earthsuit101.com Blog

When I write articles about health and wellness, I think about my patients and how best to share the “BIG IDEA” with them. Years later, when I re-visit what I’ve written, I realize It is the author who needed to learn from the message. Here is the original text, of Broken Bodies before I included it in The Power of 90

In the early eighties criminologists George Kelling and James Q. Wilson published an article in The Atlantic that has revolutionized our understanding of the relationship between the condition of property and crime. Their argument was that rampant crime is the inevitable result of disorder.

Imagine an urban neighborhood where the homes and apartments are well cared for. No pealing paint, carefully tended planter boxes, an absence of litter. In this neighborhood if a ball happens through a window it is quickly fixed and if someone sprays graffiti on a wall it is dealt with immediately. All who enter this neighborhood are aware that there are standards. Quality-of-life is important to the people who live there and it is clear that people have dignity and care about their environment.

Unfortunately for every neighborhood that seeks to maintain order there are many that do little or nothing to keep up a standard of expectations. This is the communities where Kelling and Wilson make their point. As soon as disorder becomes apparent people naturally conclude that no one cares. If a window is broken and left unrepaired, it becomes an invitation to break more windows. Soon lawlessness spreads. Graffiti becomes a permanent part of the landscape and filth begins to infect the neighborhood. Since nobody is in charge, thugs begin to rule the streets and soon the neighborhood is in disorder, safety is diminished and crime and violence become rampant.

Many may argue that it is a long leap of reason to go from a single broken window to a seriously decayed community. On paper it is a stretch, but in countless neighborhoods throughout the world a reproducible “experiment” has saved not only windows, but quality-of-life. When the responsible people of a neighborhood rally together and claim ownership of the streets, allies and sidewalks wonderful things happen. The most obvious sign of change, is that someone cares. Repairing streetlights and broken windows, new paint and cleaning up trash sends a clear message that someone is in control.

Chances are, you live in a neighborhood that sends a clear message to all who pass through. A message that says we care, a message that relays to others that someone is in control, so why would I bother telling you about a groundbreaking study on criminology? The answer is obvious if you are willing to take another leap of reason. One warning though, this probably will hurt.

If someone were to “pass through” your life and examine your lifestyle, your level of health and commitment to wellness, would they see someone who cared? Would they see evidence that someone was in control?

Getting up everyday and sweeping off the front steps, taking each weekend and painting over graffiti and spending the money to fix broken property is not easy. However, if reclaiming a neighborhood is important, it is something that must be done. Likewise, eating right, exercising regularly, and spending money to correct and maintain our mind and body is not easy, but if reclaiming our health is important, it too, must be done.

When I was a Boy Scout I’d spend evening at summer camp playing cards around a white gas Colman lantern. If you are familiar with the device you know that they not only put out enough light to blind you, but they expend a tremendous amount of heat in providing that light. One thing that always entertained us young men, was when a moth would come out of the darkness and dive into the light. Since then I’ve understood why a cliché has develop between moths, flames and death.

Just like the moth fatally lured toward the flame, why is it that some people gravitate to support people that will kill them. Here is my first example. I know about this, because I almost found my-collegiate-self caught up in this one, years ago.

It all started with a bumper sticker being made available through effective campus distribution methods (read: cute girl handing them out in the commons). The stickers said “Free Tibet.” Which it is always a good idea to free things (people, animals, countries, car bumpers). The funny thing was that the stickers were most popular with my gang of friends.

Mostly, our ill-informed groupthink - tank of science nerds would meet in the library and complain about the US having nuclear missiles. Along with that “given,” we vehemently supported the US leaving any place to the Communists (including Vietnam). Thought Mao Zedong was the misrepresented epitome of the cultural revolutionary and generally had sympathy for Marxist views, ambivalence for communist regimes and love for worldwide socialism.

As my former comrade-self, always sympathetic to socialisms promise of world peace, I would love to conclude this story with: “The cute bumper-sticker-girl got into a VW microbus plastered with peace signs and took off with the long haired driver wearing a hat with a red star embroidered on it.”

Unfortunately, that cannot be the end, because as colorful as that may sound, it was soon after my campus experience that I began connecting the dots of reality and took tiny first steps toward my own revolutionary march. Even non-history-majors can learn that China was the aggressor-occupier of Tibet in the first place. (So much for peace. Guess the “Free Tibet” bumper stickers are still confusing leftist today.)

The truth always seems to get in the way of good propaganda.

