“The world is beginning to understand that
mental health is physical health.”
-Terri Cheney
In the August issue of Psychology Today Magazine, writer Terri Cheney wrote her monthly column on the decision gymnast Simone Biles made when she withdrew from her Olympic event this past week. At first, people reacted harshly and critically until Biles explained that she had been experiencing the “twisties”, and was concerned for her physical and emotional health. The article explained that “twisties” were known by gymnasts to be the frightening experience of losing awareness of where they are in space before they hit their landing.
This is also called proprioception-one of the sensory nerves, particularly most dense around the occiput of the skull and in the feet that allow us to stand without falling over. The gymnasts who perform in Cirque du Soleil, for instance, have particularly well developed proprioception, and so does Simone Biles. Someone that is so connected to her body knows this sense well. The explanation she gave before the world of what “twisties” are was a perfect example of the mind/body connection. Her small, powerful body knew this; without it, she could have been seriously injured.
“How you see life is how your body will respond.”
-Bruce Lipton, PhD
In Biology of Belief, the classic book written by cell biologist Bruce Lipton, PhD, he explains the history of science and how we got from the materialistic view of atoms as matter, to atoms as vital energy. Lipton, one of the strongest voices teaching Epigenetics today, tells us that we are not controlled by our genes; in fact, “less than 1% of disease is connected to our genes.” The rest of our life experiences – our habits, rituals, body shape, likes and dislikes and illnesses – come from our own perceptions, beliefs and feelings. We can not blame much of anything on our genetics.
Change your consciousness, change your life…
In a large research study of over 500,000 participants done by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), they were looking at how fear and anxiety lead to sickness and death-particularly relevant during this pandemic. They found that the #1 cause of sickness and/or death was obesity – which should create great incentives to develop healthy lifestyle habits. In an upcoming blog, I will discuss why obesity is an important finding connecting death and disease and what we can do about it.
The #2 finding in this study was that fear and anxiety related disorders make us more susceptible to viral and chronic disease. Another words, fear is killing us; our perceptions and beliefs control life, not our genes.
Knowledge is power; self-knowledge is self-empowerment…
I have been lucky – when I began my studies of the body, I had brilliant teachers and mentors who taught me Energy Medicine. While I was studying anatomy, physiology and microbiology – the mechanics of the body – in medical school, I was also drawn to scientists who taught me how to heal through the energy system of the body. Valerie Hunt, PhD, one of my professors at UCLA, along with books by Carolyn Myss, taught me how to heal through the chakra system. Physicist Barbara Brennan, who worked at NASA, but quit after she decided to teach people how to heal with the auras she was seeing, taught me about auras, how to see them and read them. My mentor, Uddhava Om, an Osteopath and gifted acupuncturist, generously let me shadow him with patients, as I watched him heal through the auras, barely touching people.
If fear and anxiety are the causes of viral and chronic diseases, and less than 1% of illness comes from our genes, how shall we manage in a scary world?
-Shut off the News (CNN, Fox News, etc.)
-Listen to music you love
-Play an instrument
-Sing and hum
-Meditate
-Go outside in the sunlight every day
-Move (exercise) in ways you enjoy
-Be in nature every day
-Make a garden
-Play with your pet(s) and if you don’t have one, get one
-Cook healthy, delicious food
-Take good supplements (let me know if you need some suggestions)
-Read wonderful books
-Write in a journal and/or keep a Gratitude journal
-Call a friend
-Laugh and smile
-Go to the beach
-Have a picnic
-Get plenty of good sleep; take afternoon naps
-Create Love in your life…
“How you see life is how your body will respond.”
-Bruce Lipton, PhD
When we are afraid, our immune system shuts down; keep your immune system strong and healthy. Sending you lots of Love…❤️❤️❤️
The Nutrition Action newsletter is produced by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and is loaded with practical tips for eating right, cooking healthful recipes, and avoiding food-safety risks, as well as news of the latest in nutrition and health. Their advice is honest, unbiased, and completely science-based. They are currently celebrating their 50th anniversary.
It’s summer, and summer means summer veggies and, especially zucchini!
Here is a simple and delicious recipe to try – completely plant based – to add to any meal or eat alone.
