What is optimal health?

Overview

In the 1970s, a new movement called optimal health began to focus on attaining a condition of the greatest possible mental, physical, and spiritual wellness, rather than focus only on the treatment of disease after its appearance. As people came to better understand their ability to positively impact their own health, they became more proactive in their lifestyle choices. Greater emphasis was placed on body, mind, and spirit as an integrative whole, with the necessity for developing each to its fullest potential to achieve a healthy and whole person.

Mechanism of Action

Optimal health concentrates on fortifying physical, mental, and spiritual
well-being to the greatest extent attainable, so that a person may live the best
life possible. To assist the body in achieving its premier state of performance, a
person focuses on exercise, diet, nutrition, detoxification, cleansing, supplements, yoga,
massage, and sleep therapies. To facilitate maximum
intellectual acuity, a person employs reading, writing, puzzles, games, classes,
support groups, and social interaction. To become more in tune with the divine, to
be more spiritual, a person practices meditation, hypnosis, fasting, psychic
cleansing, aura healing, metaphysical retreats, soul rebirthing, and vision
quests.

Uses and Applications

Nutrition is a major factor of any optimal-health plan, and many specialized diets are used. Most feature little or no red meat and little or no poultry and fish, with an emphasis on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. All processed foods, which contain chemicals and preservatives, are avoided. Some diets advise strict vegetarian regimes, while others, like the vegan dietary model, allow no meat or dairy products. Rice, beans, legumes, fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, all cooked in olive oil, are essential in achieving optimal health. Drinking large amounts of either bottled or purified water is also necessary to flush harmful toxins from the body and to keep it adequately hydrated.

A minimum of eight hours of sleep each night is mandatory to keep the body
functioning at its peak, so supplements such as melatonin and valerian root
are often useful as sleep aids for insomnia. An exercise regime, especially
aerobic exercise like walking, cycling, or swimming, is indispensable for
maintaining the body’s strength and stamina. Yoga and massage are likewise highly
effective at reducing stress and furthering mobility.

Fasting and cleansing therapies, using detoxification and enemas
(principally coffee enemas), are useful in eliminating the build-up of chemicals
and free
radicals in the body’s digestive system. Various supplements,
such as green tea extract, calcium, fish oil, and vitamins C, B, D, and E, are
important in supplanting the body’s cardiovascular and immune systems.

Intellectual challenge and stimulation, particularly involving social activity,
are fundamental for mental sharpness and psychological well-being. Isolation
should be avoided at all costs; friends, family, and a social support network are
crucial elements of optimal health. Meditation, expanded consciousness, and
transcendental thinking encourage spiritual growth and foster purposeful
living.

Scientific Evidence

There have been no double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of optimal health,
because research would not be feasible. However, hundreds of studies have verified
that a vegetarian or vegan diet can slow or even reverse
heart disease; regular aerobic exercise and fish oil also
are extremely beneficial for cardiovascular health. Voluminous research shows the
importance of eight hours of sleep nightly, eight glasses of water daily, and
healthy social relationships. Double-blind studies have revealed no beneficial
results of coffee enemas; however, green tea has repeatedly been shown to
contain powerful immune-system-boosting antioxidants.

Choosing a Practitioner

In looking for an optimal-health practitioner, one should choose a licensed
medical physician, preferably a doctor specializing in integrative
medicine. An integrative medicine specialist will possess
advanced knowledge and training in administering and balancing the best of Western
and Eastern medicines. The American Medical Association is the preeminent source
for physician referrals.

Safety Issues

Women who are pregnant or persons taking prescription medications should take no supplements without first receiving approval from a licensed medical physician, because dangerous interactions between supplements and prescription drugs may occur, resulting in negative side effects or allergic reactions. All fasting and cleansing dietary plans should be examined cautiously to be certain that they include sufficient nutritional sustenance while purifying the body of toxins. Weight-loss plans, particularly, must be monitored closely to avoid potentially adverse ramifications, especially to the cardiovascular system.

Bibliography

Bushell, William, Erin Olivo, and Neil Theise. Longevity, Regeneration, and Optimal Health: Integrating Eastern and Western Perspectives. Hoboken, N.J.: New York Academy of Sciences, 2009.

Eden, Donna, and David Feinstein. Energy Medicine: Balancing Your Body’s Energies for Optimal Health, Joy, and Vitality. 2d ed. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, 2008.

Johnson, Duke. The Optimal Health Revolution: How Inflammation Is the Root Cause of the Biggest Killers and How the Cutting-Edge Science of Nutrigenomics Can Transform Your Long-Term Health. Dallas: BenBella Books, 2009.

Rau, Thomas, and Susan Wyler. The Swiss Secret to Optimal Health: Dr. Rau’s Diet for Whole Body Healing. New York: Berkley Publishing Group, 2009.

Weil, Andrew. Eight Weeks to Optimum Health: A Proven Program for Taking Full Advantage of Your Body’s Natural Healing Power. 2d ed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006.