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Health Secrets

#1 Revealed Secret of Health From the 12th Century

This entry is part 1 of 10 in the series Health Secrets From The 12th Century

MAIMONIDES’ FIRST HEALTH SECRET REVEALED

“If a person cares for himself the way he cares for his horse, there would be no serious illnesses.You do not find anyone who gives his horse too much fodder. He measures out only as much as the horse can tolerate while he himself eats to excess.  He makes sure his animal gets proper exercise to keep healthy. When it comes to himself, he neglects exercise even though it is a fundamental principle to health maintenance and the prevention of most illnesses.”

PREVENTING ILLNESS THROUGH PROPER LIFESTYLE CHOICES

Maimonides realized the importance of the illness prevention through proper lifestyle choices: eating healthy and exercising.   The ancient Chinese physicians also realized the importance of prevention. The Neijing, an ancient medical text dating back 2,000 years states:

 “To administer medicine to a disease that has already developed is comparable to the behavior of those persons who begin to dig a well after they have become thirsty. Or those who have begun to cast weapons after they have already engaged in battle.  Would these actions not be too late.”

MODERN APPLICATION OF ANCIENT HEALTH SECRETS

A translation of the Maimonides analogy for today’s patient would read ‘if a person cares for himself, the way he cares for his car there would be no serious illnesses’.

Before traveling to Missouri for my osteopathic medical training, I bought a used Toyota Corolla. As a medical student with four children and limited funds, I always made sure to keep up with the car’s maintenance by only using the best oil available. This preventive care paid off. For the next five years, my family and I made multiple trips to and from California without a single breakdown. Even as I began my practice in Las Vegas, the same car continued to serve my family well.

THE BODY AS A VEHICLE FOR LIFE

We value our cars because they play a vital role in getting us to and from our destinations. In a similar manner, our bodies get us to and from life’s many destinations along the road to accomplishing our dreams and aspirations. Unlike a car, which has the tendency to break down if not properly maintained, our bodies have remarkable healing capabilities that are often taken for granted. Many of us tend to go through the day without acknowledging the marvelous complexity of our bodies. As a result, very little thought is given to the quality and quantity of what we put into our bodies. Unfortunately, Americans are one of the most unhealthy cultures on Earth, not only because of the quality of food consumed but also because of the quantity.

AYURVEDIC NUTRITION TIPS 

As Maimonides mentions we “do not find anyone who gives his horse too much fodder”. The teachings of Ayurvedic medicine, which date back over 3,000 years, are known for their sage advice on how people should eat. It is advised that meals should always be taken in calm environments. Reading or watching television should be avoided during meals, and enough time should be allowed after eating to avoid feeling rushed. Most importantly, Ayurvedic medicine points out that one should eat slowly and stop eating upon feeling two-thirds full. In other words, do not eat to full satiety.

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR OVERALL HEALTH THROUGH NUTRITION

Renaissance Health Centre offers nutrition counseling, food sensitivity testing, health coaching and a variety of other food and nutrition services designed to help you fuel your body effectively. Please call 702-258-7860 to schedule an appointment with one of our certified nutritional therapists or health coaches today.

Terry Pfau D.O., H.M.D.

Copyright © 2022 Terry Pfau D.O., H.M.D. All rights reserved.

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