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. ...
Movement.
Movement as an integral part of life is the important principle of Primal Tao. Ask yourself every day: what have I done today for my body? Ask yourself every day: what have I done today for my mind? You are wrong if you think that if you live a sedentary lifestyle, an occasional session in the gym will allow you to maintain your functionality and health. You are wrong if you think that doing some crossword puzzles or sudoku from time to time, will allow you to maintain your cognitive abilities throughout your old age. It’s like expecting the development of a muscular body because you enjoy long, frequent walks. The amount of effort and the type of training determines the kind of results that you are going to see. Both our body and our mind need regular stimulation. The degree of adaptation will be proportional to the degree of intensity of the stimulus. Because we’ve created modern conditions in which we spend most of the day sitting, our ability to perform other physical tasks is slowly diminishing. The trouble is that our bodies have not evolved in the evolutionary process to be able to easily deal with extended periods of sitting in one place. As a result, we develop all kinds of “mysterious ailments” and have difficulty explaining their origins. We are all too familiar with the lower back, knee, hip, shoulder and neck pain, headaches and general “stiffness”. Many of these symptoms tend to be attributed to the fact that we are getting older when in reality, it has more to do with the fact that we are getting less and less active. Our beloved “magical” flat tv boxes in every living room do not help much in activating neither our bodies nor our minds. Usually, as if in some hypnotic trance, we sink in the soft embrace of the sofa in front of them and forget about reality at least for a couple of hours. Being active doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to go to the gym, lift some weights or run on the treadmill (although it is certainly one of the ways). Every one of us has a different personality, needs, interests. It is up to us to find a physical and mental type of activity that is best for us. The activity that suits our needs and expectations and gives us a feeling of pleasure, satisfaction, and the ability to sustain it for an indefinite period of time. Nobody is going to do this for us. And if through years of repetition we have already developed habits of inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle, then obviously, our challenges will be proportionally greater. It is good to start looking for opportunities for movement in the flow of our everyday activities. Where can we walk an extra few hundred yards? Where can we take the stairs instead of an elevator? Can we use a bicycle instead of the car sometimes? Can we replace an hour on facebook with an hour walk in the local park? It is important to realize that movement is not negotiable if we want to maintain any decent level of health. We don’t negotiate the need to breathe. Both breathing and moving are indispensable ingredients of life. Primal Tao is here to remind us of that. ...
What is Primal Tao?
When you get up early in the morning and feel like stretching, moving, being active – this is Primal Tao. When you understand that cold, hunger, physical or mental effort, gentle stress, in general, are your allies – this is Primal Tao. When you understand the importance of eating mostly real food (not processed commercially) and only when you feel truly hungry – this is Primal Tao. When you feel tired and rest – this is Primal Tao. When you turn to Nature to recharge your batteries – this is Primal Tao. Ask yourself at the end of the day: Was I active today? Did I allow my stomach to rest and gave my body some good quality food when it needed it? Have I slept well and long enough? How did I deal with stress? Did I go out of my comfort zone and allowed myself to feel a little cold or hot occasionally? In Primal Tao we understand the concept of HORMESIS which means a phenomenon of producing beneficial effects by introducing small doses of the potentially harmful agent. For example, moderate stress on the body in resistance training leads to the strengthening and development of the muscles. The daily habits of Primal Tao reflect a simple understanding that we all need gentle stimulation and challenge for optimal functioning. Primal Tao is a lifestyle. It is a continuous effort to improve the experience of our daily life, health and well being through simplicity and understanding of the mechanisms governing our own selves. It points out simple ways to enhance our daily pleasure of life, energy levels, performance, and vitality. It is meant as an antidote to our crazy busy lives. Lives in which: – we forget to create time for our own body and mind – we forget how to breathe – we forget how to think – we forget how to be active – we fuel ourselves with lots of unnatural foods, for lots of unnatural reasons – we forget how to strengthen our immune systems – we forget how to be with our own minds, with ourselves. – we isolate ourselves from nature and it’s elements – we don’t get enough sleep There is a fascinating new approach to technology and engineering – Biomimicry. It finds time-tested solutions in Nature, imitating its designs. Of course, in a way, this approach is something humans have been doing for a long time. We have looked at nature to find solutions to our problems throughout our entire existence. Nature has been providing us with inspiration for how to build our homes, how to fly in the air, swim in the water, grow food or recycle what is no longer needed. When we pay enough attention we can learn from Nature and its methods to make our own lives easier and more balanced. It applies to our health as well. Observing nature and its creatures allows us to understand ourselves better. It allows us to find ways to discover strategies for maintaining, developing or regaining our own optimal health and well-being. The concept of Primal Tao is the result of such observations, It shares with Biomimicry the same principles of looking for answers in the natural world. It is imitating natural behavioral patterns still present not too long ago in our daily lives but now almost completely absent. Some of them are: The need to eat real food. The need to fast. The need to move. The need to rest. The need to be exposed to natural elements. We get easily confused about how to stay healthy nowadays. Primal Tao is one of the ways to answer this confusion. It is about simplicity, common sense, observation of nature, and effortless and sustainable ways to find your own recipe for a healthy life. ...
