In 2016 Yoshinori Ohsumi received the Nobel Prize for discovering the mechanisms of autophagy- the process of absorbing old, broken, malfunctioning cells and utilizing them for energy. Autophagy literally means self-eating. It is a body’s way of cleaning up and recycling of our cellular debris. The great news is that it is relatively easy to activate this process. Yes, you must have guessed it by now – it is turned on when we stop eating. It doesn’t happen immediately and it differs from individual to individual but it is something that has always been a part of human life and only recently and in some regions of the world we’ve created conditions where food is abundant and easily accessible all the time. Due to the lifestyle changes, our bodies do not quite know how to deal with the situation when we eat so frequently. What makes matters worse, for quite a long time now, eating multiple meals every day has been encouraged as something beneficial for our health and well-being! Well, not anymore. Many recent studies investigating the impact of intermittent and other types of fasting show the many benefits of creating a window of not eating and allowing the body to turn on the mechanism of self-repair and regeneration. Some of these benefits are: Lowering insulin levels Repairing or elimination of damaged cells Growth hormone stimulation Reduction of insulin resistance Lowering glucose levels. Once we realize the positive impact of calorie restriction/fasting practices, we begin to perceive the feeling of hunger in an entirely different light. Not only that it is OK to skip a meal or two occasionally. but it is something necessary to do even to maintain the basic functionality. Do not fear the feeling of hunger. Think about it as a signal that your body is doing some usually very needed cleaning up. (As long as the person is not undernourished). Another dimension of Primal Tao practice is paying attention to the quality of the fuel we provide our bodies with. There is a lot of confusion in the contemporary world as far as what we should be eating to remain healthy. Obviously, the current governmental suggestions don’t seem to be working too well, considering that we are in the midst of obesity epidemics. It seems appropriate to note what kinds of foods are consumed in the so-called “blue zones” known for extreme longevity and health of their inhabitants. It could also be informative to know what indigenous people eat and used to eat to sustain themselves calorically and maintain a high level of health and performance. When we take a closer look at what’s worked for us so far in the development of the human species, we notice a lot of diversity in macro and micronutrients selection, suggesting our ability to adapt to various environments and sources of energy. With many variables present, it is still easy to observe that the processing of all of these, sometimes very different natural foods is minimal (other than simply cooking, baking, or fermenting). They are eaten and prepared promptly and while still being fresh whenever possible. If the food is stored for later, it is usually dried or frozen. No artificial chemical components are added to it. Fillers, emulsifiers, preservatives etc are not used. This is a vital message for us to absorb and apply in our daily lives: WE NEED TO EAT REAL FOOD! Natural as much as possible. Fresh. Simple. Unprocessed. Sugar and all other sweeteners, white flour, artificial beverages, processed carbohydrates, genetically modified products, and pre-cooked ready-meals are not designed to comprise the bulk of the human diet. I know that many of you will say: WE HAVE NO TIME FOR FOOD PREPARATION! If it is true – you have to change something! You might as well say: we have no time for breathing! ...
Hormesis aka daily challenges.
We all want to have as little stress as we can but we need to understand that a little bit of stress can be not only useful but necessary for normal functioning of our mind and body. HORMESIS is a process through which moderate stress creates a body response that makes it more resistant to attacks of external or internal agents, promoting a better quality and more robust health. It has been noticed long time ago that organisms develop complex adaptive mechanisms in order to cope with environmental hazards. These mechanisms evolve as a result of a continuous mild stress eventually leading to adaptation. This positive stress also known as Eustress, applied in daily life, can boost our motivation, positively influence physical recovery and increase immunity. In Primal Tao we will focus on three areas of daily application of hormesis: physical exercise, movement cold conditioning periods of under eating or fasting They all trigger beneficial physiological adaptations. It is well documented that exercise increases the resistance to injury and disease and that mild stress (like running or lifting weights) can have a tremendous positive impact on our musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, nervous or digestive system. Engaging in intellectual activities (again – exposing our brain to a mild stress) seems to activate new neuron pathways and neurons which not too long ago was believed to be impossible. Skipping a meal or two puts the body in an active search mode for energy sources which results in utilization and recycling of used up, weaker or damaged cells, unnecessary proteins or stored fat tissue. Moderate exposure to cold activates our thermo-regulating mechanisms, stimulates blood circulation and immune responses. All of these and many other observations point to simple conclusions: challenging ourselves on many different levels can have an incredibly positive impact on the quality of our physical and mental well-being. How do you challenge yourself daily? Do you appreciate an opportunity to make every inconvenience or challenge into something creative and positive? An opportunity to grow, learn and change. ...
