The post A Journey to Vibrant Health: My Transformation through Hippocrates appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>My choice to enroll in and complete the Hippocrates Online Program was an easy decision for me! Having attended the three-week Life Transformation Program in August 2018, which dramatically changed the way I lived and thought, I craved a deeper understanding of lifestyle medicine, raw living nutrition, and vibrant health. I wanted the knowledge that had helped me above all else to be reflected through me and shared with the world, gained from what I consider the ‘real’ school of health.
I had suffered from a chronic, debilitating disease for many years, searching around the globe for a cure and a way to achieve optimal health. I had been living captive to Seropositive Rheumatoid Arthritis, and life was no joke. Performing simple daily tasks was extremely difficult and painful. I needed help each day for personal care and support while looking after a newborn child. Conventional doctors prescribed numerous drugs to alleviate my excruciating symptoms and slow down the damage to my joints and organs. However, these often led to detrimental side effects, depression, and, in many cases, no improvement in the illness.
In 2016, my mother lost her life to pancreatic and bile duct cancer just 11 weeks after diagnosis. This was certainly a wake-up call for me to take full responsibility for my health and healing. I stopped looking for someone else to heal me and decided to do whatever was necessary to reach the level of health I desired. My next proposed treatment was six-monthly infusions of a chemotherapy-type drug designed to ‘kill off’ part of my immune system so it would be less aggressive in attacking itself. I knew this was merely another mask that didn’t address the root cause, so I began researching a better way, one where I would feel supported. I received help from an epidemiologist and a specialist in naturally reversing autoimmune diseases. He (along with divine guidance) pointed me to Hippocrates, and thus began this incredible journey!
Embarking on this course was, first and foremost, a gift to myself. Now, I seek to pass this gift on to as many people as possible, to those willing to hear my message and do whatever it takes to achieve incredible health and vitality. I am not the same person who first walked through the gates at Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach. The impact on my life has been so profound that I have burned my bridges to my old lifestyle and way of thinking. With knowledge comes power and responsibility.
Physically, I am more mobile and even look different to those who have always known me. So much is reflected in our countenance! I now lift weights, exercise regularly, and am the mother, wife, and person I need to be in this world.
Eating this way and ingesting high-enzymatic foods keeps my head uncluttered and gives me mental clarity. Serotonin, the ‘happy hormone,’ along with most other neurotransmitters, is produced in the gut. So, whatever I nourish myself with directly impacts my mood. Maintaining hormone balance through a raw living diet is key to greatly improving my emotional and spiritual state.
Family and friends have noticed a different Hazel now! I have become the go-to person for natural health solutions. I have taken what I learned through this course and, while I refrain from preaching to others, I live as an example.
My beliefs about food, nutrition, and what our bodies need to function optimally have changed significantly as a result of the knowledge I gained from this life-changing online course. Food is not just a source of fuel, energy, and comfort; high-nutrient food is essential for creating and maintaining vibrant health. We feed our bodies at a cellular level. For the trillions of cells in our bodies to function properly, we must take care of them and provide them with everything they need. This is a huge part of self-love. How much do I really care about myself if I’m not willing to give myself the best in every area of life?
As satisfying and enjoyable as food can be, I have had to shift my perspective from seeing it as merely a source of pleasure or recreation to viewing it as the primary fuel, power, and energy for my wonderfully created body. Phytonutrients, hormones, oxygen, and enzymes need to be present in abundance to provide the correct nourishment, healing, and protection for my body. Raw living foods are the best and purest forms of sustenance. If I put bad fuel in, how can I expect a good outcome? My body is adaptable and forgiving, but I cannot continue to abuse it and expect this not to manifest as disease and fatigue.
Living this way takes commitment, time, and cost, but the benefits far outweigh these things. Without my health, I cannot perform well on a daily basis. I believe investing in my health is the best expenditure possible. Living in a society driven by money, we often fail to see the long-term costs to our health when we don’t take preventive care. The price we pay later on can be far greater. What if I cannot work due to poor health and can’t take care of my family?
A typical day for me includes the following: Upon waking, I take a meditative sauna, detoxing mentally and physically. I have a far-infrared/ozone hydrotherapy spa. I drink herbal tea and lemon water to further detox and help the elimination process. A green juice follows, typically comprising alkaline vegetables like celery, cucumber, and leafy greens or sunflower sprouts. I often add garlic or ginger as these are great for inflammation and are antimicrobial. I generally have one or two meals per day. Because the food is so nutrient-rich, it satisfies me. Growing my own sprouts in the kitchen and greenhouse is fun and an important part of my life. Food is always there at hand, alive and fresh! I find raw dressings keep my diet fun, tasty, and interesting. Algae and seaweed also play a great role in my diet. My family chuckles at my seashore foraging and large batches of dulse and kelp dehydrating regularly in my kitchen.
Exercise has now become a huge ‘nutrient’ in my lifestyle. The benefits of exercise are multi-dimensional. Having been athletic as a child, it was incredibly challenging to lose my mobility after being hit by rheumatoid arthritis. Through the new lifestyle I had chosen, combined with belief in healing, determination, and hard work, I regained the ability to exercise. The freedom, mental stamina, and emotional release it brings are immense. Exercise and training are essential to my daily life, and I must incorporate them into my routine to feel sane, fulfilled, and satisfied. Building muscle has been amazing in helping me take pressure off my joints, allowing me to perform tasks like housework that were once impossible.
When people see me out in the street going about my daily life, they tell me they struggle to believe I was once so crippled and housebound. I attribute much of this to the daily practices I’ve adopted that contribute to my agility and vibrancy! I had bilateral knee replacements last year due to previous damage and was able to run a mile just five months following this major surgery. The surgeon was astounded, saying he had never seen this kind of recovery in any of his patients. He told me that whatever I was doing was amazing and an inspiration. Those words meant a lot to me. My daily efforts to heal and strengthen myself do pay off. On days when I feel like giving up, this way of life and the guidance I’ve received are there for me. It has become part of me, who I am, and how I shine.
I remember being told, “Don’t preach to others, but be the example.” This is my mission. Personally, this way of life directly impacts me and my immediate family. The benefits are immeasurable—less pain, more mobility, and greater confidence, to name a few. If I neglect my health, it negatively affects my husband and children. I can’t help them physically, prepare their meals, or wash their clothes. When in pain, I experience low mood and irritability. My tolerance for others and situations is greatly reduced. I believe my children are very aware when their mum is on track or, conversely, when I’ve neglected my recovery!
Being made acutely aware of the impacts of the Western diet and lifestyle on our planet has motivated me to reduce all chemical usage in my home and use organic, biodegradable, and vegan products wherever possible. Learning the alarming statistics during this course has deeply affected me, and I feel this issue cannot be ignored. I have made changes in my life and continue to educate others, planting seeds of knowledge wherever I go.
Using essential oils and homemade plant-based cleaning solutions has been one of the most beautiful things I am grateful for. Everything we need is provided by nature, and we should utilize the benefits of these plants, reducing and eliminating toxins from our homes.
Cutting out meat and dairy reduces demand for these products and encourages creativity with other delicious protein sources that I once would have overlooked. Lentils, beans, and chickpeas, for example, can be substituted in most recipes, and this does no harm to creatures or the planet. The shocking quantities of land and water required to raise livestock could be far better utilized for agriculture. Buying organic cotton clothing, or even second-hand, helps support the planet. Learning about GMO cotton growing was a big shock to me and something I had never considered before taking this course. The harmful effects on the soil, the farmers, and eventually the consumer and wearer are devastating. I now make informed choices and take responsibility for nurturing and replenishing this beautiful earth, as we are all custodians and caretakers of it. The earth was created in perfect balance and harmony, and human greed has disrupted its natural rhythms and depleted its resources.
This course has taught me so much! There is the diet, the growing, the lifestyle, but perhaps most importantly, the deeper spiritual aspect that must be addressed when changing one’s life. Integrity has become a focal point for me. My communication and honesty with myself and others are now of utmost importance. If I know the truth about life, health, and their significance, I need to live by these principles, share them with those in my immediate influence, and align my actions with my beliefs. If I choose dishonesty, I am cheating myself in any area of life. On the other hand, by loving and valuing myself, I am able to love and respect others. Connection and community start with me.
There are many aspects of life and healing, but if I had to choose one as the most transformative, it would be changing my diet to a fully raw and living plant-based one. I need to invest physically in my body and nourish it at a cellular level. This is key and should be the number one priority. When I give my body the proper fuel, I have a foundation upon which to build emotional and spiritual healing, all of which are deeply interconnected: body, mind, and soul.
