Why do we get sick?

What is health?

An American endocrinologist once said that to be healthy, all we should do is eat right, talk right, poop right, move right, think right, drink right and sleep right! It’s a memorable explanation, and one that often forms part of the presentations we conduct at various private and public events. 

Of course, it’s slightly more nuanced than this. This definition of health should be expanded to include the idea that our environment and diet influences how our genes are expressed. 

In this case, ‘environment’ isn’t just the outside world: it also means the toxins with which we come into contact, thought processes that we engage in, and the substances that we put into and onto our bodies.

What damages your health?

We’re now exposed to more than 80,000 toxins and chemicals—and our internal biochemistry can’t detoxify them all. In many people, it’s an environmental trigger that overloads their detoxification pathways, allowing opportunistic bacteria and/or viruses to over-proliferate.  

This insult to our immune system can cause leaky gut, leading to loss of immune tolerance to various tissues and foods. This, in turn, can start the process of autoimmunity. 

Every single biochemical process in the body is dependent on a macronutrient (proteins, fats and carbohydrates), a micronutrient (such as vitamins and minerals) or both. Deficiencies in these nutrients can cause imbalance and eventually ill health.

How to avoid getting sick

The solution involves a few simple steps:

• Reduce toxic exposure
  Toxins can be found everywhere, from BPA plastics in packaging, to aluminum in deodorant, to mercury in dental amalgams. The list is endless, so total avoidance is impossible. We can, however, minimize our exposure through small actions, such as choosing a natural deodorant.
• Increase nutrient intake
  We need to eat a natural diet that’s as organic as possible, including grass-fed and wild meat, wild fish, fruit and vegetables, limited unpasteurised dairy and few or no grains. It’s also advisable to take a multivitamin, plus additional magnesium and iodine, as even organic soil is nutrient-depleted.
• Introduce a daily stress-reduction practice
  Chronic stress has an enormous impact on our health. Beneficial activities include T’ai Chi, yoga, meditation, Headspace or Heartmath.
• Practice appropriate exercise
  The form of exercise should suit our individual needs and circumstances. Those with thyroid or adrenal imbalances, for example, should practise gentle exercise.

Perfect health isn’t a given—but something that must be earned. However, people often find that when they’re really committed, the process of achieving health becomes empowering and enjoyable.  

Get in touch

As one of the UK’s leading nutrition and functional medicine clinics, our friendly team of practitioners support clients in addressing the underlying causes of ill health with a success rate that is the envy of our peers.

To speak to one of our team, please call 020 3332 0030.