HEALTH CONTINUED

Dear Family,

Hope everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Pesach whose birthday is tomorrow. Wishing you much success in all your pursuits Pesach, both gashmiyus and ruchnius.

MAZAL TOV TO DOVI WHOSE 13TH BIRTHDAY IS TODAY! And because it is Sefirah his Barmitzvah is delayed till Lag Baomer. You should grow up to be a chayal Dovi (acronym for chosid, yirat shamayim, and lamdan) and bring much nachas to your parents.

Mazal Tov to Mendel Kehaty whose birthday is next week. Wishing you a year of continued growth and happiness Mendel.

Mazal Tov to Shneur Zalman whose first birthday is also this coming week! We love you Shneur Zalman.

Continuing the theme of HEALTH relating to the month of Iyaar, as I mentioned last week, I was reading the book 'Nature's Wealth - Health and Healing Plants' based on the Teachings of the Rambam, and I sensed that people were interested in this subject

Hope it is not too long!

For the sake of clarity, I have tried to categorise some of the points I read, but before I start, a few words of caution

1. I have not seen Rambams original 10 books on Medicine. I am just passing on what I have read in above publication.
2. Each person has a different make up and therefore some points may not be relevant to one as it is to another.
3. Medical treatments are continually evolving. Etc

While it is impossible to prevent ageing entirely, it is certainly possible to slow down the process. Good nutrition, bathing, healthy sleep, and light daily walks will all retard ageing. In addition, elderly people should take extra care not to become dehydrated and not catch cold

Food

- one should make it a habit to eat something in the morning before leaving home. However a full meal should be eaten 4 to 6 hours after rising

. seeing the food makes one feel satiated, so one should only eat in a well lit place (Yoma)

. food should be and have a nice smell.

. sharp vegetables such as garlic, onions or horseradish should not be eaten alone as they are hard on the digestive system

. one should not eat or drink standing up but rather sitting down

. meals should be eaten slowly and not in a state of agitation

. one who is strongly tempted by the smell of good food or drink should make every effort to taste it as it is harmful for him not to(Kesubos)

- bread, the most basic food should be well baked. Other foods should be thoroughly cooked

. one should not eat too satiety, because when the stomach is to fall it can no longer break down and digests the food properly. One should eat moderately neither too much nor too little. Overeating to the point of gluttony is the cause of many illnesses.

. one who has damaged his stomach by habitual overeating should reduce his food intake

. young people should eat two meals a day, and as they grow older they should increase this number but reduce the intake of each meal

. food should always be well chewed. 50% of the digestive process results from contact with the saliva.

. It would be ideal if people could stick to a fixed diet. A varied diet may be pleasant but it is not as healthy.

. figs, grapes, pomegranates and arm and is healthful for everyone at all times

. excessive intake of fruit should be avoided. Fruit which is not fully ripe and is is damaging to the body .

. An egg should be eaten daily. The fresher it is the higher is its nutritional value. (I found it interesting to see an article this week which points out that sugar is more a cause of high cholesterol, and that eggs are back on the healthy lists!)

. Excessive consumption of meat and fat should be avoided

Drink

. thirst is more harmful than hunger

. do not become accustomed to drinking alcohol as one may become addicted

. however for older people wine is very beneficial if done properly

. Hashem made water, the best of all beverages, available everywhere

. it is best to drink after a meal but doctors say that it can be beneficial to drink small amount of water during a meal

. a small amount of wine before meals is beneficial

Exercise

. Exercise can be defined as any movement or activity which causes one to switch from a regular breathing pattern to stronger more rapid breathing

. one should begin exercising slowly, gradually increasing the pace until the body aspires heavily. Continue as long as the body is fresh and vigourous, and stop when strained, hot or tired

. elderly people need to be active because their bodies need the warmth

. exercise should always involve all the limbs equally so that all the organs both internal and external derive maximum benefit

. overeating, laziness, and inactivity should be strictly avoided

. heavy people need more exercise, slim people less

. ideal exercise is that in which the physical workout also lifts the spirits example playing a ballgame. Good spirits of healing to the body-many have been cured of physical illness through joy

Toilet

. It is essential for health, hygiene, and purity to become accustomed to emptying one's bowels morning and evening. It's a matter of habit which can be acquired

. one should never restrain urge to urinate

. one should make a point of eating laxative foods

Sleep

. Sleep is vital for physical and emotional health.

. Sleep is especially important and valuable for the elderly, the young, the ill, and the week.

. Too much sleep makes the limbs and spirit lazy and can lead to suffering and illness. The Rambam writes that eight hours is the average amount of sleep required

. one should not go to sleep hungry or honour.

. For healthy sleep one's head should be elevated. One should sleep on one side and not lying on the back, and nor on the face. The Rambam advises to start off the night by sleeping on the left side so that the liver rests on the digestive organs, and towards the end of the night turn over and lie on the right side.

. Our Sages teach that one should try to arrange one's schedule so that he can arise early, even before sunrise.

Behaviour

. The good character traits which one should strive to acquire, beneficial not only for the sole but also for the body's health and well-being.

. Destruction of character is the result of forming negative habits

. people of intelligence and refinement should behave differently to the masses who have only pleasures in mind

. one should learn from experience which foods do not agree with him and which activities upset him, and thereafter avoid them

. three factors upset one's well-being-overeating and an inordinate desire for food, excessive anxiety, and uncertainty about the proper way to behave

. depending on their constitutions, some people feel better during one particular season, and others during another season

. thinking of happy things expands and invigorates sole which in turn strengthens the body and increases its natural heat

Gut Shabbos and good health to all.