Health Issues
of The 21st Century
Everyone, not just people working shifts can end up with a health imbalance. The lifestyles we lead today are a considerable departure from the lives of our ancestors who lived only a short span of 100 years ago. Most of us are consumed by the bustle of activity that fills our days and even our nights, leaving us little time to ponder the negative effects that our lifestyle may have on the capacity of our minds to think and the ability of our bodies to function.
Our bodies were not designed to handle the endless rigours of today’s life, and yet most of us do not even realize this, let alone do anything about it. Life in the 21st century will eventually cause many people to succumb to a core physiological imbalance. If left unresolved, these imbalances will at the very least lessen quality of life and at worst quite possibly lead to chronic disease and a shortened lifespan.
Some examples of the lifestyle and environmental
factors that may predispose us to health issues:
POOR DIET
Rather than consuming an array of fresh meats, vegetables, fruits, seeds and grains in their natural state as our ancestors once did, we are now consuming and are being consumed by (in a sense) a vast array of modern junk food. For many, junk food comprises a major portion of the diet. This means that we are literally consuming tonnes of simple carbohydrates in the form of processed and refined sugar and flour, plus an astounding amount of fake Trans fats in our pre-packaged and ready-to-eat diet. Many of these foods contain chemicals that our bodies do not recognize as food and this creates yet another set of problems. This type of diet is nutrient sparse, promotes an imbalance of the hormone insulin, clogs the arteries and is quite possibly addictive.
LACK OF EXERCISE
Our predecessors had to work for their food, whether it was hunting down an animal in the wild, fishing, gathering nuts and seeds or even farming to grow grains, fruits and vegetables. Today, we don’t even have to walk into a restaurant or shop grocery store aisles to obtain our food. We can simply sit in our cars and order food from a take-out window. We don’t even have to leave our houses with the ever increasing prevalence of internet sales and services. In general, we have become a sedentary species. Our muscles are flaccid and our bones are weak. No wonder we are tired so much of the time!
SLEEP DEPRIVATION
Even a century ago, most people would sleep at least 8 hours a night or longer, particularly in the winter when the days are short and the nights are long. Now our days and nights are continually lit up. With work, family, entertainment, television and computers luring us to stay awake, many people are lucky if they sleep 6 hours a night. We are a population of sleep deprived individuals. With sleep comes renewal and rejuvenation, therefore one might say that the lack of proper sleep hinder our bodies own restoration and repair process.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS
It is now irrefutable that toxins from the environment are accumulating in the tissues of our bodies and brains, as the use of chemicals in industry and in agriculture is still on the rise. These toxins not only cause damage to the tissues that they contact, they also have the potential for altering genetic expression, which can throw the system into a state of chaos as cells begin to function abnormally.
CHRONIC STRESS
Last but certainly not least, chronic stress is becoming more and more prevalent. If questioned about their stress level, most people would say that they are feeling ‘totally stressed’ or ‘stressed out’ during a surprisingly large chunk of their days. Some stress is fine, in fact it is actually healthy to have a bit of acute stress in our lives, however, when we are faced with chronic stress day after day, this is not a natural or healthy state.
Acute stress is what a zebra would feel during a confrontation with a lion, as in the classic example. The stress response is immediate and then quickly subsides as either the dangerous situation is resolved or the unlucky zebra is killed by the lion. In comparison, our daily stresses, whether real or perceived, often do not go away. Rather, they tend to build and create a state of continual low grade stress. Even daily hassles or minor annoyances can add up and create a condition of chronic stress which can influence our behaviour, sleep and eating patterns.
A symptom of chronic stress is a sustained elevation in cortisol. Cortisol elevations were designed to last for a short time only and at infrequent intervals. In the case of chronic stress, cortisol production does not get shut off. Chronically elevated cortisol acts as a poison in our systems, damaging cells and promoting inflammation and the generation of free radicals.
LIFE
This endless supply of junk food, lack of exercise, sleep deprivation, environmental toxins and chronic stress can set the stage for illness, or in more scientific terms, predispose us developing Core Physiological Imbalance.