As a child, you probably received your share of what I call “Grandma Therapy”: Ways of living, thinking and eating proven over time to help a child grow up well. You know, things like “sit up straight”, “eat your greens”, “get to bed”, “get up”, “get outside”, “get those chores done”, etc.
Grandma’s guidance and kitchen skills have been supplanted by marketing and a fast-food culture not conducive to health. This column hopes to reacquaint us with common-sense, low-to-no-cost and practically effortless actions you can take to help create greater health and happiness for yourself and your family.
So what did Grandma (or better, Great-Grandma) do to create a healthier and more contented life? Here are some of her best ideas:
1)Get Sunlight:Daily sun is necessary for bone and immune system health, as well as being protective against internal cancers, Parkinson’s, MS and Alzheimer’s disease. Grandma hung out clothes, gardened/farmed, walked to the corner market, etc. She was outside daily.
2)Sit/Stand Tall andKeep Moving:Grandma kept moving – cleaning, cooking, canning, gardening or even farming. This approach is now dubbed “Continuous Non-Exercise Movement”. Grandma’slife was her exercise.
3)EatReal Food, Don’t FearFat:Nature’s bounty is rich in vitamins and minerals, especially magnesium, which most folks are low in. Preferably grow your own greens, just like Grandma did, for greater freshness and nutritional value. Americans ate 18 lbs. of butter per year in 1918 and heart trouble was rare. Grandma cooked with LARD, for heaven’s sake. Now we know it is the man-made cooking oils and that loaded us with trans-fats and reduced heart health.
4)GoEasy on the Breads and Sugars:Those few over-weight in Grandma’s day were the pastry, pasta and candy lovers. Sugar, not fat, is now known to be the biggest cause of heart disease.
5) Get to Bed Early/Get Up Early:Lights at night, whether reading, TV or computer alters our hormone secretion and timing, causing weight gain and lessened immunity. Early morning light resets our biological clocks and helps maintain healthy rhythms.
6) Keep the Faith: Hope, prayer and reflection, was practiced daily – even if only for few moments to close the eyes and catch your breath. Grandma was quite often the psychological and spiritual center of the family.
7) Have Fun and Enjoy the Ride:Grandma knew not to take life too seriously. All things pass, and laughter lightens our load along the way.
Dr. Huntington practices Chiropractic, Biomedical Acupuncture and Physiotherapy in Oracle, Az. 520-896-9844 huntingtonchiro@hotmail.com.