Inspiration: "Health is four-dimensional". What does this mean? Simple: All matters related to our well-being are encompassed by the four dimensions of physical, mental, spiritual and social health. If you want to have true health then you need to pay attention to all of these areas. And, of course, these four areas to overlap and effect each other. This newsletter will be giving a short article on each of these areas:
Physical health: Have you heard of glyconutrients? It is commonly reported that there are eight "essential" sugars: These are: mannose, glucose, galactose, xylose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, fucose (not to be confused with fructose), and N-acetylneuraminic acid. These sugars appear to be vital for normal cell to cell communication in our bodies. Strictly speaking they are not "essential" as the non-glucose ones can be manufactured from the main sugar, glucose, in the human body - though the ability to do this may be limited during disease states. There may also be other sugar molecules equally as "essential" that have not yet been discovered.
Many people have reported health benefits from supplementing their diet with capsules or powder containing concentrated amounts of these sugars. But an inexpensive alternative is to get them in the diet as foods. However, some of these foods are not vegetarian. Here is an abbreviated list of where they can be obtained. For much more detail, please go to www.burnoutsolutions.com.au/glyconutrients.htm..
Mannose: blackcurrants, apples, turnips.
Glucose: honey, bananas, grapes.
Galactose: blackberries; green beans; leeks.
Xylose: blackberries, pears, psyllium.
N-acetylglucosamine: shiitake mushroom, bovine cartilage.
N-acetylgalactosamine: dumontiaceae (a red algae), bovine cartilage.
Fucose: kelp, wakame, kombu, beer yeast.
N-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid): henʼs egg, whey protein isolate.
Mental Health: Known deficiencies that can cause major depression include: Omega 3 fatty acid, vitamin B12 and other B vitamins, tryptophan, folic Acid, magnesium, manganese, selenium, zinc, potassium. Guests at Highwood with depression are assessed for deficiencies and, if needed, tested. Exercise is also vital for depression prevention and treatment. The following photograph shows some guests and helpers getting ready for "The Big Walk". In a future issue we plan to show photoes of some of the beautiful walks at Highwood.
Spiritual Health: Soul Rest: "From the stars that in their trackless courses through space follow from age to age their appointed path, down to the minutest atom, the things of nature obey the Creator's will. And God cares for everything and sustains everything that He has created. He who upholds the unnumbered worlds throughout immensity, at the same time cares for the wants of the little brown sparrow that sings its humble song without fear. When men go forth to their daily toil, as when they engage in prayer; when they lie down at night, and when they rise in the morning; when the rich man feasts in his palace, or when the poor man gathers his children about the scanty board, each is tenderly watched by the heavenly Father. No tears are shed that God does not notice. There is no smile that He does not mark. If we would but fully believe this, all undue anxieties would be dismissed. Our lives would not be so filled with disappointment as now; for everything, whether great or small, would be left in the hands of God, who is not perplexed by the multiplicity of cares, or overwhelmed by their weight. We should then enjoy a rest of soul to which many have long been strangers." Steps to Christ p 85, by E. White.
Social Health: The Australian Doctor of 25/08/06 reporting on a study in the journal Pediatrics (online 2006) stated: "Adolescents who listen to sexually demeaning music are more likely to have early and risky sex than their peers who listen to music with non-degrading content". The study was on 12-17 year olds in the USA. The average US youth is listening to about two hours of music a day. The study recommended "parental screening and discussion, media education and recording industry responsibility to address the problem."
Highwood Testimonial: The following testimonial is one we have for public release from a guest called Yvonne (pictured) who attended a recent programme: "Prior to coming to Highwood Health I had had abdominal surgery and was still in some pain. Dr. David Bird recommended a clay wrap, which I had never had before. Sariney gave me the treatment, which was very soothing. After the bath, then a steam, I realised the pain was gone and it has not returned. Such a relief - as I had been in pain for a few months. We also were blessed spiritually...[and] I lost 2 kilos."
Next Month: "Hormonal Horrors"
Highwood Highlights is a brief and simple message sent out monthly by Highwood Health Centre, www.naturalhealthretreat.com.au www.highwoodcollege.org (03 5963 7011). To subscribe send an email to highwood@australis.net with "subscribe" in the subject line. To unsubscribe, send an email with "unsubscribe". Please send other email correspondence for Dr. Bird to birddavid777@yahoo.com as the Highwood newsletter email address is checked infrequently.