Page 32 - Kyalami Issue 3_2023

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3.0 Folder (Inner)
HEALTH & WELLNESS

THE CAUSES OF ILL HEALTH

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

22 DPL issue 10 2022
30 Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 3 • 2023