Use It or Lose It!

Granny choosing broomstick flying over cycling!

I well remember my own mother holding her arm straight out in front of her and kicking up her foot to touch her fingers. She was in her seventies and I had seen evidence myself of her flexibility as she gamely hauled herself up into the attic space to locate something stored away.

She also peddled on an exercise bike because as she said, "once your knees have gone, that's it!" She must have been doing something right because she lived until she was 99 years and six months old, still cooking every day and looking after her bachelor son. So it's no great surprise that Hubby and I believe the same.

Flexibility is key to everything we do and it really doesn't take many minutes in the day to circle hips and shoulders, knees and ankles. Posture is everything and you can do no better than study The Alexander Technique in which you imagine you are a puppet on a string with your head held vertical and not thrust forward like a turkey. Keep your thigh muscles strong too so that they can propel yourself out of your chair without too much difficulty.

Years ago, we were always encouraged at school to stand with chest pushed forward and shoulders back which actually forces a rather unnatural curve to the base of the spine. Rather, the pelvis should be thought of as a shallow basin tipping slightly forward so as to contain all our intestines comfortably and keeping that niggly sacrum from contracting and squeezing our nerves!

If you have trouble with your knees and/or ankles, try gently rotating them on a regular basis and elevate your legs above heart level if possible to take down any swelling.

When my old Mum, near the end of her life, finally consulted a doctor, they had no records for her as she had never been. She had always taken responsibility for her own health. Yes, she may have been fortunate, or have had good genes or whatever, but she never swallowed pills unnecessarily nor (obviously) dashed off to the surgery at the slightest twinge. I too am of the same opinion that given a little time, the wonderful organism that is us, each with our own complex chemical factory within, will generally be able cope with most situations.

I am not a doctor, but I don't have to be to know that by getting myself outside for about twenty minutes a day to soak up natural vitamin D, and sticking to a regular exercise regime, I am helping myself breeze into a happy and healthy old age. For as long as I am able, I shall certainly carry on using it, as I try not to lose it!

How are your Innards?

I've just been reading Guilia Enders' book so eloquently titled Gut. The Inside Story of Our Body's Most Underrated Organ. As a family of course we instantly sub-titled it the 'bum' book as it was so intimately concerned with all things 'bottom.'

Our reading came about by a chance recommendation and loan and as we are all interested in health matters, we devoured the contents, (sorry, couldn't resist it!)

Miss Enders is an award-winning endo-bacteriologist dedicated to spreading understanding of the important part the gut plays in our health or otherwise, and her book is the best-selling result. She explains that as one of the three main embryonic developments of brain, heart and lungs and intestines, it is a breeding-ground for essential good as well as bad bacteria that deal with our food consumption, processing and elimination.

Starting with the mouth and ending with the um, end, Miss Enders explains in easy-to-understand language the science of the intestines and deals with connected subject matters too delicate for dinner-table talk or this blog, but essential for our daily and therefore lifelong health.

It's strange to make a direct connection between our intestines and efficient brain function but Guilia Enders presents very convincing arguments. After all, 100-trillion inhabitants of our guts must be there for very good reason eh?

Do you really understand the difference between probiotic drinks and prebiotic? What is a celiac, why are some people gluten intolerant? All and much, much more is clearly explained with the aid of simple, humorous diagrams.

What foods should we eat to support good gut flora and which should we avoid? Also, do you realise your stomach really needs between, 12/14 hours fast in order to cleanse itself, and that every snack consumed during that time stops that important process?

Advertisements by the food industry can confuse as much as inform and I'd much rather believe what I read by this passionate advocate of good-sense living. Certainly, what the author clearly demonstrates from a scientific point of view is that we truly are what we eat!

'B' in Granny Bonnet's Alphabet of Witches.

Bertha Bracegirdle

As you can see, Bertha is a jolly and friendly woman, a witch whose presence cannot possibly go unnoticed! This is intentional on her part. She cannot hide who she is, (neither does she want to), so she positively radiates colourful self-assurance and charm.

Witchcraft, as practiced by Bertha and her daemon Ozzy, turns sorrow to joy, rejection to acceptance. Her choice of spell would most probably be wrapped in a funny anecdote or the telling of a joke.

Laughter, Bertha knows instinctively, makes it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also relieves loneliness as you connect with other people. Her advice is, 'be yourself and dance often, as happiness rebounds!'

Ozzy is Bertha's Daemon helper.

Bertha understands of course that a good sense of humour can't cure all ailments, but data is mounting about the positive things laughter can do. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. On the other hand, positive thinking can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.

So go on! Enjoy a good old belly-laugh to stimulate your heart, lungs and muscles, and increase endorphins released by your brain. When you finish giggling, your heart rate and blood pressure will subside and you will be left with a good, relaxed feeling. Call it witch-craft or common-sense. It's your choice entirely...