Daily exercise and movement are non-negotiable for me. I engage in at least two scheduled sessions of quality workouts each day. I vary these throughout the week to keep things fun and interesting and to avoid monotony. Swimming, rebounding, walking, and resistance training are my favorites, and I’ve recently taken advantage of the warmer weather to pursue wild swimming. I am building strength and stamina and have set goals to continue advancing in all these areas. Hiring a personal trainer has been a valuable investment. Working on tailored programs with someone who understands my body is important to me. My children keep me mobile, and wherever possible, I join them in games and sports!
I am very excited about becoming a mentor for the Hippocrates lifestyle. I feel passionate about returning the knowledge I have gained and helping others find their path to becoming their best selves. The vast majority of people do not know where to turn amidst a sea of conflicting information from the mainstream education system and what is portrayed as ‘healthy’ online. What should they believe, and whom should they trust? I will be there to guide, support, and help them navigate their health challenges and goals. Working with people who are ready to take stock of their lives is incredibly fulfilling, and I already have several potential clients lined up to work with me. This alone is proof that there is a beacon of hope, and others are finding the truth. I am honored to be an instrument that helps others reach their goals. I have a network of natural practitioners with whom I will collaborate, complementing my services. By doing my part to spread and share this superior and fulfilling way of living, I hope that those I help will, in turn, pass this knowledge on to others. These rays of light and hope will spread wider and farther, and parents can teach their children what is truly healthy, nourishing, and important. I envision these offspring passing down this ‘gold’ to future generations. I feel so privileged to be part of this great movement, and I believe this is my work for humanity and our planet.
Knowledge is power, and wisdom is a gift. Let us make this world a better place, starting with ourselves.
The post A Journey to Vibrant Health: My Transformation through Hippocrates appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>The post William Robison Hippocrates Lifestyle Online Program appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>Never in the history of mankind have we been inundated by so much toxicity. Whether internally or externally, the air, water, food, and negativity being disseminated daily is wreaking havoc on our health. We need to eat healthy food, have a good attitude, think positive thoughts, love, and be loved, just to sustain our health and create homeostasis between our mind, body, and spirit. By taking responsibility as individuals for how we eat, think, and feel not only impacts us, but also the greater good of the planet. We are depleting resources for future generations. The HW lifestyle has impacted me in the following ways.
Mentally, I have more clarity than ever before in adopting the raw living food program. This plant-based, organic, raw, living food program is a supercharged healing program. My previous beliefs of how to maintain cognition and mental clarity were to build connections in the brain by challenging myself as much as I could mentally. But 90% of mental health is from the brain stem up not down. Exercise is vital to a healthy mind. We were meant to move. Since the brain is made mostly of fat the HW diet has all the EFAs necessary for proper brain function. These are foods high in electricity, water, enzymes, trace minerals, and EFAs all instrumental in optimum cellular communication. Having a strong mind is important to overall body health. Our thoughts have their chemical equivalent. Our immunity is constantly listening to our emotional dialog. Every cell in the body knows what we are thinking. Our thinking affects us physically, emotionally, and spiritually, hence the term holistic.
Physically the HW program has impacted me immensely. Being a former collegiate athlete, I have always kept my body fit by eating healthy and exercising. Also getting a Master Herbalist Diploma from the School of Natural Healing in 2001 opened my eyes to a holistic approach to health. But the HW program took me to another level of how I looked at my health. I have always had an affinity for the body’s anatomy and how lifestyle impacts its health. The Hippocrates lifestyle has augmented my stamina and endurance. Adequate exercise and the proper food program can keep that youthful look physically. We need to age gracefully as nature intended. Aging is not a matter of chronology but is about the integrity of body tissues, enzyme levels, etc. Tom Brady, NFL superstar, is 46 years old and is competing with men in their low 20s. Mentally and physically the integrity of his body is much younger than his chronological age.
Our body demands physical and nutritional needs. The sun makes us happy, increases immunity, provides the hormone D, helps absorb nutrients, and raises our frequency. The quality of oxygen, the greatest healer, is vital. The levels in cities have decreased from about 21% to 16%. The toxicity of the water caused me to distill my tap water for the last 25 years. We need to exercise for our physical as well as mental health. The foods we consume need life within. More raw foods need to be eaten. Cooking destroys life, electricity, and nutrients. Live foods sustain life and dead foods beget death. The body has to have adequate rest and sleep. This repairing and healing time is as important as the building anabolic state.
Emotional instability is a factor independent of the manifestation of illness. I have done a good job at leaving the past be the past. The decisions I made were the result of what I knew at that time and my level of education. I am not the same person as I have evolved. We can only change the things we can. Do not let those past experiences create emotional blockages or obstacles to prevent one from moving forward. These obstacles or negative emotions stored in the body can be released or transformed through diet, exercise, and psychological therapies. Movements help emotions to rise in the body to be processed.
Our body requires emotional and nutritional needs for optimum health. Security is one. We all want to feel safe. Acknowledgment, giving, and receiving, is another. I feel good when I receive something but extraordinary when I give. Honest communication is imperative for a relationship to last. We all need structure and intimacy. Being joyful and happy is good medicine. The Hippocrates program provides therapies to achieve emotional health.
Spiritual fulfillment is needed to achieve holistic health. I consider myself to be a spiritual person. I feel connected to God, nature, and the universe. Being part of a community and connected to others promotes longevity. I am working on this now as I feel secluded in the country with acreage. I love the connection to nature. The Blue Zones attest to being connected and longevity.
It all starts with ourselves. Our authentic self is our spiritual self. Relaxation is who we are and who we think we should be creates tension. The quote” be yourself everybody else is taken” is one of my favorites. As individuals, we need self-worth, self-esteem, self-respect, and self-confidence. We need to be loved and loving to others. Love those disorders out of your life. We need to be connected to something. Isolation is stress. We are here for contribution and purpose not just collecting things. Having more than we need is a burden. We need as individuals to aspire and be passionate about what we love to do. If we have all of these attributes we will be fulfilled and happy. We just need to be connected and believe in something. Our body responds to our beliefs as if it is reality. Our perception of what we believe is our reality and that is how we live our life. If change our beliefs we can change our reality.
I have lived a lifestyle of holistic healing since 1996. I have a holistic medicinal educational background. I am 68 years old and have evolved from the way I thought and ate about 30 years ago. So, I have had time to evolve as an individual. What I have learned from the Hippocrates lifestyle is the following. Healthy food may not be at the top of the list for health and longevity. Emotions, social interaction, spirituality, and the mental state of mind are independent factors in determining an illness or optimum health. The way we think and feel dictates which path we take either by investing in our wellness or subsidizing our illness. I learned years ago that genetics load the gun but lifestyle pulls the trigger. Genetics only plays about 2% to 5% in disorders. A formula I contrived was Gw + Be = Dis-ease. Genetic weakness plus body environment equals disease. We may have a weakness for disease but the environment we create within our body is a catalyst. When we have an aquarium full of fish and the fish do not seem to be healthy what do we do? We change the dirty water so we change the environment to promote health. Our intake, elimination, movement/circulation, lifestyle, emotions, spirit, and inherited constitution equal our level of health. The Hippocrates program went into more depth about how foods affect me on a cellular level, and food science. Healers healed people for thousands of years by observing the body and giving it what it needed to self-correct without the science. We have to scrutinize the science because of the agendas and profits to be made.
Transforming a family to a HW lifestyle program is not an easy task. All we can do is be an example of health and then they might say “what are you doing you look healthy. Some may be able to transform quickly and others a step-by-step process. A commitment is needed for transformation. Transitional foods may be needed. Others may not want to change and even if science and education is presented to them it will not make a difference. In my experience, people will not change unless they want to, and seem to try to justify their lifestyle. I always thought the sign of intelligence is changing things when receiving new information. We need to be an example of health not only for our well-being but to be an inspiration to others to change to a HW program.
Our healthcare system is broken. Modern medical care evolved as a drug-distribution arm of the pharmaceutical industry, not a profession concerned primarily with improving people’s health. We have more obese and unhealthy people than ever before. Think about it! We are conditioned to think that pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are a normalcy on food. The marketing of the dairy and meat industry teaches us that if we do not eat meat and consume dairy, we will fall apart from the lack of calcium and protein. Our refined, processed, and devitalized food plus sugar make us addicted. We have a fast-food restaurant on just about every corner. So, we take in all of these carcinogens and chemical-laden foods and then get sick and go to the orthodox doctors to give us more chemicals. Mainstream doctors contribute to over 500,000 iatrogenic illnesses per year. This is a time for an individual to do things more right just to sustain. I guess I have to mention vaccines are handed out like candy to take the place of our natural immunity. Everybody needs to understand and live a RESILIENT lifestyle. Healthcare costs would plummet. There are too many self-centered people making decisions about themselves only instead of promoting a better health care system and the planet. I do understand this comes with education. We need to disseminate the HW lifestyle.