Now that I have traveled the road from Marx –“hero of the masses” to Marx – “murderer of freedom,” I understand it all better. People are like moths. There is even a physiological term for it; Cognitive Dissonance which explains (or at least restates) why some people are similar to moths and are more than willing to ignore the facts and head straight into the fire.

Now back to campus philosophies. Last week, I lost a game of chess to a supporter of Che. We were playing on the internet. Typically I will just play the game, but I usually check my opponents profile and see what (if anything) it says. This one read: “Dentist who enjoys a good game of chess, long live Che!” I made my move and asked. “Why Che? He’s dead.”

I know it was a stupid question and a snide remark, but I just couldn’t help myself. His profile made me wonder if effective campus distribution methods are still present at colleges and universities. I envisioned a bright academic, paying ten bucks for a Che t-shirt, hoping for a date with a cute girl and finding a cause.

Regardless of how it happened, upon further messaging I found that my opponent was a true believer in Che Guevara – “sacrificing himself to be hero to the masses.” I mentioned there was a problem with that, since history clearly shows Che Guevara – “sacrificing masses to become a hero.” Afterward, I admitted that I digressed from chess and we should play while we still have the freedom to do so. As I mentioned he won that game and we are playing another. Nice guy (strange politics), maybe he got that date after all.

So in light of this, I’m lead to a macabre fascination of these moth-like people flying out of the night headlong into the flames that will devour them. I would be remiss if I didn’t site a few other examples. Admittedly, I have no personal experience with these so I will leave the stories to you.

Gays for Palestine: (AKA) QUIT! (Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism). This is strange as Palestine kills gays and Israel elects them to palement.

Women promoting Islam. Yeah, I know, I don’t understand their religion…it’s really pro women…sure it is.

Academics identifying with communist revolutionary agendas. Can you say “Gulag?”

Anti-Racist Skinheads. Just goes to show we cannot know everything.

Environmentalists who embrace Castro’s Cuba

“The beat goes on… “

There are some things that just don’t come up in the news too often, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t. That’s why I’m going to offer this post, on a little discussed topic, as a public service. Let’s leave the cyber world long enough to meditate on something that virtually (funny –huh?) nobody talks about…FIBER.

Okay, so probably fiber is not among the highest of Googled words, but great health is something we all are looking for. Often a small change in diet can make a huge difference in our health. That’s certainly the case with fiber, an essential nutrient we often forget about.

In the Standard American Diet (SAD), fiber has become increasingly hard to find. Yet scientific research (Harvard School of Public Health) continues to discover a multitude of health benefits provided by dietary fiber. Including:

• Heart Disease – fiber assists in the elimination of cholesterol and triglycerides and may lower blood pressure.

• Cancer – fiber helps decreases the risk of colon cancer and assists in the excretion of toxins and heavy metals.

• Diabetes – fiber is instrumental in the stabilization of blood sugar levels and slows absorption of glucose.

• Obesity – fiber aids in weight loss by providing a feeling of fullness.

• Digestive Concerns – fiber helps eliminate sluggish bowel and constipation, while supporting beneficial intestinal flora.

Dietary fiber comes from the edible parts of plants which are not broken down by digestive enzymes. Excellent food sources of dietary fiber include, sprouted and un-sprouted seeds, beans, whole grains, Swiss chard, vegetable greens (especially turnip, mustard and collard), cauliflower, broccoli, and most berries.

My suggestion (and I’m not alone here) is to make sure your diet includes a wide assortment of dietary fiber. By all means, supplement if you must (Super Seed from Garden of Life is the best product I’ve found) but get enough fiber. In the days, months, and years to come, your body will thank you in the most wonderful way – improved health.

Okay, I’m sorry to do this to you, but once again, it’s for your own good. There are a variety of things at play here.

First, I’ve been eagerly involved in more house remodeling projects. Actually I’m getting pretty handy. I have a builder friend, who after seeing my work offered to hire me at $10 an hour. Wow! I told him I cannot be had for less than $11… and I’d want one of those leather toolbelts with the suspenders as a perk. The negotiation is on!

This imbalance in my life has led to procrastination in other areas…namely, I’m way behind in reports, which need to be written so my office can get paid for services rendered. So, today is the day I’ve set aside to catch up. It is my hope to create harmony and balance in my life once again.

But wait! My blog has been ignored for two weeks. (Not that too many people are actually reading it yet…I know they will. Thank YOU, by the way! Tell all your friends.) So I decided to do what most writers do when they get overwhelmed… pull something out of the past.

