The Holistic Lifestyle: Contemporary Science Discovers Ancient Wisdom

Presented by Dr Jim Prado

The Next Public Presentation:  April 20, 27, May 4, & 11, 2010
at the Heritage Hotel & Conference Center – Southbury Connecticut

Class I - The first of 4 classes in holistic lifestyle-change

In the first class we discuss how Americans, more than any other group, have strayed from the natural lifestyle of their ancestors resulting in the highest chronic disease rates on the planet.  We look at some of the statistics from the World Health Organization which shed light on the problems with our current lifestyle and healthcare system.  Additionally, we briefly discuss the economics and politics of healthcare... or should it be called "sickcare?" We then delve into the evolution of the human diet looking at the relatively recent shift toward a diet high in refined carbohydrates and grains, and away from foods high in omega 3 oils.  We clearly show the link between diet and the epidemic of diseases related to chronic inflammation.  In this class we review the studies that link almost all chronic diseases with inflammation. For those really interested in the details, we  touch on the biochemistry of the pro-inflammatory diet.  Dr. Prado believes that if people understand how  a diet high in sugar and starch and low omega 3 fatty acids will lead to the production of pro-inflammatory hormones and excessive fat storage, they may be more likely to eat properly.  In this first class the different food pyramids from the USDA pyramid to the Mediterranean and Hunter-Gatherer pyramids are discussed.  We then touch on the politics of food and show why the USDA pyramid is unhealthy and how it was created by lobbyists and not by scientists.

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Class II

In the second class we discuss a bit more about diet, nutrition, the glycemic index and metabolic syndrome.  Then we take a look at exercise. We  visit the factors  related to the benefits of exercise, ranging from improvement of insulin receptor sensitivity to elevation of HDL or good cholesterol.  We discuss different types of exercise and the benefits of each.  We don't have a specific class on nutritional supplements however a few specific supplements are discussed as we go along.  When we talk about the anti-inflammatory diet we talk about fish oil, cod-liver oil and Krill oil. When we discuss cholesterol we touch on the politics of the pharmaceutical industry and the proof that high cholesterol levels are NOT  the  major cause of  cardiovascular disease.  Research is showing that inflammation and oxidation may play a more critical role.   We stress the importance of an anti-inflammatory diet that is also high in antioxidants.  In this class we also discuss how the lack of sleep affects everything from weight gain to pain and inflammation.  Finally we go on to discuss another common problem—our profound lack of sun exposure.  You will learn how sunlight deprivation has been linked to an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency that appears to be at the root of numerous disease processes.

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Class III

In the third class we talk about Nature Deficit Disorder—a newly recognized phenomenon affecting our health and the health of our children. We can't be healthy if we remove ourselves from nature an avoid contact with the soil, sunlight and fresh air.  Our disconnect with nature is related in part to our cultural germ phobia.  Current research is linking our excessively clean lifestyle with allergies, asthma and auto-immune diseases.  We discuss new therapies for autoimmune diseases that include intentional infection with parasitic worms to aid in the regulation of immune system function.  When it is mentioned that we are going to talk about “dirt” the initial reaction is not always positive.  By the end of this class you will begin to understand how humans and microbes have developed a symbiotic relationship necessary for the survival of both parties.  Additionally in this class we touch upon some of the controversial issues with vaccination and antibiotic over-use. 

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Class IV

The fourth class seems to be the favorite of many of the previous class participants.  In this class we speak about the contemporary research in mind-body medicine.   In this class a totally different view of stress management is presented.  The science behind meditation and spiritual aspects of health and healing are always intriguing topics.  This is where we talk about learning to think differently and trust our intuition which further supports the main theme of the series… Nature gives us all we need to be healthy, including the power of our minds. The entire series is backed up with good peer-reviewed scientific studies from prestigious medical/scientific journals.  Each class ends with a few practical steps you can take to improve your health and life… holistically!

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