“The responsibility of healing can never truly be handed to anyone other than the person desiring healing.”
– David Hoffman

Healing therapies exist to aid the body in its own inherent ability to heal itself.  In addition, the healing process is unique to each individual. A blend of therapies that may suit one person, may not suit someone else.

In some cases, illness can be seen as an opportunity to change.  We have the power within us to make that change happen.

Health comes down to 3 basic things – what you put in your body, how you live your life, and how you perceive yourself and the world –I group these things into two simple categories – Diet and Lifestyle.

I have two quotes hanging on my refrigerator.  The first is the well-known Hippocrates quote “Let our food be our medicine, and our medicine be our food.” The second one is “Every day you do one of two things: build health or produce disease in yourself.” Adelle Davis

The way I see it, diet is everything you put in your body (not just food).

di·et

1. what person or animal eats: the food that a person or animal usually consumes
2. controlled intake of food: a controlled intake of food and drink designed for weight loss, for health or religious reasons, or to control or improve a medical condition
3. regular intake of something: a continuous or daily experience of, or indulgence in, something other than food

Diet choices that promote health include eating fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, meat from grass-fed animals, herbs, and drinking plenty of clean water.

Diet choices that contradict good health include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, processed foods, and foods high in sugar.  These should be reduced or eliminated in order to promote health and well-being.

Before I realized the impact of my dietary choices, I woke up every morning with pain.  Usually I had a sinus headache and aches in my joints, especially my hands and feet.  I had a series of tests done, none of which provided any answers.

While studying Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), I learned that dairy promotes phlegm in the body which often results in sinus congestion. I quit eating cheese and my sinus headaches disappeared!  In addition, I learned that sugar was a major cause of inflammation in the body.  I adjusted my diet to minimize intake of sugar and found that the pain in my joints subsided.  Now I know if I choose to have pizza or sweets, I will suffer. This proved to me the important role my diet choices play in my health and the power we have to choose health or promote disease by the diet choices that we make.

I would love to hear how dietary choices have affected your well-being. Feel free to share your experience in the comments section below.