As I was perusing through articles I wrote years ago, the one you are about to read struck me as almost prophetic. This is an article that was published in June of 2001. You decide.

I will leave it with you now and hope you fall for its truth. Not wanting to procrastinate any further, I will keep it in its pre-blog, original state, and make comments (after I get caught up on my other work) at a later date.

Enjoy,
Ray

Vital Trash

by Dr. Ray Pope

Perhaps it’s been a long time since you took a biology class, but probably it’s been within the last fifty years. It’s likely you were taught the importance, in fact the predominance of DNA in determining all aspects of our heredity, including characteristics, behavior, aptitude and of course, weaknesses. Guess what? You were taught wrong!

Since Watson and Crick revealed the double helix configuration of DNA, scientists and others have used genes to explain everything from Darwinian evolution to sexual orientation. Well, unfortunately mankind is not going to get excused so easily. In the last half of the twentieth century, scientists and medical researchers were busy isolating cells on Petri dishes, piercing the cellular membrane, sucking the nucleus out, separating the chromosomes and discarding the proteins and telling us that the DNA is who we are. Sorry! We are much more.

Amid the veiled disappointment in the Human Genome Project, numerous researchers are stepping forward to suggest that the focus on DNA has been an interesting diversion, but one that has largely missed the mark. Actually, it is the proteins that researches have been throwing away for years that control the expression of the DNA. It is the cell membrane that regulates the intracellular system and its products. It is the common interaction of communities of cells that establishes and motivates the environment of the tissues. It is the various communication networks and nerve system that create the synergy of cellular expression and coordination. Ultimately, it is our environment that determines the expression of the genetic code. It is the cellular environment that dictates which part of the DNA blueprint is used. Wow!

Take a look at environment. If you’re thinking trees, fish and rocks, think again. Environment includes what you put into your body…water and food. Environment includes what challenges you expose your body to…exercise. Environment includes what you perceive in your mind…vision and attitude, and environment includes how you treat yourself…rest and restoration.

These things are dynamic, they are within your ability to change. Therefore, you determine the environment in which your body operates and you create the environment your body responds to. In essence, you choose your life expression. An awesome responsibility? You bet.

Will you choose a positive environment? One with optimized nerve function, a sound diet, vigorous exercise, positive mental attitude and sufficient rest? Or, will it be destructive and strain the limits of your body’s ability to adapt and function properly. So, what is it going to be? The choice is yours.

Copyright © 2001 Ray Pope. All rights reserved.

Who was it that told you good health would always be your free gift? Who said it would be easy to maintain your health and vitality throughout your whole life? Who told you that you could sit back and be free from disease and illness forever?

Who are we kidding? The answer is NOBODY. Our life is a precious gift from God. Nobody said it came with a guarantee for good health. Nobody told us we would never wake up and feel crummy. Nobody told us we will never find ourselves confronted with a serious illness. Nobody said we will always be able to do the things we used to do. NOBODY said health would be easy! So, why are we surprised that good health is something that each of us must work toward?

Sure we all want great health to come easy, but the quicker we accept that we must work for it and earn it, the quicker we will start making a difference. We only get one body and now is the time to start taking care of it. What we do to and with our bodies makes a significant difference to our future health and well-being.

There are very clear examples that illustrate how the choices we make have a profound effect on our health. There is the dental example. Imagine making all the wrong choices. First always eat and drink a lot of sugar, let it bathe your teeth twenty-four hours a day and never visit a dentist. That’s stupid you’d say. Everyone would agree. It’s much smarter to take positive, preventive steps like reducing sugar, brushing after each meal and get regular dental checkups.

Another problem that effects millions of Americans is cardiovascular disease. Look at the recipe for this tragic condition. First, be sure not to lift a finger, and then eat enormous quantities of foods high in hydrogenated transfats and salt, smoke at least a pack of cigarettes a day and make sure your job and family life is full of stress. Just like dental decay, prevention can ward off heart disease. Simply by exercising often, eating unprocessed foods with natural fats and oils, and sticking to a variety of raw fruits and vegetables, coupled with a low stress environment we can add years onto an active life.

I could site a dozen more examples just as obvious as these. Our lifestyle, what we eat, what we do, our attitude and what professional care we seek all effects our health. Have no doubt, if we choose to ignore our health, it will go away.

Our health goals should always be designed to add years to life and life to years. And now is a great time to take a deep look into the five pillars of health. Take a look at the food you eat, is your nutrition good? How about exercise, is it adequate? Is your body functioning optimally? Consider nerve function a high priority. And what about rest? Is your body getting what it requires to thrive? And how is your mental attitude and spiritual nature? Is it up to the task of keeping desire and hope alive and well?