The welfare of the planet is in trouble. We are stealing resources from future generations and destroying other species. We need leaders with a platform of influence to change things. We have to address immediately the impact that animal agriculture, climate destabilization, ocean devastation, and rainforest destruction have on the planet. Fresh water supplies are being reduced. There is air and water pollution, Soil erosion is a major factor. Livestock accounts for 45% of the land mass on the earth. We could eradicate world hunger by using that land for plant growth.
Animal agriculture is the leading cause of water pollution in the U.S. It takes 100X the water to produce animal protein versus plant protein. By consuming meat, we also get the detrimental effects of physical and metaphysical toxins. Meat accounts for 51% of greenhouse gasses and more than all the world’s vehicles combined. Man believes he has dominion over the animals but it does not mean slaughtering them. I believe it means that humans have more brain power to make essential decisions for the greater good of the planet. Animals keep other animals in check. Man has taken the species’ habitat.
Climate destabilization and air pollution are impacted by black carbon, and soot, mostly from animal agriculture. We have rainforest destruction. We need trees but continue to remove them. 100,000 trees a day are brought down. We expect 80% of people by 2050 will be urban dwellers. The ocean is toxic, has dead zones, and has dumped plastics that plankton consume and promote transexual fish. Our ocean is also being overfished.
What can we do? Well, we can start by transforming to a vegan lifestyle. With a fraction of the land, we could feed everyone. Habitats, oceans, and rivers would come back, ecosystems would heal, wildlife could thrive, and humanity would be more loving, kindler, and gentler. Veganism would reset everything including our physiology. Other things we can do as individuals are to stop buying packaged food and to grow our own food (indoors and outdoors), buy second-hand items, and downsize, we live in a materialistic society so we need to acquire only what we need. We should use reusable bags and bottles, return the land to native vegetation, plant trees, recycle and use a bidet for water conservation.
Exercising is imperative. Being a former collegiate athlete, I have exercised consistently my whole life. I know the importance of aerobic and anaerobic exercise, resistance training, and joint stretching and flexibility. I like natural movement. I have a fast metabolism and exercise accordingly. I am tall, thin, and strong so my routine should be different from someone short and stocky. My weekly routine consists of yoga, rebounding, dumbbell weightlifting, walks, regular sex, and adequate rest and sleep needed for repair and healing. I am 68 years old and do not take any medications nor do I have any joint pain.
In conclusion, we need to evolve from our previous way of thinking. Our bodies are bioelectric and thoughts, emotions, environment, foods, sounds, and scents have frequencies. Electromagnetic frequency can heal disease. We need to heal our bodies electrically and not biologically. We have discovered the 4th phase of water. The discovery of epigenetics needs to be taught and disseminated. Science shows that genes do not express themselves but are controlled by factors outside the cells. In the book The Biology of Belief, it states “ it’s the environment stupid”. The special interests keep us from the truth. My mission is to teach the lifestyle of eating plant-based, organic, raw, and living food and how it impacts us mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
There are significant benefits from growing sprouts as part of a healthy lifestyle. These benefits include complete nutrition, organic, nutrient-dense, fresh, easily digestible, accessible, economically feasible, ecologically impacted such as no deliveries from planes, trucking, etc., versatility, and requires little space and time to grow the sprouts. We have to recognize that we are solar cells and that all life comes from the sun. So, feast on sprouts, sea vegetables and algae. We need these superfoods because with all the non-foods being eaten, there is a lack of nourishment on a cellular level. But the nourishment cannot penetrate the cell unless the toxicity is removed. So, nourishing and cleansing is vital to health.
Mentoring and coaching are needed to assist their clients in removing the past traumatic emotional blockages being stored so they could be processed and eliminated. These people need someone to guide them and transform their vision into reality by removing any emotional blockages and promoting long-term development and growth. I must say it all starts with us as individuals to contribute, to connect, as everything is connected, for our own well-being and for the greater good of the planet.
William B. Robison
The post William Robison Hippocrates Lifestyle Online Program appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>The post Plant The Seed and Health Will Grow appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>To ‘plant the seed’ applies metaphorically and literally to all that flourishes and grows.
When nurtured, every seed, whether it be the fertile soil of the human mind or that of the earth, will bring about change. Seeds transform into plants, plants mature, and produce more seeds – the perfect cycle.
When we have a thought, it becomes a vibration, an energy, and, ultimately, an action. When we cultivate the gardens of our minds and nourish seeds of joy, love, and wellbeing we invite abundance into our lives.
At Hippocrates Wellness, we believe in the power of planting seeds of positive thoughts to become healthy habits and actions while also planting seeds that become nourishing food to support vibrant health and longevity.
Everything is connected. Positivity leads to positive actions; hope leads to faith and love.
Throughout the universe, patterns are integral to everything and within these patterns lay messages from the very core of life and the beginning of existence itself.
Life is flow. When we resist the flow and go against nature, we suffer, attracting more struggles and challenges into our daily lives. When we move in harmony with nature and observe how it surrenders to the process it exists to perform, we learn to align with the flow of life, be at peace with ourselves, and fully embrace the present moment.
Have you ever noticed the remarkable resemblance between our anatomy and plants? Ever held a leaf up to the sunlight to see how its vein structure is similar to ours? Or how the branches of a tree look like our lungs?
Our biological circulatory, pulmonary and nervous systems generate the same ‘branches’ structure to optimize flow. Trees and lungs are modeled by fractal geometry for their continued branching structure. So much so that the lung is even referred to as the tranches-bronchial tree. The parallels are astonishing and further proof that we are nature.
If we are what we eat, why wouldn’t we want to eat the most wholesome, life-enhancing diet possible to live the best life? The transformation that can occur when we prioritize our health is phenomenal, and once the initial adjustments become habitual, there’s no looking back.
Remember when you were a child, playing outside when you’d think nothing of pushing your hands in the soil and rubbing it curiously between your fingers caught in the wonder of it? The way it smelt, the way it felt, and quite simply, how much fun it was!
Little did we know back then that soil was the bedrock of all our food and one of the most valuable relationships we formed. Studies have shown that gardening can reduce stress and anxiety while educating you on how connected we are to the earth and all it provides. You may even notice that others follow your example when they see how much you enjoy your newfound relationship with food.
When you grow your food, you know what’s in your food.
We are more aware now than ever of how important it is to protect our bodies from the harmful impact of synthetic chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers. Exposure to these hazardous toxins plays havoc with our systems, causing health issues including:
When pesticides combine with one or more similar substances, they can enhance or alter other chemicals. It is still unknown what the impact of exposure to chemicals combined – the ‘cocktail effect’ – is on us, and there is strong evidence of their trail of destruction on our environment. Many pesticides, such as insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides, harm pollinators and other beneficial insects.
Exposure to agricultural pesticides called “neonicotinoids” has been linked to large-scale bee population extinctions. This poses a serious threat to the food chain as we may lose all the plants that bees pollinate and the animals that eat those plants, continuing up the food chain. Bees also pollinate around 80% of wildflowers in Europe. Imagine how less beautiful and diverse nature would be without them.
When we pay attention to the difference between what our body craves and what our emotions crave, we listen to what our body truly needs.
Not only does organic, homegrown food taste the best, but when our food is grown with time, love, and patience in healthy soil, abundant in helpful microbes, we produce living, nutrient-dense food.
Feeding our body is not the only benefit. We also feed our senses. The smell, taste, therapeutic colors, and primal connection with nature all contribute to a wholesome experience costing us less money, leaving less waste, and providing a great hobby.
Plants can also act as air purifiers, removing toxins from the air by trapping them in their leaves, soil, and roots. They even oxygenate the home by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
The rewards of growing your own food – ‘Garden Therapy’ – will be noticed immediately.
Almost anyone can create an affordable edible garden, no matter how small or inconsequential it may seem. You can grow your own food inside or outside if you can access sunlight and water.
Visualizing your garden in full bloom will help to keep you on the path of persistence and bring you radiant joy when you first see the seeds you planted with love and attention flower into their full glory. Many choices are available depending on where and how you grow your food. Edible plants require at least six hours of sunlight across 24 hours – especially sun-hungry fruit plants.
If you select your plants wisely and by how much shade or light your chosen plot receives, you’ll be harvesting healthy, homegrown organic food in no time!
Space is also a key factor. Whether you have an allotment or a beautiful sun spot on your window sill are vital factors to consider when choosing which seeds to plant to ensure success.
