DAN'S PAPERS, July 11, 2008 Page 114 www.danshamptons.com
Health/Fitness
Balance = Health: Hippocrates Swore to it Hippocrates once said, “Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.� This ancient philosopher is known as the father of Western medicine, and it is through the Hippocratic oath that all physicians in this country are sworn into the medical practice. Hippocrates, who lived in the fifth Century AD, believed not only in the benefits of medicine but the role the body plays in its own healing. Hippocrates took the then-revolutionary stand that illness had a physical and rational explanation, as opposed to being brought on by the disfavor of the gods. By rejecting the idea that superstition and belief were instrumental in causing or preventing illness, Hippocrates gave a sense of empowerment to people. They had a role in their own wellness- their health wasn’t written in the stars before they were born. In the long term, this not only brought about a sense of control over our own bodies, but also helped to curb the belief that illness was a sign of moral or spiritual weakness. With these proactive beliefs, Hippocrates was able to diagnose and treat major illnesses in a way that others before him had been unable to do. For example, he was the first to diagnose the symptoms of pneumonia and of epilepsy in children. The Hippocratic school held that the key to health was balance, and that bodily fluids (also referred to as humours) should be equal in proportion. The four humours are blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm. If these four humours were out of balance, a person would become ill. Hippocrates believed that only by balancing these humours could a person get well. He believed the body should be healed holistically
because it was not just a conglomeration of parts but a cohesive whole. Along with administering of medicine, Hippocrates believed that the healing process necessitated fresh air, a healthy diet, cleanliness, and rest. These four aspects of the healing process have been lost on many of us today. We’re sick, we go to the doctor, we pop the pills he/she administers, and we go back to work. We do not take all the aspects of the healing process into account. Instead of fighting the battles that challenge our bodies as they arise, Hippocrates believed strongly in preventative medicine. Of these four points, fresh air, rest, and cleanliness are pretty self-explanatory. Hippocrates says go outside and take a walk. Hipppocrates says turn off the TV and go to sleep. Hippocrates says take a shower. Eat healthy. Wait- I didn’t say “Hippocrates says.� To implement a “healthy diet,� some questions must first be answered. You might ask what, exactly, constitutes a healthy diet? Rest assured, Hippocrates did not say “Eat rice cakes and drink Diet Coke and you’ll live forever!� Instead of looking at how to cut down on foods that are “bad�, Hippocrates believed in increasing consumption of foods that are good. He viewed food as a tool to gain strength. In considering what foods are actually beneficial to the body, you can’t always think of what is going to help you lose weight. In today’s
The widest array of
"- / - , -1, ,9 and " 9 / available.
>Ă›Âˆ`ĂŠ °Ê ÂœÂ?`LiĂ€}]ĂŠ ] Director Demonstrated on National Television
, 8 Ê - ,Ê, -1, UÊ/ , " ‡-1, Ê / One of the Top Ten Laser Surgeons in the U.S. –Self Magazine One of the Best Doctors in America –Best Doctors, Inc. Top Doctors: New York Metro Area –Castle Connelly Internationally Recognized Laser Educator and Researcher
SKIN LASER & SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY
1146462 1146093
UĂŠ,iĂƒĂŒĂžÂ?>˜i™]ĂŠ,>`ˆiĂƒĂƒi™]ĂŠ Ă•Ă›i`iÀ“™]ĂŠ-VĂ•Â?ÂŤĂŒĂ€>™ >˜`ĂŠ ÂœĂŒÂœĂ?ÂŽ 7Ă€ÂˆÂ˜ÂŽÂ?iĂŠ/Ă€i>ĂŒÂ“iÂ˜ĂŒĂƒĂŠ UĂŠ iÂ?Â?Ă•Â?ÂˆĂŒiĂŠ/Ă€i>ĂŒÂ“iÂ˜ĂŒĂƒĂŠUĂŠ >ĂƒiÀÊ ÂˆÂŤÂœĂƒĂ•VĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ UĂŠ >ĂƒiĂ€ĂŠĂƒÂŽÂˆÂ˜ĂŠĂ€iĂƒĂ•Ă€v>Vˆ˜}ĂŠUĂŠ >ĂƒiÀʅ>ÂˆĂ€ĂŠĂ€iÂ“ÂœĂ›>Â? UĂŠ >ĂƒiĂ€ĂŠĂƒÂŤÂˆ`iÀÊÛiÂˆÂ˜ĂŠĂ€iÂ“ÂœĂ›>Â? UĂŠ >ĂƒiÀÊÀiÂ“ÂœĂ›>Â?ĂŠÂœvĂŠĂŒ>ĂŒĂŒÂœÂœĂƒ]ĂŠLÂˆĂ€ĂŒÂ…Â“>Ă€ÂŽĂƒĂŠEĂŠ>}iĂŠĂƒÂŤÂœĂŒĂƒ UĂŠ >ĂƒiÀÊvÂœĂ€ĂŠĂƒV>Ă€Ăƒ]ĂŠĂ›ÂˆĂŒÂˆÂ?ˆ}Âœ]ĂŠĂƒĂŒĂ€iĂŒV…“>Ă€ÂŽĂƒ]ĂŠ>˜`ĂŠ>V˜i UĂŠ ÂœÂ…ĂƒĂŠ-ÂŽÂˆÂ˜ĂŠ >˜ViÀÊ-Ă•Ă€}iÀÞ
115 East 57th Street, Suite 710, NEW YORK, NY UÊӣӇÇxä‡n™ää 4800 N. Federal Highway, Suite C101, BOCA RATON, FL UĂŠxĂˆÂŁÂ‡nnĂˆÂ‡Ă¤Â™Ă‡Ă¤ ÓäÊ*Ă€ÂœĂƒÂŤiVĂŒĂŠ Ă›iÂ˜Ă•i]ĂŠ-Ă•ÂˆĂŒiÊÇäÓ]ĂŠHACKENSACK, NJ UÊÓ䣇{{£‡™n™ä Â"ÂŤi˜ˆ˜}ĂŠ-Փ“iÀÊÓäänŽÊ£äxĂŠ,>ˆ`iÀÊ ÂœĂ•Â?iĂ›>Ă€`]ĂŠ - ","1 ]ĂŠ ĂŠUĂŠnää‡Ç£n‡xxä{ nää‡Ç£n‡xxä{ĂŠ U www.skinandlasers.com
thin-obsessed society, people think that if they could only eat a few bowls of lettuce a day, they’d be much healthier. While this extreme diet would help you lose fat and eat less calories, it would also take away all the nutritional benefits of food. One way to get more out of your food is by making simple, conscious choices. Take an example of two easily interchangeable foods: white bread versus whole wheat. One serving of white bread contains 120 calories, 1 gram of fat, 3 grams of protein, 1 gram of dietary fiber, and 2 grams of sugar. The 306 milligrams of sodium are not to be overlooked either. On the other hand, take whole wheat bread. One serving contains only 68 calories and 148 milligrams of sodium, but the benefits are pretty much the same or better: 1 gram of fat, 3 grams of protein, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of dietary fiber. In a world where we are taught to feel guilty for our decadent food consumption, it’s important to remember that food is its own form of medicine. By making good choices, we can take advantage of the healing power of food. When preparing your meals, think beyond losing weight or looking good. Think about being healthy, and remember that Hippocrates, the father of medicine, considered food to be one of your greatest tools in the fight against disease. Questions or thoughts, visit yogamatized.com