Page 16 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 8_2023

Health & Wellness

THE CAUSES OF ILL HEALTH

ost doctors appear to be very Researchers from the American College The combination of diabetes and
vague when asked by their of Cardiology’s Nutrition and Lifestyle obesity is a major problem today, and
Mpatients about the cause of Work Group have determined that both are lifestyle problems that can
their ill-health, yet Dr Bernard Brom most of the evidence reinforces that a be dealt with by exercise and better
believes that the causes are in fact well predominantly plant-based diet lower in food choices. In South Africa, one in
known in theory. fat, added sugars, added salt, processed four children is overweight and around
foods and animal products is probably the world, refined sugar and food
This vagueness is especially common the healthiest diet to follow. The College consumption is a major problem, as
when it comes to chronic diseases also stated that “the most important well as foods containing high-fructose
such as Alzheimers, cancer and auto- way to prevent vascular disease, heart corn syrup.
immune diseases, but can also extend to failure and atrial fibrillation is to follow a
problems such as headaches, migraines healthy lifestyle all the time. Stress is also a major problem today and
and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). drugs to treat depression and anxiety
COMMON DISEASES have replaced psychotherapy and
The diagnosis of disease and treatment Two of the most common diseases counselling. Drugs may help, but can
with drugs or surgery is generally doctors see today are cardiovascular add to the body burden and interfere
the priority of doctors, and the disease and diabetes, which are lifestyle with its functions. The result is that the
underlying causes and dysfunctions management issues, yet this is not the underlying problem does not go away.
are often not given much time during way most doctors and specialists deal
the consultation. The standard reply with these conditions. There are also psychological aspects
when patients ask is that there is not If poor lifestyle can inflict serious behind stress and illness and Brom
enough science to really understand the damage on blood vessels, then clearly it believes that a holistic approach to
underlying factors, but that genetics, can also affect all kinds of dysfunctions healing should be embraced. Attending
lifestyle and other unknown influences – leading to other end-point diseases. to the underlying causes of ill health
play a role. Added to this, serious nutritional should be addressed, as this could
deficiencies can lead to scurvy (lack of make an enormous difference to health
Brom says that in theory, the causes vitamin C), beri beri (lack of vitamin B1) outcomes.
are well known and that in his anaemia (lack of iron, folic acid and B12)
experience, patients often know what blindness (lack of vitamin A) and others.
underlies their problems, and leave These ‘long latency deficiency diseases’
the doctor’s rooms unsettled when are the result of low levels of nutrients, n Editor's note
this is not discussed. Causes include and inadequate intake of them may This article first appeared in A2
poor food choices, lack of exercise, produce more than one disease. Trade Magazine
toxins in the environment, stress, (www.a2magazine.co.za), and
nutrient deficiencies, trauma, obesity, Vitamin C, D, magnesium, iodine has been reproduced here with
poor sleeping patterns as well as and selenium deficiencies are major their permission. Dr. Bernard
psycho-spiritual factors. In looking at problems today, with magnesium taking Brom is an MBChB (UCT),
all these points, it should be obvious part in over 300 metabolic processes. CEDH Homeopathy (France)
that in most patients, at least four to The human body is not deficient in and Dip. Acup (Singapore). The
five causes are at play in most chronic drugs but rather in nutrients, yet article has been edited and the
diseases, even in young people. These doctors prescribe more drugs than author’s references have been
underlying causes lead to increasing nutritional supplements, which can omitted.
stress and eventually to chronic disease. support healthy functions.

16 DPL issue 8 2023