists to use nutritional account of the whole person: patient's life-style, environment, and habits are looked at in relation to the illness.
For treatment, a change in life-st is likely to be advocated; proper = nutritional supplements and intake certain food compounds are also likely to be recommended. Such recommendations aim at correcting any nutritional inadequacies and biochemical imbalances which are found, or are likely to be present, and nutrients are given build up the immune system to fight the disease in a more natural The case histories cited above examples of such nutritional therapy used to handle common health problems.
Evidence has piled up, not only f research but also from nutriti clinics, to show that certain illness hypertension or high blood press certain types of diabetes, some kid problems, some types of arthr gout, allergies, obesity, constipation, osteoporosis or bone loss, fatig some nervous disorders, premenst and menstrual problems, asth hyperactivity in children, headache and hypoglycemia, are all associa with nutritional and biochem imbalances, and that they can successfully controlled through nutritional therapy. In certain cases where conventional medicine and d therapy failed, nutritional therapy, and change of life-style prove successful.
Staying healthy means more than being free from diseases and being able to withstand stress. The backbone the healthful style of living is keep fit and keeping fit means being able prevent illness rather than curing it means feeling good, bubbling with health and enjoying life to the fullest A woman who has followed a ke fit programme for years adequately expressed such feeling as follows: haven't had a cold, flu or headache a long time. I have more energy tha ever remember having. I have a feeling of well being and improved quality of life. My dry skin has improved, my dandruff has disappeared and my fingernails have become strong. I sleep better and have calm nerves. My hair is thick and shiny. I feel more cheerful and have a brighter outlook on life. would never dream of living any other way." What more can one ask for?
African nations which are having hard and difficult time keeping abreast with their health care and hospital costs, may do well to look at the components of this new health movement They may find something good in there.