Here are some plants for beginners to try growing at home:
Sprouts are nutritious powerhouses, possessing enzyme-rich, concentrated levels of easily digestible vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Sprouts are young plants that are harvested a few days after germination. They are also an easily accessible food to grow at home because they require very little space and can be grown indoors any time of the year.
Some of the best seeds to sprout are:
In addition to the many miraculous offerings Mother Nature provides are what have become known as ‘Superfoods’. These add a great nutritional boost to smoothies or meals.
You can discover more about seeds, vegan foods, and the tools to grow them at our store.
“Every leaf that grows will tell you: what you sow will bear fruit, so if you have any sense, my friend, don’t plant anything but Love.” – Rumi
When we return to nurturing our connection with how we produce and consume our food, we become aware of how and where our food is grown, allowing us to eliminate any potential harm to ourselves and our environment. Our choices directly impact the nutritional value of our food and whether or not we obtain it efficiently, compassionately, and cost-effectively.
Mother Nature is constantly demonstrating the brutal consequences of Climate Change. The food we eat has to come from somewhere, right? Whether locally grown or imported from around the world, it still had to travel from where it was produced to the grocery store and then to our homes. When we grow our own food, we support the reduction of carbon emissions as it requires no transportation.
It also guarantees no waste or plastic packaging, showing a commitment to a Zero Waste to Landfill philosophy while helping to avoid contributing to the toxic pollutants in our drinking water. When we come together to achieve a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to our way of life, we benefit the planet’s welfare and our own.
So, which seeds will you choose to plant today?
Life is a constant flow of change and choices. When we plant seeds of health and wellbeing, we invest in our future selves and generations to come. At Hippocrates Wellness, we know that, at first, trying something new and accepting change can be overwhelming and confusing. When we let go of the fear of being ‘perfect’ or the notion of having to get things right on our first try, we allow ourselves to surrender to the process without self-judgment. In our 3-week Life Transformation Program, we will help you to sow the life you deserve and flourish. Rushing your process is like shouting at a flower to grow – all good things take time and patience.
Take the first step today by contacting one of our experts for your free consultation, and remember: “mighty oaks from little acorns grow.”
The post Plant The Seed and Health Will Grow appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>The post The Healing Vibration of Gratitude appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>It’s easy to forget what we are thankful for and push it to the back of our minds, behind all the things we ‘must’ get done. When we turn our back on gratitude, we lose a remarkable opportunity to embrace peace, love, and happiness, and to immerse ourselves in healing thoughts and feelings. When we focus our energy on appreciation for our lives, we create positive thoughts which go hand in hand with a sense of gratitude.
Ultimately, we see the world as we see ourselves. Positive thoughts lead to positive emotions, which influence every decision we make and action we take. When we start taking responsibility for our choices, we raise our awareness and, consequently, the quality of our lives. It all begins within ourselves and the realization that we influence all we experience and we are not just passengers in our own lives.
Our perceptions create our reality. Consider that you are where you are today, in this very moment, because of every thought and belief you’ve ever had about ‘who’ you are. It’s quite overwhelming, isn’t it? However, power exists in the knowledge that we can take control of our lives and create our own reality whenever we choose. Think of it as beautifying your mind.
When we become aware of our thoughts and feelings, we realize how thoughts lead to emotions and that our beliefs must shift and evolve before our actions can.
Our beliefs and thoughts have a profound impact on our physical body, too. When we accept how our emotions affect our physical body, we can raise our consciousness toward understanding the interdependency of all systems of life.
Have you ever eaten something unhealthy in response to something that has affected you emotionally and knocked you off balance? Or to suppress pain and hurt? Ever skipped the gym or not gone on that restorative stroll because you’re feeling unsocial and low? Like the domino effect, every thought, feeling, and action affects everything else in our lives. When we become aware and take control, we realize that we have the power to influence the events and opportunities that come our way.
Gratitude stems from the Latin word gratus, meaning pleasing, grateful, gracious, and grace. When we allow the energy of grace and gratitude to flow through our hearts and minds, we find an inner peace that enriches our lives.
If we believe that energy follows thought, then what we think can directly impact our physical and mental health.
Allowing yourself to be grateful can help you appreciate the people in your life and shift your focus away from negative feelings and thoughts. Research has shown that embracing gratitude in your life can help you to:
Meditation is an ancient practice believed to have originated in India and is predominantly associated with Buddhism throughout the Western world. However, it plays a central role in many religious traditions and rituals worldwide, as well as helping people to manage stress and improve overall wellbeing.
The practice of meditation can guide us into the present moment, encouraging a sense of awareness and awakening within oneself. Although derived from religious traditions, it has become well-known as an integral part of spirituality and holistic practices. It is sometimes considered equivalent to feeling the presence of the divine in our lives.
Stillness leads to an inner vision and feeling of who we truly are, an opportunity to be aware and conscious of ourselves and enter a state of bliss.
Consciousness is energy that we can transform into a creative force, visualizing what we desire and emitting feelings of love and gratitude for who and what we have in our lives, creating a peaceful mind so we can embrace true health, happiness, and self-empowerment.
Feelings of gratitude can also extend beyond people. They may include the beauty of mother nature, such as the warmth of the sun, soothing sounds, a majestic tree, or simply your four-legged friend. Whatever it be, just let it be.
When we give thanks, we acknowledge and accept the goodness in our lives. We count our blessings and create a space and environment to reflect on what we are grateful for. Gratitude boosts neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin and the ‘love’ hormone oxytocin, all of which are associated with feelings of positivity and wellbeing.
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” – Willie Nelson.
The power of unity at Thanksgiving encourages collective energies of gratitude to come together in the same moment and express their appreciation. Sometimes gaining new insight into another person’s life and challenges can put our own into perspective. When we give thanks, we recognize the blessings in our lives that we may not have noticed before.
Expressing feelings of gratitude can become a daily part of our lives. In fact, the more we do it, the more we benefit from it. So how do we do it?
At Hippocrates Wellness, we invite you to give thanks to your mind, body, and spirit by taking back control of your lifestyle choices, and allow us to guide you into the healing arms of wholesome lifestyle habits on our 3-week Life Transformation Program.
Together we will explore mindfulness, fitness, immunity, and regeneration, but most importantly, we welcome you to be yourself and embrace your full potential.
Thanksgiving is about expressing gratitude for all we have, recognizing our blessings, and reflecting on the year gone by.
We at Hippocrates believe that every day is an opportunity to show gratitude for our lives and adjust our mindset and choices so we can embrace health and longevity. During the holiday season, connecting with others brings a sense of togetherness and fulfillment to nourish the mind, body, and soul.
Contact one of our experts now for your free consultation, so you can give thanks to your life by regaining your health and living it to the fullest!
The post The Healing Vibration of Gratitude appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>The post The Regenerative Spirit of Community appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>Communication leads to community. Togetherness promotes and encourages feelings of safety, and self-expression, boosting motivation and cultivating positivity both within and out.
Every new person we meet presents a beautiful opportunity to acquire new skills and lifestyle habits with the potential to transform from who we were to who we are becoming and to see ourselves in a different light. Still, we all need guidance, help, and support along the way.
As human beings, we are inherently social, sharing similar aspects of social behaviors with other animals, such as aggression and the fear-driven need for hierarchy and territoriality.
There are numerous conditions and personality disorders that can impact upon social situations. Neurodiversity means that we all act and react differently socially. As part of a community, we must continue to work towards social balance and togetherness with everyone. Such social harmony is essential to our overall mental health and wellbeing.
Imagine negative thoughts as a scratched record relentlessly repeating the same words over and over again in our minds. With this repetition, we can become overwhelmed and start to believe our own destructive narrative. When we connect with others, we can gain perspective on ourselves and see how we are loved and valued by others, allowing the music to play freely once again.
When we invite new people into our lives, we embrace new feelings, new challenges, and a renewed positive sense of self, boosting motivation and creating lasting memories and lifestyle habits to accompany us into the future. It has been proven that diversity in groups can stimulate creativity and a desire to work harder, opening our minds and helping to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
Aristotle believed that humankind by nature are “social animals”.
Philosophers and scientists continue to explore the social nature of the human being and what distinguishes us from other species. There’s no doubt that humans are part of a very sociable group, the primates, relying upon interaction and communication for survival. Our inner ape longs for companionship and acceptance, helped by our innate, remarkable talent for adapting and innovating.
