Simple Solutions to Chronic Health Problems

According to Wikipedia, Occam's Razor is, "the idea that, in trying to understand something, getting unnecessary information out of the way is the fastest way to the truth or to the best explanation." Please keep this in mind as you read on.

A friend recently recommended that I check out a blogger/writer that calls himself Raw Egg Nationalist. The name itself was enough to make me curious, so I looked into it. What I found refreshing was that he believes in very straightforward solutions to simple, but chronic health problems, and I believe that he sees the world through a very rational lens. I watched a podcast interview that Raw Egg Nationalist did with Lauren Southern where he explained his viewpoints and gave simple advice on how to improve one's health.

This gentleman encourages people to educate themselves about their health as well as the world they live in. If you are constantly looking down at your phone, or you routinely have earbuds in your ears you are missing out on what's going on around you. Knowledge truly is power, and striving to learn more will also keep your mind sharp even as the years advance. This will also bring about a sense of empowerment and a feeling of taking charge. REN (as his name is often abbreviated) correctly points out the failures of big agriculture to make us healthier over the past 60 years, which is illustrated in the skyrocketing rates of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune disorders during that time frame. The quality of our food has steadily gone downhill compared to previous generations. In order to combat this, REN recommends that you be in control of what you put into your body; stick with single-ingredient whole foods that give you the greatest nutritional value, and don't fall for clever advertising. He also believes (and I concur) that big food companies don't really care about your best interests; they simply want to make as much money as possible. The same goes for the big pharmaceutical companies; they see you as a milk cow and a customer for life. Since the CDC and FDA are essentially shills for the drug industry, don't expect their help either. You have to put in your own work and do your own research in order to optimize your health.

Chronic health problems are largely the result of poor lifestyle decisions, but environmental factors also play a role. If you live in an industrial area with heavy pollution, this can have a negative impact on the air quality as well as the water supply (think Flint, Michigan), which in turn isn't particularly good for your health. Respiratory infections, heart disease, and lung cancer can result, and are much likely to occur in people who are already chronically ill. It may not be easy for everyone to just pick up and move to an area with less pollution, but sometimes "voting with your feet" is the answer. In the book "Diagnosis: Mercury", Dr. Jane Hightower chronicles her work with patients in the Bay Area of California that had elevated mercury levels in their blood. This caused many patients to suffer from memory loss, mood swings, skin rashes, and muscle weakness. Dr. Hightower cautions us to avoid or severely restrict consumption of large predatory fish such as tuna, swordfish, and shark, as these contain the highest levels of mercury. This neatly ties in with what I mentioned above about the CDC and FDA being essentially worthless. Throughout the book the author discusses how these two organizations can't even agree upon what a safe level of mercury is for humans. It's a good idea to look into where your food comes from. When it comes to fish, sometimes responsibly farm-raised is better than wild-caught.

Many health problems can be reversed or greatly improved by taking simple, proactive measures, but it has to start from inside you. Perhaps you find yourself constantly in a fog and tired much of the time. Start by regulating your bed and wake time. The term "body clock" is very accurate, and our release of hormones (which have an impact on our sleep) still coincide with the rise and setting of the sun. You may also want to take a look at what you're putting into your body, namely the foods you eat. A typical western diet contains too many processed foods, carbohydrates, and sugars, and will lead to wild spikes in insulin and energy levels, as well as systemic inflammation. Take REN's advice (and ours) by consuming single-ingredient whole foods with plenty of protein and essential fats. If you are mineral-deficient, start supplementing. Get outside and expose yourself to the sun, so that you can elevate your Vitamin D levels (also supplement). If you feel weak or are constantly injured, you need Total Results exercise. Prepare your body for the rigors of life and make everyday tasks easier by making yourself as strong as possible. If you want to lose fat, start incorporating intermittent fasting into your lifestyle. Fasting requires discipline, but start out slow and work your way into it (more on this in a future article), but the best thing about it is that it costs no money. Finally, realize that all prescription (and over the counter) medications have side effects, many of them quite severe or even deadly. I recommend getting off medications as soon as possible. Have a frank discussion with your doctor before doing so, but don't back down. You are in charge, not your doctor; he or she works for you.

Chronic diseases aren't the mysteries they once were. We know exactly what causes many of them, especially heart disease and diabetes. Genetics play a role, but just because you have a family history of a disease doesn't guarantee it will happen to you. Life is often not as complicated as it seems, but education is the real key. You have the power to take charge of your health, but your body is your responsibility alone. It all starts with desire and a plan of action. Above all else, keep it simple!