ALJ Health Notes
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| These days, when up is down, down is up, and 1984 plays out, it is hard to imagine anyone who doesn't think about health. Individuals exhibit a lengthy range of diverse responses to the official pandemic. If you are curious about my health habits, here I share them. This includes both behavior practiced before 2020, plus new things started only this year. |
| I try to SLEEP consistently, usually retiring at 9:30 or 10:00, then rising anywhere from 4:30 to 6:30 --without an alarm clock. When entertaining visitors, I stay up later. |
| Each morning is started with simple EXERCISES. These are stretches mainly, some yoga, martial arts moves, and push-ups if I am in the mood. All day, I get exercise while doing work or tasks. So I walk or cycle much, never driving motor vehicles. I use stairs, not elevators; walk up and down escalators, rather than just standing there. If sitting much, I take stand-up breaks often. These are useful to run errands such as checking if the mail has arrived, putting away dishes, watering plants, or taking out garbage. Due to a hip injury, I exercise specifically to strengthen and stretch my hips. |
| As AIRLINE FLIGHTS involve much cramped sitting, I sit right behind first class; board last, and get off fast. Waiting for the flight to board, I walk around the terminal. I try to schedule shorter flights. Ever since 2020, I fly less often, wear gloves on the flight, don't touch the tray, don't eat food, and drink only from my own water bottle. |
| My DIET is plant-based and organic mostly; with more seafood than meat. Portions are proper. Salt is used moderately. Fermented foods such as kimchi and kombucha are eaten. Processed foods are rare. I dread GMO foods. Processed white sugar and flour are bad, but still used rarely such as to make brownies. Some milk chocolate, but more dark chocolate. Cooking rice, I add buckwheat and lentils. |
| I love cooking, take joy in eating, and keep a diverse ingredient pantry to make flavorful, healthy meals. I eat out little, mostly at friends' homes. Favored spices: anise, black pepper, caraway, cumin, curry blend, fennel, Italian seasoning, smoked ground paprika, red chili flakes, star anise, Szechwan pepper, turmeric, Za'atar. I buy vegetables, raise edible houseplants, and forage greens; they are eaten raw or cooked rightly --not overcooked. I don't peel apples, carrots, potatoes, kiwifruit, celery, ginger, and the like. The skin often is notably nutritional, its fiber needed. I'm not fastidious washing vegetables; some dirt is healthy. I avoid aluminum cookware. |
| PROTEIN sources favored are seafood, chicken, nuts, turkey, beans, cheese, seeds, eggs, and multigrain tempeh. FATS and OILS favored include Kerry Gold butter, leaf lard, duck fat, olive oil, coconut oil (cold-pressed unrefined virgin). To avoid canola oil, I bake my own corn tortilla chips, using organic blue masa. |
| MEALS. Breakfast is small; lunch and dinner have more calories. I try --failing usually-- to not eat during more than 12 hours in a day. In other words, 12 or more fasting hours is ideal. Other than my three meals, I don't snack. Dessert is rare. Some days, I get home from a "morning" job so late that I combine a late lunch/early dinner into a single big meal --skipping dinner. After each meal, I brush my teeth using water only. |
| WEIGHT CONTROL. If my 30" waist belt feels too tight, I shrink meals, even if it causes marked hunger pangs, for as long as needed to fit into my belt again. Allowing myself to get chilled, to burn more calories, is also done as needed to burn fat. |
| When SICK, I eat more functional foods, such as raw unfiltered honey; organic matcha (green tea), shiitake mushrooms, and high-antioxidant fruits. I cut back or even stop drinking the red wine and black beers otherwise drunk routinely. I drink more water, and rest more. |
| Seattle tap WATER contains fluoride. Fluoride has been linked to brittle bones, lowered IQ, dementia and cancer. I use a BerkeyTM water purifier to eliminate fluoride. I try to drink only filtered water; when away from home, drinking tap water, I notice the taste that my water lacks. I avoid bottled water and carbonated sodas. My emergency water supply is stored in glass rather than plastic bottles. |
| Most European WINES have possibly dangerous doses of at least seven heavy metals. Italian wines don't. I favor Italian wines, especially inky dark, tannic ones. I use Ravenscroft Crystal lead-free wine glasses. They don't shine as pleasingly nor clink so precisely, as leaded glassware, and they break readily. My homemade liqueurs aim for not only flavor but health. Neither a teetotaler nor an alcoholic, I drink temperately. Toast to the good things in life! |
| Though a lifelong Seattleite, I abhor COFFEE. Even without it, I am alert every morning. Many people cannot function without morning coffee. |
| I am OUTSIDE much, to earn a living, to let sunshine make vitamin D, and to experience nature. I never wear a mask outside, and do inside only when forced to (loose-fitting, washable cloth) because they 1) don't stop disease spreading; 2) deprive wearers of oxygen; 3) promote bacteria in the mouth, throat and lungs that may cause pneumonia and other infections; 4) block social cues and smiles, contributing to social anomie; 5) signify unquestioning obedience to overbearing authority. |
| Regarding SKIN, I use no sunscreen. No antiperspirant; sweating is healthy. My deodorant is baking soda (stink-causing bacteria prefer acidic conditions). I use hand lotion rarely, in winter mostly. I use no antibacterial products because they kill the good with the bad (just like antibiotics). I wash with water only --unless soap is crucial for the job. |