Our ability to evolve into a species that creates language and culture is further evidence of our profound desire for social interaction and to be part of a community. Even the fact humans love games proves our social desire to interact. Our exceptional anatomy and abilities are reflected in such things as our ability to speak, hold an upright posture, reason and make decisions, possess opposable thumbs, control and use fire, and one of the stranger characteristics: blush – which Charles Darwin referred to as “the most peculiar and the most human of all expressions.“
One of the many magnificent proven traits humans have is the ability to think and feel beyond the limits of their species. The extraordinary cognitive capacity to plan, apply logic and reason, learn from experience, and be able to think about thinking reveals a level of intelligence unmatched elsewhere in the animal kingdom.
Humans, unlike other animals, also have a conscious awareness allowing us to live in the past, present, and future, giving us two ways of perceiving events, instinctively and intellectually. Our ability to contemplate how potential present actions and decisions can become future consequences has led to the development of the complex societies and cultures we live in today. It also allows us to manipulate our environment and communicate with others across distance and time – which is appreciated more than ever when we cannot be with our loved ones.
Other animals have neither the “theory-of-mind” capabilities humans have, meaning they are not conscious of what others are thinking, nor the capacity for higher-level reasoning.
How often have you imagined the future,sourced memories from the past, and instincts from the present to influence how you’ll act?
Our ability to think leads to our natural impulse to worry about the future and our survival, reinforcing the notion that our emotional and physical survival is strengthened and possibly reliant on being part of a group. So much worry derives from a fear of ‘not being ok’ in the future. The fear of not having enough or not being enough can hugely impact our psychological wellbeing, triggering the ‘fight-or-flight’ response.
From birth, our existence relies upon teamwork – a complex system of living organisms working together to create new life! It’s nothing short of a miracle.
For civilized life to exist, we must all become part of a social system that relies on teamwork.
Every system, such as procreation, the economy, education, the arts, law, competitive sports, agriculture, and even something as brutal as war, depends on us coming together and agreeing on the same goals and objectives.
Did you know that much of our neural network focuses on group communication? Our brains are still an enigma, yet memory perception, association, and empathy are key to processing information and communicating.
When we come together and share our worries and stresses, we soon realize that we are all in the same boat and that with support and love, we can overcome any obstacles better when united. When we share our feelings, experiences, and thoughts and listen to those of others, we can tap into our empathetic selves and embrace our urge to help not only those we know and love but also strangers. We instinctively know that by helping others, we ultimately help ourselves.
Life is a celebration and a delicate balance between what we feel and think. At Hippocrates Wellness, we believe in creating a supportive community where people can fully express themselves and be themselves. An environment where the norm is sharing and that being at peace with the inner self is paramount to self-healing. When we allow ourselves to feel, our true healing can begin, and we can start to make sense of our place in this big wide world. Hippocrates is a retreat that can help you to focus on yourself and work on your relationship with food and your lifestyle. Our Healing Circle invites you to drop your mask and heal to realize that others are going through the same challenges and are also in need of comfort and companionship.
So many guests have left the Hippocrates campus, having made friends for life. Our globally-renowned Life Transformation Program addresses the whole person – mind, body, and spirit, offering protocols that embrace mindfulness, fitness, immunity, and regeneration. Along your journey to wellness, you’ll meet people who are a little further down the path and can act as a mentor, guiding you empathetically and safely with valuable experience and understanding.
Sometimes it can feel like we are the only ones going through the life challenges we face, but in truth, everyone is, in their own way and own time. Others can lift you up and out of your own self-deprecating beliefs that are simply a false narrative your mind tells you. To immerse yourself in a community that nurtures others who share similar goals increases the potential to connect and bond.
At Hippocrates, we want our guests to make their stay their own. For over 60 years, we have seen those who have contributed to the community spirit add so much value to each other’s lives. The more you do something, the easier it gets because it becomes habitual and, therefore, natural to you. Change is an organic process that begins within. When you make positive choices, regardless of what your thoughts are telling you, you start to feel better, stronger, and happier. This sense of empowerment stems from taking control of your life, health, and emotional wellbeing. Choose to have faith in your transformation, commit to it, and allow your healing process to unfold.
Philosopher Alan Watts once said: “You’re under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago.“
Let go of the negative thoughts and visions you have of yourself. Dare to take risks and make mistakes because herein lies the magic of pro-activity and self-belief. Everyone gets lonely, makes mistakes, and craves companionship and a connection with others who understand and accept them.
The magic truly happens when people come together to help, love, and support each other. The connections made at Hippocrates are the root source of their healing. The greatest gift we can give each other is our attention, kindness, compassion, and understanding.
The festive period can be a testing time when nostalgia and expectation soar. Some people hide away in the thought that they don’t need anyone, and others feel isolated and powerless as if no one is there to share it with them. Our doors are always open to welcome you, to allow you to be yourself, and to become part of the community spirit that will help free you from the restrictions, boundaries, and damaging self-beliefs you place upon yourself. We know that the pressure of togetherness can weigh heavily during the holiday season, but we are here to lift you up.
Don’t hesitate to contact a member of the Hippocrates community now and book your free consultation so you can take the first step toward the future you desire.
Remember, a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet!
The post The Regenerative Spirit of Community appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>The post Getting Started With a Raw Vegan Diet – An Interview with Ken Blue, Executive Chef appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>Q: Do you recommend a gradual transition to a raw vegan diet, or is it more effective to eliminate all foods outside of this diet right from the start?
A: I recommend setting a date to start living the raw vegan lifestyle. It could be a month away, but that could be your gentle transition time. However, from that date forward, you become a raw vegan and remain committed to that lifestyle. To support your commitment, you could go to a place like Hippocrates Wellness or surround yourself with supportive people. After 21 days, it has been shown that you ingrain new habits, and your taste will have changed during that time. If you mentally start craving something, you may find that it doesn’t have the same appeal if you look at it or smell it. Also, you should feel the physical rewards of greater vitality, energy, and clarity of thought which further reinforce your commitment to this lifestyle.
Q: What common mistakes and challenges do beginners to the raw vegan diet face?
A: One of the challenges is that people who know you from before your transition try to pull you back into your old lifestyle because it may have been a common ground of shared experience. That can be friends and/or family members. A common mistake people make is to claim they will be 100% raw and don’t leave themselves any room for flexibility. If you say you will be mostly raw, that gives you an opportunity to indulge in a bit of cooked food. Another important thing to consider is to keep variety in what you’re eating.
Q: Should people expect to experience cravings, and how would you suggest they combat this?
A: Yes. People can experience cravings. Someone once told me that your body is craving what it is detoxing. Realize many of those cravings are purely emotional. Sometimes finding a vegan alternative can help you get through cravings even though it may be what is considered vegan junk food.
Q: How long do our bodies take to transition and reap the health benefits?
A: It is different for all of us. Some start to feel benefits right away. I felt more energy eating raw foods, and that was one of the things that inspired me to continue with it. In fact, a shot of wheatgrass felt like doing an entire set of qigong. Many people have symptoms that are relieved and/or disappear very quickly. Some take longer.
Q: Should people be concerned about creating dietary deficiencies when limiting food groups?
A: I believe in taking supplementation no matter what lifestyle you are living in this day and age. It’s not even about vegan or non-vegan. It’s about the quality of food and the freshness of what we are getting. Also, having a variety helps avoid deficiencies. The green juice and the wheatgrass are important parts of the Hippocrates lifestyle to help ensure superior nutrition and absorption.
Q: Are there options for celebratory food, or if people are looking to treat themselves with something sweet?
A: Of course. There are many options. So many of us have it established from our childhood that something sweet is celebratory. But what makes it that way is our attitude about it. It’s almost as if we feel that something is rewarding but is that truly rewarding to our body? What makes a food celebratory is what we tell ourselves about it. There are many vegan indulgences, but it could just be a gathering with friends or family. It doesn’t even have to be about food. It could be a food you associate with a holiday or a memory. It could be a food that is rarely eaten due to availability or cost. If it’s a food, you rarely eat because you feel it’s not good for you or you don’t feel good after eating it, then is that a treat? Is that a way to celebrate?
Q: How would you describe people’s response to the food at Hippocrates? Can you share a memorable health transformation?
A: People’s responses to food at Hippocrates cover every possible reaction. Some people celebrate the great selection of healthy food. Others feel there is nothing good to eat and wonder why there is so much repetition. Some react to the way they feel afterward. Over the years, I’ve seen many people heal themselves here at Hippocrates Wellness or return healthy after sticking with the lifestyle. Sadly, sometimes people come back and say they didn’t stick with the program and that their health challenges returned. Some of the transformations I’ve seen are an adult in a wheelchair who couldn’t keep his head up, and yet, after three weeks, he stood up and walked to the front of the room at graduation and talked. We’ve had children here with brain challenges who were in wheelchairs and came around to be alert. People have come back after so many years and said you saved my life, and I say no, you changed your life. We had someone with a tumor on his neck, which shrunk considerably while he was here, and when he came back, it was gone. I could go on and on with these stories. There was a woman who said, “I came in with a diagnosis (terminal cancer) and left with hope.” She returned a couple of years later with her husband to show him where her miracles had started.