What if?
What if the many “truths” we take for granted are not necessarily what they claim to be?! What if what the doctors or food industry or big pharma have been telling (selling) us is not necessarily the best for us?! What if we take part of responsibility for our health in our own hands? Educate ourselves. Experiment. Learn. What if we actually KNOW what is good for our own health and well-being? Are you sure high, natural fat is bad for you? Are you sure natural salt is bad for you? Are you sure it is bad not to eat occasionally, skip a meal or the entire day? Are you sure your total cholesterol tells you how healthy you are? Many new answers to these questions are emerging and changing the way we look at our health and the ways to stay healthy. What we have believed for a long time inevitably gives way to new, better understanding. Do You eat because you are hungry? Or because you’ve run out of a quick fix -sugary, addictive,unnatural stuff that pretends to be edible or healthy! Do you eat Real food that has not been denatured in any way other than simple cooking? Are you able to access your fat energy storage as easily as you’re accessing the glucose from the carbohydrates you consume? Do you think sugar is safe and innocent or maybe even natural? Do you know why you are always hungry? Do you know why you seem to gain weight even though you hardly eat anything? Do you know how to open up your body and find new freedom of movement without painful and ineffective stretching? Do you know how to fortify your body’s defensive systems so that you rarely get sick? Do you know how to easily maintain your optimal weight and energy levels? Do you know how to relax your body, quiet your mind and deal with stress efficiently? Nature provides many answers to these questions. It can be simple. Effective. Natural. ...
Follow Nature – Natural health cultivation.
The way of Nature Mother Nature provides. Listen to her voice. Listen to her instructions. Her voice is part of you. She will tell you what to do. Use her elements to stay fit and healthy. Use air, sun, earth and water. You are part of her. Do not avoid her. Flow with rather than against her. She is your teacher. Learn. Pay attention to your own body and everything around it. Use breath to control your body and your mind. Discover the breath as a wonderful connection between one and the other. Breathe deeply and fully. Keep things simple. Don’t over-complicate. Life is complex enough as it is. Simplify your work. Simplify your foods. Simplify your needs. Simplify your life. The more things you add the more complicated things become. Seek beauty in simplicity. Enjoy simple pleasures and learn how to recognize them throughout your day. What you do is what you develop. Repetition develops habits. You have a choice of what you want to develop. Do more of what and how you want to be. Do less of what and how you don’t want to be. Repeat it long enough and it will become your nature. It will become you. Live your own life. Get inspiration from others but you are the one who has to walk the chosen path. Make it your own by doing not just reading or thinking about it. Pick what suits you best. Discard what is not your cup of tea. How to tell the difference? – you might ask! Ask yourself! You and only you can answer this. Realize what comes to you naturally. You are a unique individual with your own strengths and weaknesses. Nurture the former and get rid of the latter. Pay attention to what you eat and drink. Combined with the air you breathe – this is what you are made of! Choose fresh and avoid processed foods, especially sweets. Variety is important. Think why you eat, how much, what you eat, when you eat, and how you eat. Let your body rest and recover after intense physical exertion. Let your digestive system rest and recover regularly. Your body is designed to feast and fast. Let your mind rest and recover. Find your favorite form of meditation. Make sure you get a regular good night’s sleep. Feel the hunger regularly. Do not stop moving! Your body is designed to run, jump, lift and twist. Pay attention to your posture. Repetition creates habits! Make sure you get a daily dose of physical and mental activity and stimulation. Sweat every day. Good stress (eustress) is the very stress that provokes change, adaptation and development. Find time to commune with nature and its elements. Don’t always insulate yourself from cold, heat, rain or snow. Train your body and mind to adapt to changing circumstances. Appreciate. Develop a habit of finding things, situations and people in your life to appreciate. Realize how lucky you are! ...
The minimum you can do for your health.
