Category Archives: Health Matters

Be well, stay well

Health & wellbeing in Brighton

This October the Brighton Natural Health Centre (BNHC) celebrates 30 years as a pioneer in the city’s vibrant holistic health scene. BNHC – an educational charity offering a wide range of healthy lifestyle classes – was founded in 1981 by Infinity Foods Co-operative to further its educational aims. At the time its mix of yoga, tai chi, dance, massage and meditation classes was unique in Brighton and helped pave the way for a massive expansion in public awareness of holistic lifestyles. BNHC is independent, non-profit making and it has always been committed to providing the very best teachers in all the disciplines it offers.

With a wide range of classes from Astanga yoga to hula-hooping, BNHC provides inspiration, friendliness, affordability and real quality in the heart of Brighton’s bustling North Laine area. In furtherance of its aims, BNHC has recently started to offer National Lottery-funded outreach classes aimed at minority groups who do not normally have the confidence or means to attend courses at the centre. To celebrate their 30th birthday, the Centre is welcoming everybody to a free Open Day on 22 October. There will be talks, demonstrations, taster classes and the opportunity to talk to teachers about the classes they are offering. 27 Regent Street. Tel: 01273 600 010 or www.bnhc.co.uk for info.

Boosting Immunity

People often wonder how they can avoid catching colds, flu and other infections, which seem to abound at any time of year. Unfortunately, we often find ourselves sitting in close proximity to someone in the train, who has a streaming cold and is sneezing the virus into the carriage. Apparently, the average sneeze produces around 40,000 infectious droplets, which are spread at a speed of around 135ft per second. Then there is the workplace, where viruses and bacteria seem to thrive and nobody can shake them off. Even the air-conditioning in planes can be a source of infection; and children often bring home infection from school. So what to do?
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How to Stay Sick

Never walk if you can ride. When the thought of exercise assails you, rest until the impulse passes. Smoke on every occasion. Never leave the table hungry. Use white sugar, white flour. Slobber gobs of butter on everything. Order second helpings.

Plan meals to include gooey pastries, plus ice cream with thick toppings loaded with sugar, cakes and cute cookies. Was this man a nut who last said, “If it’s dead don’t eat it, bury it”, otherwise salt it heavily.

Start every meal with three Martinis [or as Dorothy Parker once said, “have tee many Martoonis” – Ed]. Eat four square meals a day. Under no circumstances eat organically grown fresh fruit or vegetables, this is only for those sickly-looking food faddists.

Resent everything, devote a good part of the day to worrying. Fear for the future. Get mad at everybody. Lose your temper and lash out at everyone who can’t fight back. Always buy a big house with a big mortgage. Bite off more than you can conveniently chew, in business. Don’t pay cash for one car, buy two and mortgage them both.

From ‘The Key to Good Health – Vitamin C’ by Bartz & Klenner

Ba Gua

Ba Gua
Ba Gua

Ba Gua is a Taoist practice referred to as the elder brother to Tai Chi and is the physical manifestation of the I-Ching (Book of Changes).

It is an aerobic exercise that involves precise footwork, whilst walking in a circle, during which you repeatedly change direction. This changing of direction develops circular, spherical and spiralling movement. The focus of Ba Gua is to unify the movement of mind, blood, nerves, breath and the sinking of your chi. It is also a meditative practice that has a strong emphasis on relaxing and releasing held tension (stress) in the nervous system. Modern age is trying to rev up your nervous system which develops stress related illnesses. Ba Gua is an antidote to modern living.
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Ten Top Tips For Better Health

I feel like exercising

  1. Try to use pure skin products. Why? 60% of what you put on your skin goes into your bloodstream.
  2. Try not to skip meals. Why? It slows metabolism so you could put on weight; and causes a dip in blood glucose levels, leading to fatigue.
  3. Buy organic vegetable juice to have daily or get a juicer. Why? It alkalises your body, making you less susceptible to disease.
  4. Drink at least 1.5L water daily. Why? It transports the toxins removed by your liver out of your body.
  5. Have enough zinc. Why? It boosts your immune system. It’s found in oysters, red meat, poultry, nuts and seeds; or take zinc tablets.
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