The opening chapters of Frank Lipman’s book – beginning with “Spent: An Epidemic of Exhaustion” – set the tone for all of us to better understand how our physical, emotional and spiritual needs are impacted daily by a modern day stressful environment that removes us from our natural bio-rhythms and full capabilities. I like the example Dr. Lipman uses of his early experience in the South African village of KwaNdebele where he noted that the simplicity of daily life did not create the typical fatigue, anxiety, insomnia and chronic medical problems that he was observing in his urban private practice.
Today, medical specialists agree that 70 to 80% of chronic health conditions (like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes) can be prevented by modifiable risk factors related to diet, exercise and lifestyle choices. A good example is the Okinawans who live on the islands between Japan and Taiwan. They have a very simple and active lifestyle with a diet rich in whole grains, legumes, fish and minimal sugar or processed flour. Researchers have determined that Okinawans are the longest-lived population in the world and attribute this to their lifestyle and diet. Many individuals are well over 100 years old and breast or prostate cancer is non-existent.
Lipman introduces us to a few key concepts that are worth noting in more detail. Understanding our natural body rhythms and “our natural genetic blueprint for living” are the concepts that merit further discussion in describing a person’s “total load”. His estimate is that a normal person’s total load or natural tolerance for stress has quadrupled in the last 30 years and, as a result, we are no longer in sync with our natural rhythms. Another way of thinking about our life path is to envision that we are born with very unique and personal genetic hardware but our lifestyle, environment, and behavior choices becomes the software that ultimately modifies or determines our health status, wellness or illness profile. In reality, Lipman tells us that we can change that software today by taking the steps he outlines in the second chapter called “Prepare”. This chapter is about getting our new environment ready for restorative changes to our diet and lifestyle.
Again, I feel that both of the introductory chapters set the stage for us to become more aware of the direct causes of the exhaustion epidemic. In addition, these chapters will help us begin a plan of action that starts with greater knowledge of our own body rhythms and greater motivation to experiment with some of the steps that Dr. Lipman proposes in a dietary and exercise restoration plan to renew our natural energy sources.
Enjoy the book as you prepare your kitchens for the next steps. Next week we will discuss Week 1 – Nourish.
Dr. Tony Linares
