PREVENTING ILLNESS THROUGH PROPER LIFESTYLE CHOICES
Rabbi Mosche Ben Maimon, also known as the “Rambam” was a physician and one of the most influential Jewish scholars and philosophers of the 12th century. He was born in Spain as Europe was coming out of the dark ages and spent his adult life in Egypt, a part of Persia and the center of culture, science and medicine at the time. Anything that was known in medicine was known to the Rambam. He wrote a compendium of over 350 herbs that are still used in medicine today.
With the discovery of viruses and bacteria, it seems that mankind has forgotten much of the knowledge that was accumulated in the previous 2,000 years. The Rambam realized the importance of preventing illness through proper lifestyle choices, namely eating healthy and exercising.
The Rambam’s first health secret of the past is as follows:
“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.
MODERN INTERPRETATION
In today’s world, the Rambam’s analogy 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 car continued to serve my family well.
YOUR BODY IS YOUR 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 goals. 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 give very little thought to the quality and quantity of what we put into our bodies.
AYURVEDIC NUTRITION TIPS
Unfortunately, Americans are one of the most unhealthy cultures on Earth, not only because of the quality of the food consumed, but also because of the quantity. As the Rambam mentions, “you do not find anyone who gives his horse too much fodder”. Over 3,000 years ago, Ayurvedic medicine gave 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.
In summary, the Rambam’s first recommendation for preventing disease is a healthy diet. Most of us have much room for improvement in this area, and there is no better time than now to improve your nutrition. At Renaissance Health Centre, we offer nutrition counseling, food sensitivity testing, health coaching and many other services designed to help you fuel your body in the healthiest, most efficient way possible. Please call 702-258-7860 to schedule an appointment with one of our certified nutritional therapists or health coaches today!
Copyright © 2022 Terry Pfau D.O., H.M.D. All rights reserved.