Health & Happiness   Contents   Preface p1 Introduction p3 1.                  The role of stress in the body p5 2.                  Practical stress management techniques p10 3.                  Health in perspective p17 4.                  Food supplements for optimal health p20 5.                  Antioxidants p28 6.                  The importance of supplements for sportsmen and -women p43 7.                  Micronutrients that support the cardiovascular system p48 8.                  Cholesterol as an example of a lifestyle disease p54 9.                  Essential fatty acids p57 10.              The role of calcium and magnesium p61 11.              Micronutrients for the musculoskeletal system p66 12.              Micronutrients for the nervous system p69 13.              Natural alternatives to antibiotics p75 14.              Micronutrients for the respiratory system p84 15.              Special needs for special situations  p88                                  i.            Pregnancy and breastfeeding                                ii.            Children and teenagers                               iii.            Treating childhood fevers                              iv.            Treating herpes infections                               v.            A natural first aid kit                              vi.            Natural preparation for surgery     16.              Natural remedies for weight management p96 17.              Micronutrients for the female urogenital system p100 18.              Menopause and hormone replacement therapy  p104 19.              Micronutrients for the male urogenital system p110 20.              Natural remedies for the skin  p113 21.              Micronutrients for the digestive system p116  22.              Health as an holistic lifestyle adjustment p118            References Index     Further information           Preface My involvement in health and complementary options goes back many years. As a qualified medical doctor, I soon became frustrated and disillusioned with treating only the symptoms of disease without knowing the real reason of how and why disease develops. As I gained more prac­tical experience, I began to realise that stress lies at the root of most chronic Western diseases. That is why the introductory chapters of this book deal with stress and how to manage it. Many diseases can be man­aged and alleviated by boosting the function of systems in the body with the correct micro nutrients (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids and medicinal herbs) to lead the body back to improved function and health. Natural healing methods are very effective in gent­ly restoring people to health with few (or no) side effects. Many symp­tomatic orthodox medicines often do the body and soul more harm than good and cause side effects that have to be treated with more medi­cation. People who became aware of their responsibility for their own health and of certain facts surrounding the health of the body, emotions, mind and soul will also become more spiritually aware. This helps them in their search for knowledge, happiness and fulfillment. The conscious decision to take herbs or vitamins helps us to take responsibility for our own health. Like so many before me who have chosen to follow complementary medical options, I realised that the most important part of getting better is the knowledge that we can all take control of our own health. As soon as we stop being victims, we are liberated from our restrictive ideas and are able to live fulfilling lives in a state of spiritual and physical joy - this is our birthright. There are many books available on vitamins, minerals and their role in health, but they all fail to give clarity on the exact health requirements of the average South African family. I hope that this book takes the guesswork and uncertainty out of food supplementation. The book is organised according to the different systems of the body to show you exactly which micronutrients support that system. Quantities, ratios and how the different micro nutrients work to­gether in synergy will further assist you in determining your needs and those of others. This book is an improved, revised version of my first book, To Health! It contains many new chapters, such as the specific needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women, children, participation in sport and natural methods for weight management. Case studies will confirm the practical application and use of the suggestions in this book. There is also information on well-researched medicinal herbs that will offer you natural alternatives. The list of references provides further reading material. The classification of the body into different systems is not intended to imply that we can simply divide the body into separate compart­ments. For practical reasons it is useful to look at specific systems because in families there is often a genetic weakness in a specific system. During stress this specific system of the body will first show loss of func­tion and eventually become diseased. Genetically, the weak links in the enzyme chains are the first ones to break. If the system is repaired by making lifestyle adaptations, managing stress and learning from our dis­ease processes, our chances of recovery and an improved quality of life are so much greater.   The information and recommendations in this book are intended as guidelines for using micronutrients, adopting a healthy lifestyle and managing stress - we are all responsible for own health and wellbeing. Discuss your specific symptoms and medical conditions with your doc­tor (who should have some knowledge about complementary medical options) to get advice and recommendations concerning your personal health problems.