| For HAIR my shampoo is any cheap brand (such as Alberto VO5TM) with sodium laureth sulfate. I don't dye my hair; many dyes contain lead --toxic. |
| AIR. I do diaphragm breathing. I use no dryer static sheets. My carpet is wool, not synthetic. I replaced TideTM pods with Molly's SudsTM laundry powder. I favor soy over paraffin candles. When the air is smoky or otherwise needs purifying, my apartment has an IQAirTM HealthPro air purifier. I have friends who smoke cigarettes, but I won't even date a woman who smokes. I'd rather date a vegan if forced to choose. I own an ultrasonic essential oil diffuser. If the right oils are used, the result is healthy. My apartment humidity stays 60% or higher, even in winter, thanks to a humidifier. Over 65 houseplants live with me --an indoor garden. |
| DAILY SUPPLEMENTS taken, include vitamin D3; a male multivitamin (SolgarTM); iodine from kelp; chlorella (helps rid the body of toxic metals such as lead); shiitake mushroom powder; quercetin; selenium; Ubiquinol; elderberries; a prostate blend. When sick, I add extra vitamin C and vitamin D3; plus: zinc, apple pectin, colloidal silver, melatonin, cod liver oil, krill oil, probiotics, magnesium, and traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. This diversity has been termed "a shotgun approach." It works! In theory, a person's diet alone ought to supply all the nutrients needed for sound health. But we all need winter vitamin D3 supplements. |
| CONTENTMENT. People suffer stress from discontent. It can be due to their location, their home, their livelihood, their monetary condition, their status, their significant others. Well, I love my place (Seattle), my home (a cozy nest), my job (plant expert), my income (more than enough), my status (SWM, eligible bachelor, with an extensive real --not virtual-- social life). |
| MEDICAL CENTERS and hospitals are like magnets that attract sick people, many germs, and are costly, so I use them minimally. For prescriptions such as hydroxychloroquine, I used to go monthly to a pharmacy; now I do mail-order, or get a 90-day supply in-person. |
| From Washington Health Benefits Exchange, I buy "Obamacare" HEALTH INSURANCE. I've been well served at Pacific Medical Centers since 2003. Also I use Wu Hsing classical five element acupuncture. As needed, I use chiropracty, naturopathy, homeopathy, and similar "alternative" healing practices. |
| To minimize exposure to harmful ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD RADIATION (radiofrequency and microwave), I don't use a cellular telephone, and use my microwave oven to store, not cook food. Using a 200 MHz - 8 GHz Broadband RF meter, I found those parts in my apartment with high levels, then took steps to reduce my exposure and shield myself from the highest pulses. I learned recently that flying at noon exposes planes to more radiation than at night, so in the future I'll schedule accordingly. |
| SAFETY EQUIPMENT used as needed includes leather gloves, hearing protection, condoms, chainsaw chaps, eye protection, oven mitts, and reflective vests and a helmet for cycling. |
| STRESS MINIMIZATION and BALANCE is vital since as stress is the silent and stealthy killer. Moreover, my autoimmune condition (relapsing polychondritis) is triggered by stress. To minimize stress, I indulge my urges, so listen to mood-lifting music; nap if desired; maintain a humorous attitude; select the amount of work, and of socializing, that feels right at the time. Our attitudes affect bodily health. Anyone who's been in love knows this. My conscious mind trusts --though can't explain-- the urges and cravings of my subconscious. Who I socialize with bears directly on my contentment and health. I prefer being with upbeat, strong, good-natured friends, while spending less time with weak, negative people who drain me. But I do not cut anyone off wholly. |
| MENTAL HEALTH and ACUITY is also vital. I work my brain --not only my body. As an example, before using a laser range-finder to measure a tree's height, I estimate it. Before looking at my watch to see the time, I guess. Doing this for years has resulted in consistent, accurate estimates. |
| To avoid becoming addicted, reducing my attention span, and similar negative effects, I do no online social media or gaming. No video conferencing, FacetimeTM or ZoomTM. I am real --not virtual! That FacebookTM, YouTubeTM, TwitterTM, GoogleTM, and the like censor some news and thereby deceive users, is too little known. |
| In April, I wrote and put on my website WHY I WILL NOT GET THE SHOT. During the six months since written, additional information has come to light, serving to underscore how I made the prudent decision. For example, a 2021 book The Truth About COVID-19 by Dr. Joseph Mercola and Ronnie Cummings. The injections [gene therapies that are NOT vaccines] are unsafe and ineffective; they force a person to get "booster" shots for as long as he or she survives. Each shot weakens your immune system more. Sadly, almost everyone I know took the jabs; fewer than a dozen have not. Covid-19, while bad, is not really as bad it has been portrayed as, and can be treated otherwise more safely. The longterm injection side effects such as antibody-dependent enhancement, are far worse. Natural immunity is a safe, sane course. |
| SUMMARY. The above regimen is intended to maintain my healthy norm --especially an active natural and innate immune system. My approach is aiming for natural health. These health notes show that I am careful and thoughtful about health. Robust health is more valuable than a brick of gold. I was not always so attentive. But after less-healthy lifestyle choices almost killed me in 2006, I changed my ways. People can change; we can heal and improve. It does require awareness, will, discipline and time. |
(originally published in my October 2021 newsletter)
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