​Our Interest

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What sparked our interest in health? It's a question that often makes us reflect on our journeys. We rarely think about health when we're healthy because we tend to take it for granted. Health, like any other part of life, can wear down and change over time.

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While routines are necessary to keep us on track, they can also contribute to this wear and tear through repetition. Finding the right balance is key, and maintaining this balance was our goal.

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My interest in health began when I was discharged from the army in 1972. This pivotal moment was triggered by an unknown cause that led to my body breaking out with acne. At the time, it was a mystery, but eventually, it became clear that stress and exposure to a herbicide called Agent Orange were to blame. This experience marked the start of my journey into understanding health and wellness.

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Note: Agent Orange was a herbicide used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. It was sprayed to clear forests and fields and destroy enemy crops. Agent Orange was banned in 1971 and is no longer in use.

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What are the health effects of Agent Orange?

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• Agent Orange contains dioxin, a toxic chemical contaminant.

• Exposure to Agent Orange has been linked to:

  • Cancers, including bladder, lung, and prostate cancer

  • Birth defects

  • Diabetes

  • Other disabilitie

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The U.S. military sprayed Agent Orange from 1962 to 1971.

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Although it was officially banned, the environment wasn't completely free from this contamination. I was always sensitive to unnatural chemicals in our environment. It didn't take much to start a chain reaction of causes and effects. My body was weakening, and my lifespan was shrinking. I was aging faster than I wanted to and sought ways to avoid medical assistance.

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My wife Linda and I decided to attend nutritional classes at Las Vegas Community College, hoping to find a natural cure to slow down and hopefully stop the effects of Agent Orange on my body. Before this, I had no clue how chemicals in our diet affect our body, mind, and soul.

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Linda had a keen interest in outer body care and studied natural cosmetics to help with my skin breakouts. Meanwhile, I focused on dietary aspects. Together, we embarked on our health journey, diving into books and personal experiences related to wellness. Did these methods work? Yes, but only in the short term. They lacked longevity and were challenging to follow consistently.

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We discovered a fascinating book by Norman W. Walker, titled "Juice Fasting," and decided to try a 10-day fasting journey. We bought a champion juicer and stocked up on fresh veggies and fruits. The taste of the veggies was unbearable to my sensitive taste buds, but I reminded myself that I wasn't seeking a good-tasting drink. I was after a drink to rid my body of Agent Orange toxins. I learned to mix fruit juices high in sugar to make the concoctions more pleasant, and I managed to get through the 10 days without solid foods.

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I felt hungry yet empowered and in control. This new willpower kept me on track, and Linda and I decided to try a longer fast soon. The real health benefits came when I started eating again. A surge of energy flowed through me, and I experienced a healing crisis. This happens when the body gets rid of toxins, usually after fasting. Fasting was more pleasant because it reduced these symptoms as metabolism and glandular activities slowed down. It was passive on one level and very active on another. Once you start eating again, the body's metabolism speeds up, and all hell breaks loose.

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I eventually ended up at the doctor's office due to constant bruising and kidney failure, which was alarming. To my surprise, the doctor told me to "STOP FASTING and START EATING PROPERLY." This was unexpected, as I thought my diet was healthy. The doctor explained that even organic vegetables and fruits are not free from toxins. I had high toxin levels from the organic produce I consumed. I was doing more harm than good to my body, unknowingly adding to the already high saturation of herbicides in my system. But I enjoyed the weight loss and found fasting the only way to keep it off.

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Note: Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not banned pharmaceutical lindane in the United States, the pesticide is under review for inclusion in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, which could eventually lead to a worldwide ban.

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Is Fasting Good or Bad?

 

Have you heard the saying, "Too much of a good thing"? I believe this is true in many aspects of life. Yes, fasting is beneficial and needed daily. That's why many people choose intermittent fasting over prolonged fasting. This approach allows the body to digest, utilize, and energize itself without depriving it of vital nutrients needed daily to create what we call health. Our body constantly needs nutrients, much like a carpenter needs a steady supply of materials to build, not just the tools to construct.

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I was running on "pure willpower." Like a rubber band twisted into knots, it will eventually snap. My time had finally arrived. Changes had to be made in my mindset. I didn't want to disagree with the idea that juice fasting might be a waste of time or money, as it's often more expensive to juice than to eat regular meals. It was time to quit and find new ways to stay healthy. I owned a vegetarian restaurant called "Garden Party" in Las Vegas, and it was my bread and butter. It's hard to make changes when you're making a living off something. But I needed more proteins and fats not found in the vegetable kingdom, and I had to swallow my pride and go in another direction. Life also helped me make this decision, as my restaurant burnt down due to a faulty electrical system. Yet, I was stubborn and clung to my concept of eating only from the vegetable kingdom. I realized that humans have evolved to be able eat periodically only vegetables or a carnivorous diet and even prolonged fasting. But was this necessary and healthy? I'll let you be the judge, as it can be healthy when used periodically.

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Vegetarians and vegans can often consume excess sugar from grains, potatoes, fruits, and added table sugar. Sugar serves as the body's primary energy source. Unlike saturated fats, which are often avoided, vegetable oils are commonly used. Historically, there was no taboo on indulging in vegetable oils, even though they contain toxins and are high in Omega 6 fatty acids. We will delve into these subjects in more detail in the subsequent chapters.

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Going backward is as necessary as going forward. In my experience, I've found positives and negatives in any diet style I apply to my journey of finding a balance between too much or too little. Let's admit it, all of life revolves around finding just the right amount, and that is often the hardest thing to find.

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The vegetable kingdom, alongside the animal kingdom, has come under attack due to excessive use of pesticides, growth hormones, and other man-made methods designed to boost yield, enhance size, increase sweetness, and simplify farming. Convenience is not just sought after in today's fast-paced market; it has become a necessity. But the pressing question remains: Is it truly healthy? We often spend our precious time on trivial entertainments, lacking the time or inclination to take a genuine interest in our wellness. Instead, the easy solution seems to be to take a pill for all your ills.

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An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The medical system is built on making you feel better, not focused on healing. This has caused many to seek more holistic ways to prevent unnecessary health issues. Of course, genetics and an aging body play a part in our health, but by knowing our weaknesses, we can strengthen them. Not knowing, we deny them, and we feel an increase in their effects on our health over time. Most of us put taste before nutritional needs. We'd rather take a pill for our ills than construct a diet that furnishes the body and mind with the nutrients it needs to rebuild, balance, and satisfy.

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The question is: Do the foods we eat today, whether organic or not, contain enough nutritional value to promote real health? Real health is when the body becomes the doctor and can perform natural healing without medical assistance. Of course, medical assistance should not be denied but used as a last resort rather than the first. Yes, you have to become proactive and do your part in prevention rather than constantly looking for a cure later in life.

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Are you ready to become PROACTIVE? If you answer YES -

 

Welcome to Sips Transformation Series