CONCLUSION-3… Together, we can bring about change in solving the obesity epidemic and prevent 85% of chronic diseases and premature death from heart, type 2 diabetes and colon, breast and endometrial cancers if everyone will work to address all known risk factors.

Seven Pathways to Healthy Weight

6. Meditation and Prayers

The dangers posed by belly fat, especially the accumulation of fatty tissue around the organs in the abdominal cavity or “apple” shape, is of particular concern. Belly or visceral fat produces inflammatory molecules that promote insulin resistance and contributes to metabolic syndrome, which is linked to a much higher risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death. A study published in the Journal of Obesity, 2011, found how spending some quiet time every day in prayer, meditation or mindfulness helps reduce levels of the hormone cortisol with a corresponding drop in abdominal fat without traditional dieting. These sessions included coaching on paying attention to sensations of hunger, food cravings, identifying emotional eating triggers, becoming aware of negative emotions, as well as advice on self-acceptance and forgiveness of others. Guided meditations were offered to introduce new mindful eating skills, like paying closer attention to the sense of taste and eating much more slowly than usual. Blood levels of cortisol were significantly lower. In addition, the participants who had the greatest improvements in mindful eating, who were more aware of their hunger sensations and more successful at lowering chronic stress, had the largest reductions in abdominal fat of up 500+ grams or just under one pound. Physiological benefits of prayer and meditation include anti-aging, deep rest, decreased blood pressure and obesity. Psychological benefits include increased brain-wave coherence, greater creativity, decreased anxiety and depression, improved learning and memory, and increased happiness and emotional stability.

7. Create a Sustainable Life and Behavior Chain

The path to a healthy weight starts with a healthy body. The perfect human fuels and medicines come from plant-derived foods and are referred to as Phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are plant-derived, biologically active nutrients, essential for optimum health, longevity, healthy weight, physiological function, and the prevention of diseases. Science has proven the effectiveness of this perfect, natural human fuel and medicine through countless studies to date.

Metabolism is inefficient if our diet is lacking in these essential nutrients, which act as catalysts or co- enzymes. Without these catalysts, metabolism slows, fewer calories are burned, and more fat is stored. Simply reducing caloric intake does not solve the problem, because this further slows the metabolism, causes weakness, fatigue, promotes inactivity and thus stores more fat in our system. The other reason for unwanted fat storage is overeating. Our appetites are over-stimulated and we feel that we are hungry, even though we are consuming adequate amounts of food. In most cases, this paradox is due to the fact that the consumption of nutrient-poor foods leaves the body hungry, because it is starved for essential nutrients needed to function optimally. Our bodies have not changed to any significant degree over the last century, yet our foods have become depleted in vital nutritional components due food processing and the addition of preservatives, sugar, salt, artificial colors, sweeteners, free flowing agents, and flavorings. These add to the toxic burden and nutritional destruction of our food supply. Individuals possessing poor eating habits may consume large quantities of nutrient deficient, high calorie, poor quality processed junk fast foods, and yet maintain additional food cravings due to cells crying out for missing vital nutrients. The cells remain under-fed and signaling for quality support, which continues regardless of the level of caloric intake. Unfortunately, given the poor quality of most foods currently available, this type of craving-related overeating cycle is a common condition. Inevitably, fat storage occurs as a result of overeating.

These components are the basis for Cellular and Immune Deficiency Syndrome characterized by premature aging, and create an environment that can open doors to an endless list of degenerative diseases and disorders. Health, strength, youth, beauty, prevention, and recovery from disease begin at the cellular level. Not only is nutrition “what we eat,” it is what we digest and what gets into our cells. With nutrient deficient food sources on every corner, it is easy to understand why we have obesity epidemic not just in the Philippines but worldwide. Thus, maintaining a healthy internal environment is the basis of prevention, healthy weight, anti-aging, and longevity. Regular consumption of a broad spectrum of phytonutrients will provide an array of support throughout the body.

Let us choose our path wisely… Ours is the life God gave us to care for!

Meanwhile, here is the Green Secret’s “Agony and Ecstasy Juice” for cellular detoxification and nourishment. (Make sure to scrub and wash all vegetables and fruits well before juicing). It is a MUST to use organic vegetables only.

Agony … drink 2-3oz at least one hour before breakfast

• 3 inches bitter gourd (ampalaya fruit)
• 1 small head garlic
• ½ medium radish (peeled)
• ½ inch ginger root
• 1 bunch sweet potato leaves

Ecstasy … drink 2-3oz immediately after taking the “Agony juice”

• 1 medium carrots
• 1 cucumber
• ¼ pineapple

Juice all ingredients with your masticating juicer. Remember… a green juice a day keeps the doctor away. This concludes our Obesity Epidemic issue. August will focus on “Children’s Immunity.” For questions and/or concerns 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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