The Christian practice of honoring the body is born of the confidence that our bodies are made in the image of God’s own goodness. As the place where the divine presence dwells, our bodies are worthy of care and blessing. . . . It is through our bodies that we participate in God’s activity in the world.” Stephanie Paulsell, Pofessor, Harvard Divinity School

The Christian practice of honoring the body is born of the confidence that our bodies are made in the image of God’s own goodness. As the place where the divine presence dwells, our bodies are worthy of care and blessing. . . . It is through our bodies that we participate in God’s activity in the world.” Stephanie Paulsell, Pofessor, Harvard Divinity School

The Core Plan to Prevent Chronic Diseases

Our main goal is to increase the number of Filipinos who are healthy at every stage of life- from conception to resurrection. Our strategy provides evidence-based recommendations fundamental to improving the nation’s health through the active engagement of all sectors of society to help achieve these goals. These evidence-based recommendations will reduce the burden of leading causes of preventable death and major illness. Here is the second of seven priority areas:

2 TOBACCO-FREE LIVING

Seven Most Effective and Natural Interventions to Quit Smoking:

(1) Detoxification: Nicotine and other chemicals (2) Foods to help you quit smoking (3) Herbs to overcome cravings and repair the lungs (4) Exercise for tobacco-free living (5) Complete hydration (6) Spirituality and Smoking (7) Family and community support.

(6) Spirituality and Smoking

We are spiritual beings, everything that we do has a spiritual dimension expressed in attitudes, values and behavior. Beginning with the biblical account of creation the body is understood to be sacred because it is the place where God’s Spirit has chosen to dwell. Caring for the gift of life begins with slowly shifting our living patterns – eating healthy, drinking more water and vegetable juices, getting more rest rather than resorting to the short-lived benefits of caffeine drinks, working our way slowly into a more active lifestyle and including prayer and meditation.

The effects of prayer and meditation on chemical dependency help relieve nicotine addiction. Among smokers, prayer and meditation have been found to significantly increase recovery rates. Research and studies by MD Anderson Cancer Center found that mindfulness practices correlated lower physical addiction levels and reduced withdrawal. In addition, smokers who practiced mindfulness techniques experienced a greater belief in their ability to quit smoking, indicating that mindfulness-centered therapies may aid nicotine addiction recovery.

Many people have found strength to stop smoking by turning to spiritual sources. Here is a wonderful story of a former smoker’s experience …

I know that my pure intentions to quit and heal and the many prayers that surrounded me have both had a great deal to do with my healing. I had an actual miracle when I quit smoking. No one who knew me thought for one moment that I could quit. I wrote out a list of the reasons that I wanted to quit and put it on my fridge so that I would read it each and every day. I wrote it in red ink to symbolize the blood of life. One of the reasons I wanted to quit was to live longer and get to see my grandchildren grow up. I prayed each and every day. I bought the Lights, then the Ultra Lights. I started asking myself with each cigarette if I wanted the cigarette, or did I need it. After months of this intense study of my smoking career, I started to see things differently. I made myself realize how much it was costing me in money and in lost health with each choice to smoke or not to smoke. One night I had a dream and from this dream I was given the knowledge that the cravings have been removed and from now on it is merely a choice. I have been a nonsmoker since that dream… I am so grateful that I was given the grace to quit. I do know that my pure intentions to quit and heal and the many prayers that surrounded me have both had a great deal to do with my healing. What freedom there is in not having something outside of me controlling me and my life. For years, I wouldn’t go anywhere that didn’t allow me to smoke. I limited myself to a very narrow life. Now I am free to go anywhere and everywhere and feel the gratitude of being free from the shackles of an addiction. Don’t judge self or other. Just stay aware and the grace will come. If you are deeply honest and open about learning a better way to live your life, it will come to you. Keep the faith in yourself and your ability to do all things. Progress, not perfection, leads the way. — Shero

Dr. Deepak Chopra said that “A spiritual life is not a finished product. Spirituality is an orientation toward and dedication to outgrowing the old, limited versions of yourself into a more conscious, present, loving and wiser version. That process does not happen uniformly across all aspects of our life, so as we may be expanding our awareness in certain areas of our emotions and understanding, some recalcitrant physical habits like smoking, may still be holding on in other areas. Be patient with yourself in this and in other aspects of life that may not be changing as quickly as you think they should.”

Meanwhile, here is the Green Secret’s “Green Exorcist” juice to fight the hell out of nicotine addiction (Make sure to wash all ingredients well before juicing). It is a MUST to use organic ingredients only.

• 3 stems maluggay
• 1 cup fresh pineapple
• 1 medium ampalaya fruit
• 1 radish
• 5 calamansi or 1 lime

Juice all ingredients in your masticating juicer. Stir and enjoy! REMEMBER, a pack of prayer a day, keeps nicotine craving away! Tobacco is on track to KILL one billion people, smokers and nonsmokers, this century. This year, we have a historic opportunity to change the future. Let us actively work together to make the next generation tobacco-free.I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences on “Ask Dr. C at www.greensecret.com.ph” Our deepest gratitude to IAJ WELLNESS CORPORATION for making this information public. For more information or questions, email me at [email protected].

Christine E.V. Gonzalez is a doctor of naturopathic medicine and holds PhDs
in holistic nutrition and natural medicine. LLM (MS Environmental Laws & Labor)
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