Do you know why your body can sometimes feel run down? Why some people have stronger immune systems than others, or the impact certain foods have on genetic markers? There is no one size fits all answer to those questions, although the quality or quantity of food we put into our bodies can make the difference between living healthily or otherwise. We know about the importance of eating Five a Day (400g of fruit and vegetables a day to lower the risk of serious health problems like heart disease): the dangers of a high fat diet (a build-up of cholesterol in the arteries): or why too much sugar is a No, No (weight gain and an increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes).
Essentially, it all boils down to good nutrition, a subject most of us know something about but which isn’t always easy to put into practice. Good nutrition means getting the right amount of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins into the body. That means planning a balanced diet with enough calories to carry out routine tasks like walking. Sounds like a stroll in the park, right? Don’t you believe it! There’s a lot more to this area than meets the eye, especially in the context of healing, body nurturing, cell development, and continuous growth. What I’m talking about is Natural Health and two extraordinary books have been pivotal in shaping my understanding of a subject that continues to fascinate.
The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter & Miracles
by Bruce H Lipton, Ph.D.
This book changed my life! Yes, I know that’s a pretty bold statement which probably comes across as a bit OTT, but it also happens to be the truth! Lipton is a US based developmental biologist whose ground-breaking book explores mind and body interaction and the processes by which cells receive information. Epigenetics, as it’s called, is not only changing our understanding of the connection between mind and matter, but it’s also upending traditional assumptions about the control exerted by genes and DNA over the human body. Lipton is an excellent narrator and his excitement is infectious, especially when he recalls his “eureka moment” on discovering that it isn’t DNA that controls our bodies but the cells which house it. There are loads of scientific terms in this book (apart from Epigenetics and Quantum Physics), all of which sound frighteningly technical, but (thankfully) Lipton effortlessly breaks them down giving the reader a clear understanding of their meaning and the inner power that all of us have. An amazing book that opens the mind and changes the way we look at ourselves.
Highly Recommended: 5 STARS
Healing with Wholefoods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition (3rd Edition)
by Paul Pitchford
I would not be without this book! I’ve lost track of the number of times it has helped me gain access to a deeper understanding of the body and the nutrition it requires to facilitate change and healing. Pitchford is a teacher and nutrition researcher who, over three decades, has applied Far Eastern thought to major dietary therapies in the West. The result is a book that captures the essence of what is required to nourish the body for true health. His starting point is simple: anyone can achieve better health by first understanding how they arrived at their current position.
Not only is this book excellently referenced and easy to navigate, but it also takes the reader on a journey through the origins of Chinese healing arts, the roots of diagnosis and how to build the body’s natural immunity. There is also the Access to Healing with Whole Foods and the Five Element and Organ Systems which play a crucial role in strengthening and regeneration.
There is so much information in this fabulous and detailed book (784 pages) that I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Anyone with an interest in improving their knowledge of health and well-being will find it a perfect aid, regardless of whether they’re a student or a doctor of the healing arts.
Highly Recommended: 5 STARS
