FIVE SECRETS OF SUPERHEALTH

The question that has always intrigued me is, "What is the intelligence within our body/mind that allows us to keep recreating ourselves virtually as new?" But few people believe that the body is being constantly rebuilt.

Somewhere in our post-industrial consciousness is the false idea that the body gets made of stuff, and that nutrition is just a way to keep it running-that it's like a car with a tank for carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, and so on.

I've been studying the body and its chemistry for 30 years, and the more science advances into the microscopic world of what really goes on inside us, the more I'm amazed at how complex and intelligent our self-regulating biochemical orchestra seems to be.

I remember when fat was just fuel, and the idea of essential fats was strongly resisted. Then we discovered prostaglandins, substances related to essential fats that pop up in so many important processes-regulating hormones, inflammation, blood clotting, and much more.

Now, the same revolution is happening with carbohydrates. They used to be thought of just as fuel. Then Professors Burkitt and Trowell (appropriately named!) went around the world collecting stool samples-proving that the looser the stool, the higher the fibre intake and the better the digestive health. That put fibre on the map.

But now there's an exciting new science called "glyconutrition," that recognizes that the body needs several different kinds of sugars, from which it makes a variety of glycoproteins-substances that may prove even more important than prostaglandins as "communication" chemicals.

Everything in our exterior world, and within us, is built out of communication and language. Who we are to each other is based on stories we tell. Work is nothing but conversation. Think about what you actually do each day. I write, make calls, give seminars, and speak to the media. Even if you build houses for a living, how you do it is your conversation with others.

Similarly, I believe the way to transform health is to transform the conversations that are happening between our cells. That depends on neurotransmitters (made from amino acids/proteins), glyconutrients (made from carbohydrates), prostaglandins (made from fats), and methylation (dependent on B vitamins and minerals).

There's an unconscious, automatic intelligence going on in your body chemistry, and the true science of health is to support those automatic processes and keep them in balance. At this "adaptive systems" level, there are five critical processes that you need to support. They are:
. Hydration-drinking enough good quality water.
. Oxidation-increasing consumption of a broad range of antioxidants, and reducing exposure to oxidants, burnt foods, and fried foods.
. Glycation-eating a low-GL diet, with the right balance of sugars.
. Fat Balance-increasing consumption of omega-3 and omega-6 fats, and reducing consumption of saturated, damaged, and processed fats.
. Methylation-getting enough vitamins, minerals, and methylating nutrients, including trimethylglycine and phospholipids.

Which of these areas is your weakest? Are you in control of your blood sugar? Do you drink enough water? Is your homocysteine low enough? Do you eat lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, and fish?

If you get these five essentials right most health issues resolve. This is the fast track to health and it's not that difficult to do.

I've come to believe that it's the loss of ability to adapt that leads to most of today's common ailments, including fatigue, diabetes, depression, to name a few.

Wishing you the best of health,


Patrick Holford

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