Stop eating all day long. Stop eating junk, especially highly processed and sugary “foods” and “beverages”. Get some good quality sleep. Where you sleep, it should be dark, quiet and well ventilated. Minimum 8 hours. No excuses. Learn how to breathe deeply and do it frequently in the park, forest, or any natural, clean place. Every day. Repeat: every day you need to be active. Move! Get out of the chronic stress situation. Pick the option more suitable for you: 1. Change your circumstances, as in: getting out of the toxic relationship or changing the work environment or 2. Change yourself, as in: learning how to deal with stress. Learning and practicing meditation can be helpful. You can use both approaches simultaneously. Recharge your batteries in nature and don’t isolate yourself from it. Regular and gradual exposure to natural elements like cold or heat will strengthen your body’s abilities to tolerate sudden temperature changes and effectively respond to the attacks of pathogenic viruses and bacteria. If you are overweight – fast. If you feel unwell – fast. If you lack the energy – fast ...
No movement = loss of the ability to move.
We often tend to ignore our bodies and minds to the point of not realizing the fundamental importance and impact on our life that the properly functioning body and mind have. In the continuous rush of day-to-day existence, in the midst of all the important matters that we absolutely have to take care of, we forget that if our body starts to malfunction, we will not be able to direct our attention and energy into anything else anyway. To prevent this from happening, try to incorporate physical activity into the normal flow of your day. Move at every opportunity you have! This will not only allow you to maintain your physical fitness and ability to do things but it will also greatly impact your mental fitness and the way you feel in general! It is difficult sometimes to find an hour or two for physical exercise. However, it is possible to integrate a lot of physical activities into our other daily activities. Get off the bus a couple of stops earlier and take a walk. Use stairs instead of an elevator. From now on, every flight of stairs, every hill to climb can be your ally in being more active. Whenever practicable – ride a bike instead of a car. Park your car in a place that will make you take a nice walk. Do you like to dance? Put the music on and dance till you’re breathless! Stretch discreetly when at work, on the train or plane. Waiting for something? Another opportunity to open up the body, release the muscle tension and move your body! Move and stretch when you wake up in bed. Move, stretch and release when waiting in the traffic jam. Move when sitting and traveling on the bus. Move when watching TV or listening to your favorite podcast. The sky is the limit! Or your imagination is. Be creative. Every day can become a game, an interesting challenge – how do I create an opportunity for some movement today? Your body is designed to move. Regular, balanced movement activities prevent illness, heal and strengthen. ...
Slow health – philosophy of natural health cultivation.
Most of us are aware of a vast difference between “fast food” – mass produced food stuff that is highly processed, brought from far away, frequently “improved” with artificial ingredients, and the food that is prepared locally, with attention, from natural and fresh ingredients. The latter is sometimes referred to as Slow Food. There are also other similar approaches that introduce certain changes to our daily life in order to improve some of its aspects. Slow Living – aiming at improving the overall quality of our life Slow Cities – trying to improve the experience of living in the city Slow Money – dealing with investing into local, sustainable, eco-friendly projects. And many, many more. As easy as it is to understand the difference between fast and slow food, the principles of Slow Health are quite self-explanatory. Slow Health approach recognizes the necessity of our active participation in the process of determining the level of health and well-being that we experience. It doesn’t expect “quick fixes” and through understanding of our systems’ mechanisms and the interconnectedness of body and mind, it concentrates on creating qualities in our life that are stable and long lasting. Slow Health does not dictate us what we need to eat or how we should exercise. It merely shows us how important it is to pay attention to our moving habits (or their lack of) or what, how and why we eat what we eat. Slow Health is a concept according to which we begin to take responsibility for ourselves, we begin to learn about ourselves which results in better understanding of our own needs, goals and aspirations. Practicing Slow Health we realize the need to regularly challenge both our mind and our body in order to maintain their functionality as long as it is possible. SLOW in Slow Health is an acronym for: S – sustainable and simple – we choose practices that are possible to easily continue for an indefinite amount of time. L – local – the practices and exercises can be performed wherever we are without a need for any special, elaborate equipment or space. O – organic – the practices are natural and aligned with our predispositions W – whole – the different exercises address various aspects of our health and well-being. ...