To learn more about the Hippocrates Wellness lifestyle and diet, and take your first steps onto the path of vibrant health and wellbeing, book your free 30-minute consultation now.
The post Getting Started With a Raw Vegan Diet – An Interview with Ken Blue, Executive Chef appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>The post Balance Your Immunity appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>Nutrition, physical exercise, and mental attitude are the major determinants of how our state of health develops from the moment we’re born. Every new day gifts us with the opportunity to adopt healthier lifestyle habits and welcome essential balance and harmony into our lives.
Have you ever noticed how no animal willingly smokes cigarettes, drinks alcohol, or adds unnatural chemicals to its life-giving food, air, or water? Only those out of balance with the fundamental laws of nature partake in self-destructive actions.
Non-living, dead foods can take a toll on the body, including illness, disease, and rapid aging. By understanding this, we heighten our awareness that food should provide fuel and nourishment.
Toxic obstructions are the residues left over from a lifetime of improper foods and negative thoughts, causing degeneration and deterioration. Every living organism continually strives to remove obstructions with the ultimate goal of achieving perfect health. When you start removing energetic blockages from your body, radiant health appears.
Every dynamic in life comes down to relationships; with others, ourselves, and nature. When we connect with activities and a lifestyle that loves us back, we form a healthy relationship with life and can reap the abundance that it offers.
Everything is connected. All we consume, feel, and do becomes a part of our story and affects us on every level – mind, body, and soul. Californian holistic health pioneer Dr. Bernard Jenson once said, “If you step on a cat’s tail, it’s the other end that yells!” reinforcing the fact there is no single part of the body that is not affected by the whole and vice versa.
Our bodies speak to us through the messengers of pain and inflammation, warning us that something is out of balance and crying out for our help and attention. The reduction of inflammation is vital in immunity. When we cease ingesting food devoid of enzymes, life force, and essential nutrients and instead focus on a fresh, raw organic, vegan diet, we free up our body’s energy to heal itself. Never forget that we always have the power to restore balance and connectivity to our lives.
Inside every one of us are trillions of microorganisms — bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other life forms collectively known as the microbiome.
The microbiome and the immune system are intrinsically connected, determining the education cells receive. Dietary and microbial diversity go hand in hand. The typical unhealthy Western diet is highly non-nutritious, which results in less-diverse gut bacteria, and promotes inflammation and chronic disorders. However, eating an organic, raw plant-based diet boosts the microbiome, reduces inflammation, and helps to balance the immune system.
The irresponsible increased use of antibiotics requires investigation into its effects on microbiota and health. Antibiotic‐induced changes in microbial composition can negatively impact our health and vital bodily functions, including immune regulation, metabolic activities, and overall wellness.
Due to the over-prescribed use and subsequent antibiotic resistance, we face a global health crisis. We must urgently reconsider the non-sustainable orthodox medicinal paradigm and adopt an alternative holistic approach.
Did you know that 70-80% of immune cells are present in the gut?
Poor diet and lifestyle choices directly impact upon our gut. When the gut cannot function correctly, it can become a consistent source of inflammation. If there’s inflammation in the gut, there is systemic inflammation, wreaking havoc throughout the body. This destructive inflammation affects our nervous system, immune system, and, eventually, our endocrine system. Internal inflammatory conditions have been associated with mental health disorders, nutritional deficiencies, allergies, autoimmune diseases, and energy production issues. All chronic illnesses are linked to chronic inflammation proving how gut health affects immunity.
Disease cannot exist in an alkaline environment. To maintain a healthy microbiome balance and support optimal immunity, we must consume nutritious organic plant foods to neutralize acidity and restore digestive harmony.
The immune system consists of thousands of moving parts that all play a role in maintaining a well-balanced immune response. These parts all need to work in harmony. This process involves activating the right cells at the right time and shutting them down once the threat is neutralized. These include:
When our immune system is out of balance, these cells cease to coordinate carefully, sending our body’s immune response haywire, consequently allowing sickness to take hold. An overactive immune system leads to many debilitating conditions, such as arthritis with painful joint inflammation, especially with a background of an acidic, inflammatory diet.
The impact of emotional and psychological stresses should never be underestimated regarding healthy immune function. People who experience a positive attitude and contentment in their professional and personal lives tend to embrace a robust immune system. Negative emotions can deplete the body’s defenses, causing bacterial, viral, or fungal infections to invade and spread.
There are many ways your lifestyle can balance your immune system, but one of the most important is eating organic living foods in balance with nature.
Devitalized processed food that has been pasteurized, homogenized, or produced with synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives is destroying our immunity and burdening our systems with toxic debris.
Another reason for us to eat organic, living foods is how easily they make their way through our digestive system. The longer a food sits in our digestive tracts, the likelier it is to ferment, resulting in gas, inflammation, toxic waste, and acidosis. Raw foods positively impact the acid/alkaline balance in our bodies. Here are a few ways to balance your immunity:
Achieving a healthy balance of good bacteria nurtures the microflora within your digestive tract, improving your immunity and aiding your digestive system. Probiotic foods encourage a healthy microbiome responsible for nutrient absorption, hormonal balance, and a healthy weight. Naturally, pre-fermented, probiotic-rich foods that replenish good bacteria include kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut, coconut kefir, and coconut yogurt. You can also take probiotics as an additional supplement to your diet. .
Moderate-intensity exercise mobilizes immune cells helping them to be more efficient at detecting and reacting to an infection. Movement activates the detoxifying lymphatic system supporting the body’s natural ability to fend off millions of germs.
Supporting your immune system is one of the many important roles that water plays in your body. Our blood and lymph contain immune cells that require water to flow and circulate throughout our bodies. Staying hydrated can aid in washing harmful pathogens in the throat down into the digestive tract to be destroyed by our stomach acid.
Sleep is our most powerful ‘reset’ button, helping the immune system to function at its optimal capacity. During sleep, our vital organs restore and regenerate, giving us a fighting chance to ward off infection and illness.
Stress can affect every aspect of our daily lives and is one of the biggest modern-day ‘silent killers.’ Whether it affects us instantaneously or accumulates over time, we can all be susceptible to the devastating impact that chronic stress has on our immune function.
Mindful activities such as meditation, exercise, sleep, and diet can all combat stress and help us feel less overwhelmed in our lives.
Also known as the sunshine vitamin. Sunshine is the best natural source of Vitamin D, proving yet again how deeply connected human health is to nature. The body creates it from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors. However, during the darker months, it becomes scarce, so ensuring we receive our daily quota from the foods we eat is essential. Evidence shows that low levels of Vitamin D make a person more susceptible to illness. To combat the risk of deficiency, you can take a whole-food vitamin D supplement to strengthen your immune system, regulate hormones, and keep the bones, heart, and brain healthy.
Here are some of our favourite natural plant-based foods to add to your diet, and how they boost your immune system.
Turmeric is an incredible healer originating from India. It has been used for thousands of years as a spice and medicinal herb. Its vibrant golden color is formed from curcumin – turmeric’s main nutritional active compound. Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, antibacterial, and antifungal powerhouse, helping to reduce pain, boost Immunity, and support healthy intestinal microbiomes for optimum digestion. Studies have shown that curcumin helps reduce the growth and spread of cancer cells. Black pepper possesses a bioactive compound called piperine, which enhances the absorption of curcumin by helping it to pass through the intestinal wall easier and into your bloodstream.
The fiber in carrots helps to keep blood sugar levels under control. They can also:
Goji Berries are a potent source of A, B, and C vitamins. They contain 500 times more vitamin C per weight than an orange and have been considered a superfood in traditional Chinese medicine for over 5000 years. Vitamin A helps to support eyesight, immunity, healthy skin, and mucous membranes.
Did you know there are over 500 different kinds of avocados, all offering a wide variety of tastes and flavors? They are rich in vitamins E and K, which boost immune activity, act as a potent anti-inflammatory, protect the body tissue from damage, help produce antibodies and act as a natural beautifier for the skin and hair. The folate offered in avocados can also help ward off cancer and depression, alongside their healthy fat content, which protects the heart.
Kale is an alkalizing dark, green leafy vegetable containing four times the vitamin C content and twice the selenium content of spinach. It’s an immune-supporting powerhouse that helps fend off illness, offering other nutrients such as vitamin E and beta-carotene.