Just about everybody can do better in these areas. It’s never too late to develop a plan to strengthen your weak points, while making prevention a focus of your attention. If you need a little incentive to get you started just act like your life depends on it. It does!

Enjoy!

This type of thing happens too often… it confounds me. Sometimes, it takes the form of a “breakthrough” news article, sometimes it’s a person sharing a “new discovery”, or frequently it seems to be revealed for the “first time” by investigative reporters.

Here’s the rub. In the situations I’m talking about there is no breakthrough, nothing is newly discovered, and if there is any revelation it certainly is not the first time.

A classic example: Ritalin (Methylphenidate). This is a drug which has been demonized by countless doctors, researchers, journalist, citizen groups, and even churches. The tirade has been going on for well over thirty years and yet every year or so I see a new wave of new reports, about the new crisis regarding this drug which causes as many personal and societal problems as it solves.

Alas, there is nothing new about any of this…they are exactly the same. The findings and the conclusions are identical to the reports twenty five years ago, when I first started reading about this drug. So here is my conundrum:

• Should I be enthused that people are looking closely at ongoing prescription drug abuse, noticing educational failures, and developing a growing concern about the children of our nation?
• Should I just be pissed off at how thick-headed, short-sighted, and simple-minded, people can be?

So what does my problem have to do with neurofeedback. This week in The Wall Street Journal (Saturday/Sunday Sports Section) was an article entitled Getting Your Head In the Game (Russell Adams) which spoke to the fact that many, if not most of the top athletes in the world (including the World Cup Champion Team: Italy — my shirt size is XL) are using Neurofeedback to train their brain to enhance performance. Adam’s also mentions something which made me think of Ritalin again. He says, “[Neurofeeback] Long used to treat medical conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], epilepsy and dementia, it is beginning to emerge as a tool for pro and amateur athletes alike…”

Okay, here I am in my “New Discovery” conundrum again. Only this time with a twist. I’ve been reading about neurofeedback (use to be called EEG biofeedback) and other forms of biofeedback as long as I’ve been reading about Ritalin. Indeed, the benefits and the efficacy of these non-chemical modalities for the treatment of various problems borders on fantastic.

In fact, neurofeeback, combined with other lifestyle optimization tools (good nutrition, sensitivity to environmental stimuli, physical fitness and other brain conditioning programs) the success of treating ADHD is absolutely stellar (ask any MD who has had a child with ADHD). So why is it that the “Ritalin Thing” is still regularly new news? The answer is not that complex, and I’ll leave you to comment as to your ideas…while I look at my options:

• Should I be enthused that a reporter from The Wall Street Journal in an article about SPORTS, makes an off hand comment about neurofeedback being used in treating ADHD? [Who knew!?]
• Should I just be pissed off that effective non-prescription ways to treat ADHD are so ignored?

What do you think?

What is it that we are looking at?
Please leave a comment. But first read on…
Sure, I know that antibiotics can save lives, but they can kill too!

During an infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to kill harmful bacteria, but those antibiotics also endanger the good bacteria that is essential to sustained wellness.

There’s a reasonable compromise that most doctors seem to forget. Acidophilus and other healthful bacteria is a perfect supplement for anyone taking antibiotics. These healthy, symbiotic bacteria taken during a course of antibiotic treatment help speed the restoration of your body’s natural flora and prevent future imbalances.

No, its not polite to talk about, but opportunistic yeast and harmful, antibiotic-resistant bacteria can thrive in your body when good bacteria are inadvertently killed by treatments. There are a few factors that can lead to a continuous cycle of repeated antibiotics and other frustrating health problems, but this is one that can often be avoided…and it’s simple.

Acidophilus and other pro-biotics have many other health benefits as well: They protect against intestinal infections; provide intestinal immune system support; manufacture nutrients, and may reduce the risk of colon-cancer.

Foods like yogurt contain beneficial organisms, but to get higher concentrations and a wide variety of good bacteria, it is best to take a quality pro-biotic supplement.

The best thing of course, is to just not get your immune system so run down that you need antibiotics in the first place. Which, is a great segway into a shameless plug for my book, The Power of 90.

This ninety day program was developed to help my patients improve their health and enjoy greater levels of wellness. Today, this same program is available to you absolutely FREE. Simply go online to http://thepowerof90.com. The Power of 90 will guide and inspire you to live more fully than you ever imagined!