The phrase “Knowledge is Power” often implies that with knowledge or education, one’s potential or abilities in life will certainly increase. In Britain everyone has access to a good education, NHS healthcare, the welfare state, clean water, sanitation and drainage and more than enough food. It is safe to go outside and take exercise such as walking. Thanks to the internet, we can look up whatever we want and gain knowledge about almost anything within seconds. This sounds like Utopia.
Why is it then that chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, digestive problems, infertility, Alzheimers, depression and autism are on the increase, in both the young and the elderly and the rich and poor? There is masses of evidence to show that many conditions are directly or indirectly related to the lifestyle choices we make. In other words, what we eat, how we move and how we think affects the way our bodies function and determines whether we remain well or become sick. The vast majority of chronic illness is not caused by bad genes or bad luck. We make crucial choices which affect our health every minute of every day. Why do we deliberately choose to do something we have been told is bad for us?
Your brain controls everything your body does. It operates on two levels – the conscious brain and the subconscious brain. 99% of behaviour choices (decisions) are made by the subconscious brain like an autopilot.
For example, you shiver if you are cold and sweat if you are hot. You do not have to think about this activity and cannot control it. Your heart beats every day whether you like it or. Your conscious brain, however, controls the other 1%. These are the activities of free will.
You consciously choose what you eat, how much exercise you take and your opinions. Your conscious brain makes all these decisions based on what you believe. What you believe is a result of your upbringing, what you have been taught by your parents, teachers, friends, neighbours, what you have read or heard and your own personal experience. In order to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, you have to believe and accept that everything you do and how you think affects your health in either a good way or a bad way. Secondly, to achieve better health and avoid disease you have to want to be healthier. For example, if you drink to excess knowing that it can potentially kill you, but you don’t care, you are unlikely to change your lifestyle choices.
Like many things in life,we tend to take good health for granted and it is not until we become sick we wish we had done things differently. In the words of Joni Mitchell “They paved Paradise, put up a parking lot. You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”
If you are at a stage in your life where you would like to take control of your health and avoid disease, you may want some advice and guidance. Remember that symptoms are your body’s way of telling you something is beginning to go wrong. To simply temporarily mask them with medication does nothing to address the cause, and may lead to serious problems further down the road. If you would like to discuss your health, please ring Emsworth Chiropractic Clinic on 01243 373721 or email info@emsworthchiropracticclinic.co.uk