Good Health is more than Vitamins

It is the totality of an almost infinite number of factors and co-factors that impact our mind and body. Being able to merely exist or just being symptom free should not be the health goal.

Quality existence is more than minimum dietary nutrition or even optimum dietary nutrition. It is also more than a good diet with vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements. It certainly is more than regular exercise. Even prayer, by itself, does not constitute good health, although the Bible says that prayer is better than exercise.  One of my  first "revelations" regarding the impact that Nutritional Therapy can have on "Health" was this statement in Guyton's Textbook of Medical Physiology

Stress "robs the bodies endogenous pool of vitamins, mineral and co-factors" that can lead to extreme nutritional dependencies or deficiencies.

Not just mental stress but physical stress. There are environmental "stressors", genetic "stressors", internal and external chemical "stressors". Too much of this and too little of that. Too much exercise or not enough exercise. Bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred, anger all impact on our being and cause nutrient deficiencies that, in effect, produce disease because there are factors necessary for cellular regeneration to occur that are missing...hence "unhealthy" cells or tissues/organs that are weak and have decreased resistance to organisms or do not function as they should.

For example, the function of bacteria is to eat dead or dying tissue and if there is an infection present then the organism is doing it's job. In order for the disease process to stop we generally get an antibiotic which kills the organism and the disease process appears to stop.

Another approach would be to support the bodies ability to resist infection or give the body what it needs so that when the new cell replaces the dead or dying cell the infection stops. I prefer the latter approach unless there is a crisis then Medical intervention is a must. I and hundreds of other Physicians have sought to support the bodies "biochemical" needs so that it works as it was intended...stay healthy by regenerating "healthy, competent and viable cells/tissues. In fact, if you give the body what it needs to regenerate healthy tissues than we can be disease free and, in the case of extremely virulent organisms, be able to return to good health rapidly.

When I studied Immunology the best thing that I learned was that all disease is self-limiting (this means that there are mechanisms built into our bodies that will cause us to stay healthy) with one exception, genetic disorders or diseases.

For example, through the action of antibody and complement bacteria are destroyed, yes, even gonorrhea and syphilis!! Antibody and complement unite on the organism disrupting the cell wall and WHAM its dead!   Whether you believe we were "created" with the ability to fight off all diseases or not, the absolute truth is we have this ability to repair, regenerate and/or resist all disease and to maintain good health. It is built into us!!!

I say "Praise God." Please feel free to credit these physiologic processes to the way the "primordial ooze" developed or evolved, regardless, I have seen instantaneous miracles and I have seen the body cure itself from "incurable" diseases. And again, please feel free to refer to these events as "spontaneous remissions".

However and whatever you choose to believe...
I'm telling you as a Doctor and Believer that the mechanism for good health is built into us.

Most people take better care of their cars than themselves. Some are not surprised when the engine and drive-train stop working because of neglect, yet can't seem to understand why they are seriously ill because they haven't taken care of their bodies. The problem with getting well is trying to figure out "what went wrong" and "what is the best approach" to fixing it. What ever the approach you take never, never overlook sound nutrition, regular exercise, prayer (it really works) and find a Physician who will allow and encourage you to supplement while under his/her care/treatment.

I like what the Bible says about "everything in moderation".
I also like what it says about Wisdom and Knowledge.
Good nutrition without exercise is not better than a lot of exercise with poor nutritional habits. Good nutrition and lots of exercise won't yield the desired results if our hearts and minds are consumed with undesirable thoughts. The textbooks tell us "that for every sensory stimulus (thoughts etc.) there is a motor (muscles etc.) response. "Ever get tight muscles in and around your neck when you are "stressed out"? How about gut-wrenching pain when you are really upset? My  hope for you is that you do everything in moderation and exercise wisdom when you find the knowledge that you seek.

One of the reasons for putting this Web-site together the way I have is so you can find information that you need to help you in your quest for a "quality existence".

Part of your responsibility and the exercise of wisdom is to seek help from
professionals that know more than you do.

It is my firm opinion that most Physicians know far less about "nutrition" and "natural medicine" than the person who is searching for "good health".

The advantage that a Physician has over the seeker is that he is trained in differential diagnosis and you most likely are not. Since I can't see you or diagnose you or manage you, it is important that you find some one who can assist you.

Please copy the material in this Web-site and take it to your Physician and get his help. If he says "you don't need vitamins, you get all you need from food", consider finding a doctor with a background in nutrition.

Please don't be your own Physician...
but you can certainly be a good helper and gather information to question him/her with.

Good luck with your search for quality health and may God bless you.