Regarding immunity, mushrooms are miracle workers and have been a leading star in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Mushrooms are abundant in anti-inflammatory, alkaline-forming antioxidants. Their bioactive compounds play an essential role in balancing the immune system due to their immunomodulatory effects and ability to stimulate it when fighting off harmful invaders. All medicinal mushrooms contain powerful polysaccharides called beta-glucans, which can fight cancer. There are many varieties of mushrooms, all working in their own way to help balance your immune system. Here are some examples:
Reishi – acts as an immune modulator, regulating and fine-tuning the immune system. They have a hard outer shell making them inedible, so capsules are the most convenient form. They have been shown to increase the th1 cytokine response, stimulating a cellular immune response.
Shitake – contains lentinan, which acts as a natural antitumor compound. They increase NKN and cytotoxic T cells, which help to conquer viruses and cancer cells. Shiitake mushrooms may have potent antimicrobial properties, making them an effective natural antibiotic. Interestingly, a study showed it only killed disease-causing (pathogenic) microbes, leaving beneficial bacteria unharmed.
Enokitake – also offers anti-cancer and immune-enhancing properties.
Maitake – helps to stimulate a cellular immune response when fending off bacterial infections by increasing Th1 cytokines.
Turkey Tail – contains natural prebiotics which feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut. They are considered to be a powerful disease-fighting fungi. They Protect DNA from damage, support the immune system and enhance a healthy inflammation response.
Cordyceps – Over 400 species of cordyceps have been discovered. Researchers believe that the fungi may exert antitumor effects in several ways. It can help to manage diabetes, inflammation, and heart health.
Before introducing anything new into your diet, ensure it doesn’t counteract or react with any medication you may be taking or cause an allergic reaction.
Ginger is a spicy, aromatic root containing compounds called gingerols. These compounds have powerful anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anti-ulcer, and antioxidant properties, which help to prevent cardiovascular disease, fight diseases, and support the liver. They are highly recommended for nausea, bloating, and other digestive complaints due to imbalances in the microbiome.
Broccoli sprouts are nutritional powerhouses. Rich in various nutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin A, and fiber. When consumed, they offer a potent source of one of the most immune-supportive biochemicals called sulforaphane – excellent for lowering inflammation witnessed in many diseases and helping to reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Garlic’s immune-stimulating properties increase the activity of NK cells, a type of immune cell that helps kill off cancer cells and viruses. Its healing powers include:
Please be aware that garlic can thin your blood and should not be taken with blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin), so always check first.
At Hippocrates, our mantra is: “Give the body what it requires, and it will heal itself.”
Positive life transformation in balance with nature helps to maintain the essential immunity we need to thrive. Our carefully curated, ground-breaking 3-week life transformation program – backed by science – will teach you how to embrace the therapeutic and rejuvenating powers of a raw, vegan, organic plant-based diet.
For over 60 years, we have observed tens of thousands of people reverse and prevent disease and premature aging by shifting their mindset and diet to align with the healing Hippocrates Wellness Lifestyle Protocols: Immunity, Regeneration, Mindfulness, and Fitness,
To learn more about how you can take responsibility for your health, balance your immune system, and reclaim the vitality and wellbeing you deserve, contact one of our wellness experts for your free 30-minute consultation.
Find balance, and you’ll find health.
The post Balance Your Immunity appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>The post The Calmative Power of Herbs appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>For thousands of years, the healing capacity of herbal medicine to regenerate and rebalance the human body has continually been demonstrated. They have been sourced to treat some of the most life-threatening infectious diseases afflicting humanity.
The powerful ability of herbs to fight infections and boost immunity should not be underestimated or taken for granted. In the medical paradigm, plants have become more well-known by their pharmaceutical adopted names, such as Morphine (Poppy), Quinine (Peruvian Bark), and Dioxin (Foxglove).
We live in a time of unprecedented demand for natural medicine, and the passing of time has allowed science to prove the potency of the age-old craft. The pharmaceutical and medical professions have relied upon and harnessed the healing power of herbs for centuries yet remain slow to sing their praises. Can you believe it took the medical profession 300 years to accept quinine?
Medical practitioners are working more closely now than ever with qualified herbalists, reinforcing that non-suppressive medicines strengthen immune reserves and help combat disease, rapid aging, and the deterioration of health. Unlike orthodox medicine, herbalism reunites us with our primal connection to nature that lays dormant and lost in the shadows of modern pharmacy.
Did you know that a plant can even synthesize its own chemicals to protect itself against disease? This, in turn, protects us. Even our domestic friend, the cat – a notorious carnivore – will instinctively eat grass when it needs to relieve digestive issues, ease constipation, break down unwanted matter such as fur balls, and even help counteract vitamin deficiencies.
Herbal remedies offer an excellent alternative to prescription drugs such as beta-blockers or benzodiazepines and their unwelcome side effects. Plants like St John’s Wort can naturally enhance serotonin and reduce oxidative stress, bridging conventional and alternative medicines. Each plant’s efficacy has its own timescale – sometimes taking a couple of weeks or longer for the host to reap the healing benefits.
Although herbs provide a safer and natural alternative, it is important to note that before introducing any herbal remedy into your diet, you ensure that they don’t interact with any medication you may be taking to avoid any potential side effects.
Egyptian schools of herbalists have existed since 300BC. Herbal medicines stimulate the body’s energy-production system, empowering its intuitive ability to heal itself. The detoxifying power of herbs is nothing short of miraculous. They can cleanse the blood, aid in eliminating toxic waste, stimulate the kidneys by acting as diuretics, calm the central nervous system – helping us to sleep and relax, and combat infection through their antibacterial and diaphoretic properties.
Adaptogenic herbs are among the most impactful of these healing herbs on our mental wellbeing.
Adapt to the feeling of calm – Adaptogenic herbs
One of humankind’s biggest silent killers today is stress. Just talking about stress can make us feel stressed!
Many aspects of our lifestyle contribute to our mental and physical state, from the
delicate balance between our professional and personal lives to the emotional burden of the unrealistic expectations and demands we put on ourselves. We all exhibit stress in our own unique way, whether it’s experiencing heart palpitations, poor sleep, stored tension in the body, irritability, or even skin rashes and hair loss. When we feel overwhelmed, depressed, sad, angry, or scared, we become anxious and tired.
Just as crying is nature’s emotional sedative, herbs possess the ability to calm and relax the mind and body, moderating our sleep patterns and restoring energy levels to reduce crippling stress and anxiety. Their exceptional capabilities ease nervous conditions such as chronic fatigue and obsessive-compulsive/seasonal affective disorders.
Adaptogenic herbs work quickly and immediately to help prevent the devastating effects of stress by acting on anxiety-relieving hormones, including serotonin, GABA, and dopamine, to preserve our emotional balance and increase feelings of tranquility and wellbeing.
Herbs are Mother Nature’s healers and helpers, diligently working their magic without asking for anything in return. They are offered as dried herbs, teas, capsules, liquid extracts, tinctures, topical creams, and aromatherapy. Liquid extracts preserve the most volatile compounds in the plant, proving highly effective in overcoming anxiety and stress
Herbal medicine has illuminated the need to help a person treat the stresses of their life as an integral part of healing the body. Herbs contain life-transformative anti-oxidants and rejuvenating properties that cleanse, purify and restore us to superior levels of positivity and life-enhancing vitality.
Pioneering mood-boosting and calmative herbs include:
For over 60 years at the globally renowned Hippocrates Wellness, we have maintained that wisdom needs to be shared. We believe in the healing power of plants and the integral role they play in restoring health and vitality. When we embrace a planet-friendly, plant-based lifestyle, we are reminded that Nature has all the answers; we just need to listen.
You can become the change by adopting new lifestyle habits and embracing a diet overflowing with raw, organic, living plant foods, helping your body to heal itself. The Hippocrates Wellness 3-week Life Transformation Program helps you take responsibility for your health and happiness while protecting our magnificent planet.
Book your free consultation now with one of our health and wellbeing experts to learn more about the calmative, healing power of plants and how you can take the first step towards an ethical, healthier future.
The post The Calmative Power of Herbs appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>The post How Lifestyle Choices Influence Mental and Physical Wellbeing appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>Worldwide, millions of people follow an unhealthy lifestyle, attracting unwanted illness, disease, rapid aging, and chronic malnutrition into their lives. The connection between lifestyle and wellbeing is continually being researched, yet it is still profoundly misunderstood.
We are as we do. Every choice we make and action we take directly impacts our quality of life and the lives of those around us.
It has been said that the place we truly live is in our minds.
We are continually at odds between how we feel vs. the reality of how things really are. If we believe that nothing is how it seems or as the mind claims it to be, how can we know what’s real?
