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Longevity and Natural Health
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Photo by Dino De Luca, freedigitialphoto.net
According to a recent report in Health Day News, a current trend in increasing life expectancies may mean that half of the babies being born today will live up to 100 years. Researchers say this trend is expected to continue. Experts cite several reasons for the decreasing mortality rates among rich countries, including: shortened work weeks, families having fewer children, and even genetics.
The main criteria, according to the CDC, for increasing life expectancy is living disease free. This means, in short, avoiding the dreaded chronic diseases such as heart disease, cardiopulmonary disease, and cancer.
Natural and holistic healthcare practitioners have long held this view. One of the goals of holistic or natural healthcare is to maintain "homeostasis". Homeostasis is defined as, "physiological and metabolic equilibrium". In other words, all the systems of the body functioning properly and working together to maintain good health.
The holistic approach to health offers tools for maintaining good health and protecting the body against disease. According to early natural health pioneers, disease cannot be blamed entirely on the germ, bacterium or virus. Humans live with germs everyday without getting sick. No, the cause is not solely the germ, but the environment in which the germ thrives. According to this theory, it is when the body becomes toxic or polluted that the germ finds a home in which it can proliferate.
To ward off disease and increase life expectancy, therefore, it is important to keep the body clean, both inside and out, by avoiding the very toxins that lead to chronic illnesses. The best example of this principle is smoking. There are dozens of known carcinogens (cancer causing agents) in cigarette smoke. By not smoking, the chances of developing lung cancer decrease exponentially.
The same principles apply to COPD, heart disease, atherosclerosis, etc. Some important toxins to avoid include:
* Nitrites/nitrates (found in cured meats such as sausage and hot dogs)
* Sodium lauryl sulfate (found in commercial shampoos and soaps)
* Formaldehyde (found in many household cleaning products)
* Pesticides (including sodium 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetate)
* Quaterium 15, FD&C RED 40 (found in baby shampoos and some soaps)
* Aluminum dioxide (found in most deodorants)
* Dioxin (found in spray disinfectants)
* Trisodium nitrilotriacetate (found in popular laundry detergents)
* Trans-fats (found in hydrogenated oils such as margarine)
Other Tips
Buy organic food whenever available. Look for chemical-free household and personal products. Exercise and maintain a healthy weight. Eat a balanced diet based on whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and lean proteins. Follow a detox and cleansing diet at least once a year. Avoid foods with chemical additives, such as processed and pre-packaged foods. Drink plenty of purified water and avoid soda, coffee and alcohol. Get adequate rest and learn to manage stress. All of these techniques can help to strengthen the body's natural defenses and ward off illness. Additionally, they enhance health, and improve the overall quality of life.
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