the ethics of health

I come from a western nation that is smaller and more isolated than most, but more balanced in many respects 

In Aotearoa/New Zealand, we have two official spoken languages- English and Maori; two main political forces- monetarist and welfare; the first country in the world to have women voters; equally dominant rural and urban economies; even two main islands!  

That, to me, is the kiwi advantage in the modern world; we are innovators not necessarily bound by one dominant view of the world

In that light, I would like to share an alternative viewpoint with you; that balance is the true currency of health  
This is a notion that I find most Asians also believe, given that Yin and Yang are culturally ingrained balancing factors in everyday life

It's not a notion shared by the western world I was born into, however

Why?

The Hippocratic Oath is a noble document that has been worn thin of compassion by industrial aged adaptations (Thomas Percival in England, 1794; the American Medical Association, 1846; Nuremburg Code, 1947; Declaration of Geneva, 1948; and the Oath of Lasagna, 1964)

'Let food be thy medicine' is now a watery 'Let food be thy fuel & forget the medicine part'

Sun Si Miao’s Oath ‘On the Absolute Sincerity of Great Physicians’  forms the 'TCM' Traditional Chinese Medicine oath

Like the Hippocratic Oath, it has been in use more than 1500 years  

Unlike the Hippocratic Oath, it has remained unchanged

Both ‘main ethical principles focus on compassion, justice, beneficence and humility’[1] yet we can see the Hippocratic Oath, alone, incorporating matters of commerce, contracts and the ethics of privacy[2] alongside health from its very beginning. 

'A Great Physician should not pay attention to status, wealth or age; neither should he question whether the particular person is attractive or unattractive, whether he is an enemy or friend, whether he is a Chinese or a foreigner, or finally, whether he is uneducated or educated
He should meet everyone on equal grounds
He should always act as if he were thinking of his close relatives'

---

[1] SY Tan, Singapore Medical Journal, 2002, Vol. 43 (5): 224-225

[2] www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/greek/greek_oath.html

Electrolytes

There is a layer of fat around every cell in our bodies that acts as a cell insulator. 

Sodium (Na+) & Calcium (Ca++) ions are typically found outside the cell, in the bloodstream. 

Potassium (K+) & Magnesium (Mg++) ions typically gather inside: 

After activation from magnesium inside the cell, a sodium-potassium pump in the cell wall moves 3 sodium ions out & 2 potassium ions in, removing one positive charge.  This creates a magnet-like effect that allows nutrients & other life giving materials into bodily cells.

We call these ions electrolytes and they act like a switch that turns on all human thought and motion including: temperature control; fluid levels; cardiac arrhythmia; respiratory rate; digestion; neurological function; senses & signals; memory; energy production; glucose metabolism …

Maintaining dietary sodium/potassium balance

Most sodium comes from consumption of sodium chloride, table salt, in our modern diet. 
The minimum requirement for the body to function properly is 500mg sodium per day with a recommended daily intake of 2.3gm, (1 gm sodium is equivalent to 2.5gm of salt).

Requirements increase when losses are high during menstruation, lactation & heavy sweating- hence mass marketed desire for electrolyte drinks associated with sport.

·        Health risks associated with excess sodium consumption include hypertension and increased risk of heart disease;

·        Obesity, low levels of physical activity and low intakes of potassium have greater effects on blood pressure than high sodium intakes;

·        Low calcium and magnesium intakes and a high ratio of saturated fats to n-3 polyunsaturated fats are also implicated.

·        

 Foods High in Potassium, Low in Sodium (when unprocessed) 

Avocado, apricot & other stone fruit	Banana	Beans as lentils, kidney beans, split peas	Dates, raisins & other dried fruits
Herbs &spices e.g. parsley and chilli : fresh or dried	Kale, spinach, lettuce and other green leafy vegetables	Fish such as cod, sardines, trout, tuna	Mushrooms : fresh or dried
Orange and other citrus fruits & juices	Melon, watermelon, apple, and other seeded fruits	Peanuts, walnuts and other nuts	Potato and sweet potato
Red and white meat	Soy beans, curd, milk	Tomato and tomato products	Yoghurt & low fat dairy (except cheese)

Food is our fuel

The cells in our bodies convert food into energy: 'ATP cycle'

C₆H₁₂O₆ (carbohydrates) + 6 O₂ (oxygen) = 6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O (water) + heat

which is almost the complete opposite of how nature creates the carbohydrate food we eat: 'photosynthesis'

6CO₂ + 6H₂O + sunlight = C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

 

* Note that these are highly simplified equations that acknowledge the organic recycling of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen elements on human livelihood.



Neither of these life bearing equations would be possible, however, without magnesium (Mg²⁺).  
Over 300 human enzymes require magnesium ions for their catalytic action: including ATP,  DNA & RNA.
In plants, magnesium is essential for photosynthesis.








The ideal ratio of calcium to magnesium is between 1:1 to 2:1 so if you’re getting say 800 mg calcium, you’d need 400 – 800 mg magnesium in your diet.
Inadequate magnesium allows calcium to dominate & harden cells & blood vessels; associated with muscle spasms, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, migraines, osteoporosis.

Think of magnesium as a softening, soothing, dietary agent. 
No surprise that tea is a great source of magnesium ... keep calm & drink tea