Through mindfulness and meditation, we can observe our thoughts, detaching ourselves from all that arises to avoid ‘becoming’ any belief, fear, desire, or emotion. Through stillness and awareness, we can return to our natural state of a human ‘being’ rather than a human ‘doing’ – becoming a creator of circumstance rather than a victim of circumstance.
If energy follows thought, then surely we must keep our thoughts positive. Imagine if the universe manifested your thoughts; what would you think of? Would you perpetually visualize what you don’t want or what you do want? When we raise our consciousness and clear away the clutter of the mind, we realize that there is nothing other than ‘the self’ and that anything is possible with a positive mindset and healthy lifestyle habits. You’ve just got to believe in yourself!
The mysterious mind is just one of the powerful influencers on our health and wellbeing.
The miraculous human body is designed to move, stretch, lift and flow. When we invite regular movement into our lives, we support its natural ability to self-cleanse, strengthening our hearts and lungs and prevent common diseases like diabetes. Physical activity stimulates our hard-working lymphatic systems, a vital part of our immune system, so it can carry toxins out of the body, fending off illness-causing invaders.
What if we told you that you could tap into the infinite energy of life? Everything in life must flow. When energy stagnates, it creates blockages, leading to metabolic diseases, hypertension, weight gain, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and joint and skeletal issues.
Exercises such as strength resistance training and yoga help us to build muscle, maintain flexibility and create a deeper awareness and understanding of our bodies.
As well as being excellent for our physical health, exercise is also one of the most beneficial things you can do for your mind. Movement is linked to various psychological benefits due to its profound impact on the brain. Exercise makes us feel more confident in our bodies, more hopeful and grateful for the future, and forge a deeper connection with our primal selves. What’s not to love?
Exercise also plays an integral role in fighting off depression, stress, and anxiety, offering a supportive role in preventing life-stunting neurological disorders.
So why does exercise make us feel good?
During exercise, the reward centers of our brain receive a welcomed jolt, creating mood-enhancing feelings of hope and joy.
Dancing in synchronicity with others can help form social bonds, making us feel more connected and combat loneliness.
Mother Nature wants us to feel happy and healthy. Endorphins are neurotransmitters released by the brain to alleviate pain and promote pleasure. During exercise, our pituitary gland and hypothalamus produce these natural pain relievers and release them in response to stress or pain. Dopamine, noradrenalin, and serotonin are the three major monoamine neurotransmitters released through exercise – more commonly known as ‘happiness molecules’ or the ‘feel-good chemicals’ in our body.
To fully embrace health and vitality, we must align our lifestyle as closely as we can with nature.
Have you ever watched how a child moves, dances, laughs, and cries freely without a second thought? How they embrace the present moment and express themselves unapologetically without guilt or shame?
As we grow older, we adopt unhealthy habits that don’t serve our higher self and optimal wellbeing, keeping the perpetual cycle of disease, rapid aging, and emotional unbalance in motion.
Everything we eat, drink or expose ourselves to ultimately becomes us. You could say that we become a product of our environment.
Lifestyle habits don’t need to continue being subconsciously linked with a feeling of nostalgia; the food our grandma made, sweets our parents gave us, birthday cake, or drinks with our friends. We truly crave a sense of ‘belonging’ and to feel part of something. We can love others without harming ourselves. We can join loved ones at the table without eating or thinking the same. We can come together, celebrate our differences and individuality, and become the energy we want to feel in the room.
Have you ever looked on in admiration at someone speaking their truth, being their authentic self, or simply dancing like nobody’s watching? Herein lies the power of self-expression and spiritual freedom.
When we freely show our emotions and are in touch with ourselves, we feel a deeper connection with life and those around us, safe in the knowledge that when we express ourselves, we accept ourselves.
When you realize that you are enough, you open up your heart and mind to the true beauty and joy of life, transforming yourself into a state of balance – mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Food is medicine, helping us to grow through the regeneration of new healthy cells, to oxygenate the blood, and to flood our system with life-giving nutrients.
When we consume a natural diet abundant in raw, vegan, living foods, our vital energy can focus on self-healing rather than the overwhelming burden of indigestible non-living, enzyme-deficient foods.
Diet is the most significant factor in lifestyle. The body strives to function at its optimal force, but the foods we eat either fuel its digestive fire or diminish it to a mere flicker. A poor diet can lead to nutritional problems increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and life-threatening obesity.
Change your mindset to transform your life.
For over 60 years at Hippocrates Wellness, we have created science-backed, nutritional, and therapeutic protocols which guide you back into the healing arms of health and wellbeing, teaching you how to shift your habits and mindset to embrace the thriving lifestyle and longevity you deserve.
We at Hippocrates Wellness believe in achieving a balance between the mind, body, and soul. We have guided the transformation of hundreds and thousands of lives through teaching the power of positive, healthy lifestyle choices. Our globally-renowned 3-week Life Transformation Program activates and supports the body’s ability to heal itself through an organic, raw, plant-based diet, mindfulness and exercise programs, ground-breaking lectures, and advanced, science-backed therapies.
All we need to thrive has been provided by Mother Nature, reinforcing that we are nature. When we harness the energetic life force all around us, it can work on eliminating emotional, environmental, and dietary toxins, preventing pain, preventable infections, inflammation, and the build-up of stored toxicity so our cells can restore and regenerate.
The Time is Now to Reclaim Your Health and Transform
If you saw someone banging their head against a brick wall, would you tell them to stop or to do it slower? If the standard, conventionally accepted diet and lifestyle served our health and wellbeing, our health systems wouldn’t be so over-saturated with patients suffering life-threatening diseases and degenerative health. When we step away from the fundamental laws of nature, we step away from ourselves.
Take back control of your health and wellbeing today by adopting a balanced lifestyle abundant in raw, vegan, plant-based foods, exercise, sleep, mindfulness, and love!
Contact one of our wellbeing experts now to explore more ways to balance your lifestyle.
The post How Lifestyle Choices Influence Mental and Physical Wellbeing appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>The post Brian Clement’s Number One Recommendation appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>
Brian says, “my Pure Water Distiller has been the best investment I’ve ever made.”
Certainly, it has been a wonderful financial investment because of the distiller’s durability and longevity, but Brian looks at investment in a different way; his family’s health.
Brian estimates that over the past 49 years, his distiller has produced more than 65,000 gallons of freshly distilled water for his family. All of this fresh, pure water went into his family’s bodies.
More importantly though, Brian’s family did not consume the significant levels of toxins that were originally in this water.
Today’s tap water is not the same water our ancestors drank. Yes, they had to contend with biological contaminants in water sometimes, but never before in human history have humans had to deal with toxins such as highly refined chemicals and highly refined metals.
We live in a toxic world. Think about all the household cleaners, solvents, gasoline, pesticides, lawn care chemicals, plastics, medicine and detergents are used just in your neighborhood each year. Then think about how many of these chemicals people in your city, your State, and the entire country use each year. Then consider the chemicals used in industry, and by the military. Each year, the US uses more than five billion pounds of chemicals, and this is on top of the 5 billion that were used last year, and the year before. It’s staggering.
Whether these chemicals are burned, dumped, spilled or flushed, eventually they end up in the rivers, lakes and underground aquifers that feed our water supply and ultimately our bodies.
This water contamination problem is hidden from us though. How? Two ways…
First, municipal water systems are adept at producing palatable water, meaning that it looks good and it tastes good, but these systems do very little to remove toxins from water.
Second, and most importantly…
When the government says that your tap water is “safe”, they are using the legal definition of the word “safe”, not the English language version of the word “safe”.
But they don’t tell you this. So when you hear the government say that your tap water is safe to drink, that does NOT mean that it does not contain dangerous chemicals, even in high quantities.
In fact, of the thousands of possible contaminants in tap water, the government only tests for and regulates just over 100. The government does NOT know what is in your water at any given time, nor do you.
Here are three facts…
FIRST, our bodies were intended to drink safe, clean water that is free from toxins.
SECOND, it is your responsibility to ensure the safety of the water you and your family consume.
THIRD, it’s important to choose a treatment method that consistently produces high purity water.
The best way to ensure that your water is pure is to use distillation—the process that replicates nature’s hydrological cycle and removes harmful chemicals. Water distillers are much more effective than filters or reverse osmosis systems, which produce limited and variable results.
While there are multiple water distiller companies in the market, Brian’s personal experience with Pure Water Distillers gives us the confidence to wholeheartedly endorse them.
Pure Water is a family-owned business in the Midwest. Their water distillers are made in the USA with heavy duty stainless steel and the finest quality components. We believe that a Pure Water Distiller should be at the top of the list for anyone who wants to be healthy.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PURE WATER DISTILLERS.
The post Brian Clement’s Number One Recommendation appeared first on Hippocrates Wellness.
]]>