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! ...
Eustress and Distress – Yin and Yang of health cultivation.
There are many different aspects of our health and well-being. Mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, social, environmental. Our cognitive and intellectual abilities. Our physical functionality. Our mental and emotional attitudes, patterns, habits, conditioning. Our social interactions and exchanges. Our environmental influences: the water we drink, the food we eat, the place we live in, the area we are surrounded by, attitudes and expectations around us. They all influence our physical and mental condition. We all have our strong and weak sides. Sometimes our strength is our mind, or memory or mental agility. Sometimes our weakness is our lack of physical stamina or flexibility or strength. Or the other way around. There is a vast number of possible combinations. Usually, we are inclined to do the things that are easy for us. Things that we’ve trained ourselves for in the past. Unfortunately doing only what we are already good at will only lead to further imbalances. Just like only doing the crossword puzzles will not be enough for the mind, a little bit of yoga or tai chi or weight lifting might not quite do it for the body. We need to address our whole being in a complex way. Develop our creativity, push our limits, and find new challenges. So, let’s start learning about ourselves. It is important to assess our predispositions, cultivate our strengths and really focus on improving our weak areas, achieving much more sustainable balance overall. It is often difficult to admit to ourselves that we are lacking in some areas of our lives. The first step is to acknowledge that there are aspects of our being that can use some work and improvement. In the physical realm, we are often tempted to prioritize activities we already feel comfortable with. For example, we’ve already achived a measure of coordination or flexibility and we tend to dismiss the need for some strength or speed work to be done, finding numerous reasons and explanations for not doing it. The same goes on in the mental sphere of our development. If we’re good at math we frequently like to excuse ourselves from being familiar with more abstract areas of knowledge. We often argue that we can not master everything and it is true as long as it doesn’t become just an excuse not to challenge and develop our adaptive capabilities. At this time and age, most people are familiar with the concept of stress and the negative consequences that can come with it. Unfortunately, very few of us have ever heard of Eustress – the positive stress which stimulates, motivates and generally contributes to the development and strengthening of our abilities to function in the most effective and optimal way. A well documented and researched example of Eustress is the influence the physical exercises have on our body development. Gradual and systematic training leads to a harmonious growth and development, improvement of many biological markers, and positive changes taking place on the mental and physical level. Regular mental training leads to a similar efficiency and an accelerated ability to absorb, process, interpret and utilize new data. All of these findings point out to the realization that we should not be avoiding challenges in our lives. Self-imposed challenges prepare us for the challenges that life will surely present us with sooner or later. By regular practice of things that are difficult for us we inevitably become better equipped for dealing with them at the time of need. It is obvious that if we experience difficulties with our joints, special attention needs to be directed in that direction. If we experience lower back pain issues, we should take an extra close look as to what the causes could be. If we feel overwhelmed by some mental tasks we need to face, this ought to be an area of a special interest for our training. As soon as we begin to practice this kind of perspective, we realize that the opportunities for work and improvement are very abundant in all aspects of our life. As soon as we begin to implement the knowledge of how beneficial the difficulties can be for us – a new realm of possibilities opens up! Do you notice the blessings that come with every challenge you face? Are you aware of the opportunities coming with every challenge? ...
