There's a movement underway to tackle the illnesses responsible for 60 percent of deaths worldwide before that percentage climbs. It may be surprising to hear, but those illnesses aren't infectuous, yet they are killing 35 million people per year -- so many that the United Nations hosted a general assembly special summit on the illnesses and their social and economic impacts, especially in developing countries such as The Bahamas.
The worldwide killer is non-communicable diseases (NCD's), which can include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, chronic kidney disease and any disease which is not a direct result of infection from another. Though they may include hereditary diseases, scientists are finding out that your genes are not your fate and that these diseases can even be reversed.
Part of the movement to tackle NCDs with the promotion of a healthy, holistic lifestyle is the upcoming conference "Wholeness Lifestyle" on Sunday, October 2, where four panelists will outline healthy habits for mind, body and spirit in order to win the fight against NCDs.
"These are illnesses of lifestyle," says Dr. Norman Gay, director of The Bahamas Anti-Aging Institute. "These are illnesses that are preventable. Doctors are so busy treating people that there is no time to educate them about taking care of themselves. It's time to understand that our health is our own responsibility."
Dr. Gay who is a former minister of health, is one of a number of panelists for the conference. Making mindful changes to diet and becoming a conscious eater with few exposure to toxins, chemical and pesticides can greatly improve, and even reverse such diseases of lifestyle.
It's all about choices, says Alvira Higgs, whose experience with her own NCD and switch to a vegetarian diet opened her eyes up to the simple solution. "I should not be sitting here but I made a lifestyle choice," says Higgs, who shares her findings with people at her businesses (Healthy Lifestyle Center and Deli and Better Living Health Center) which promote healthy living. "We try to share with people how easy it is to maintain this lifestyle. We want to make sure education is the key, and how simple it is to change. It's hard for people to grasp that it can be reversed," says the naturopathic specialist."
Dr. Ronald Patterson, a practising gynecologist and medical researcher, will delve deeper into such issues, looking at the common denominator of inflammation in these diseases and how their effects can materialize in the body as NCDs.
"People will say they feel healthy, they eat three square meals a day and they have no aches. But when we look at them, they have the beginnings of NCDs," he says, sharing that lifestyle choices can build up to unbearable levels of stress in the body.
The medical professional encourages people to educate themselves not only about how to take care of their bodies through a proper diet, but also to educate themselves about environmental toxins which can also contribute to inflammation, and how to avoid them through choosing organic produce, growing their own produce, supporting local farmers and rallying the government to change the country's food security to encourage more locally-grown, organic produce for cheaper, healthier options.
"They say that knowledge is power," says Dr. Patterson. "Common knowledge tells us that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But if you look at recent FDA [United States Federal Department of Agriculture] lists of the most pesticide-laden vegetables and fruits, apples are at the top. These are challenges that need to be addressed. Most of us are affected because the world today is a lot more toxic than it ever was in the air we breathe and in the water we drink."
No focus on holistic health would be complete without addressing spiritual health and its link to happiness, which minister and Barak Music Center Pastor Devon Rolle will lead.
Rolle says the spiritual body must be as well as the physical body, and since the effects of worship and prayer can be seen in the body in the release of the happiness neurotransmitter dopamine, it can help people feel well mentally along with an excellent diet.
"I want to encourage Bahamians to come out to the event," he says. "There are too many people whose lives are being cut short by disease. A little bit of knowledge could have postponed that death."
The event will prove to be a valuable resource to Bahamians looking to make serious, life-saving changes to their routine. Hosted by Tanya Hanna with music by Paul Hanna, the "Wholeness Lifestyles" conference will begin at 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 2 at The Bahamas Nursing College (Grosvner's Close and Shirley Street). There will be a love offering of $25, the proceeds of which will go to Kingdom Outreach Initiative. For more information, contact lifestyletanya@gmail.com or call 242 323 5688.
* LIFESTYLE CHOICE: Panelists and organizers of the upcoming "Wholeness Lifestyle" which takes place on Sunday, October 2.
Pictured from left are Paul Hanna, co-founder for Wholeness Lifestyle, who will provide wholeness music for the event; Dr. Alvira Higgs, naturopathic specialist, and founder of Healthy Lifestyle; Dr. Norman Gay, former minister of health, director of The Bahamas Anti-Aging Medicine Institute (BAAM) and president of Bahamas Anti-Aging Medical Institute (BAAMI); Tanya Hanna, co-founder and host for Wholeness Lifestyle and member of (BAAM); Minister Devon Rolle, pastor of Kingdom Discipleship Center and president of BARAK School of Music; and Dr. Ronald Patterson, OB/GYN, Advance Fertility & Gynecology Services and treasurer, BAAM.
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