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My Health tips on how I managed to recover from double spinal surgery and living with a Tumor for over 10years

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Karate days - Surgery - Recovery - 14 months after surgery - This is the damage surgery did to my body - The last photo was only 14months after surgery. Through hard work, good diet, physio, exercise, self management and mind training I got my life back. I lost 3 stone of muscle during hospital.






















In this section I am going to share what I do on a daily basis to help my body recover from surgery and life with a Tumor. I am going to tell you what I do to recover from training and what I believe to be the combination of vital ingredients to my recovery.
By including these into your lifestyle, wither it is for weight loss, increased fitness, more energy, sporting improvement, recovery or preparing for surgery all these small things will help massively. It is a combination of self management techniques that I have learned during my recovery journey that  I want to share and hopefully help you.
 
The following is what I have learned during my journey and what I use daily to help my recovery and performance:

Gluthathione

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Glutathione the most important antioxidant in your body:
My bodies cells must have been put under so much stress over the years with my tumor growing  and living off me for over 10 years, and then all the surgery and recovery I am surprised I have any left. This is why am so passionate about this subject, as when you have lived and gone through this, it gives you a new perspective on life. I want to share all my research that I have done on how I can repair my body at the route of the problem. My cells. I am doing everything possible to regenerate my cells and neural system and I have read through 100s of medical journals and found this information. Dont wait till your unwell to cure your cells, PREVENT the damage in the first place.
Our aging bodies and how we can stay healthy and fight disease comes down to a molecule most of us have never heard of, this is called Glutathione. This molecule is the most important molecule you need to stay healthy and prevent disease. It is the king of all antioxidants and is native to the body, which means our bodies produce it. Having high levels of glutathione is critical to recovery from nearly all chronic illness and prevention of disease. It also aids in optimal health and performance of your body. 
 There are more than 90,000 medical articles on glutathione and its role within our body.

However as we age our levels drop at a rate of 10-15% a decade. This drop in glutathione is caused by oxidative stress. There is evidence showing a correlation between high levels of oxidative stress and tumour progression. Further studies show that people who suffer from illness such as chronic fatigue, heart disase, cancers, autoimmune disease, diabetes, autism, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, arthritis, asthma, kidney problems, liver disease and more all show glutathione deficiency. Glutathione becomes depleted and we can no longer protect ourselves against free radicals, infections, or cancer and we can't get rid of toxins. This leads to further sickness and soon we are in the downward spiral of chronic illness

What is Glutathione?
Glutathione is a very simple molecule that is produced naturally all the time in your body. 
The secret of its power is the sulfur chemical groups it contains. Sulfur is a sticky molecule and it causes free radicals and toxins to stick to it and it then carries them out of the body making it an integral part of the detoxification system. Ultimately glutathione is the cell defender and protects every cell in the human body. It also helps us reach peak mental and physical function. Research has shown that raised glutathione levels decrease muscle damage, reduce recovery time, increase strength and endurance and shift metabolism from fat production to muscle development

Normally glutathione is recycled in the body - except when the toxic load becomes too great. This is where we suffer, as there is so many toxins in our daily life and our levels of oxidative stress are increasing.  This increase causes impaired gene function and more importantly the GSTM1 gene, which is one of the most important genes needed in the process of creating and recycling glutathione in the body can be found to not even function in people who have high levels of oxidative stress. Studies show people who suffer from a variety of diseases are missing this gene, thus their levels of glutathione are very low. Without glutathione cells just can’t fight the free radicals inside them and the cells degenerate and eventually die leading to more illness. 

Boosting your performance, preventing disease and aging all relies on keeping your glutathione levels high.



So what is oxidative stress?  

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Signs of oxidative stress
Mitochondrial oxidative stress has long been implicated in normal aging, and a host of human diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. In support of this idea, vegetarians, who consume a diet rich in anti-oxidants, have reduced rates of cancer incidence, have longer life expectancies, and suffer less from dementia 

Our Mitochondria within our cells are responsible for energy production. During what is knowing as the Krebs cycle metabolite molecules are produced during this process of ATP production. ATP is the fuel of the body. These metabolites that are produced are knowing as Reactive Oxygen species and Reduction Species. These are also knowing as Redox signalling molecules and what were once thought of as only bad bio-products of metabolism are now knowing to be of great benefit in cellular health if they are balanced. This is the fastest growing field in medical biology and there are over 7000 abstracts in Pubmed which is growing daily. Redox signalling is becoming the most researched and talked about discovery in the medical world.




How Redox signaling works

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This redox signalling effect from energy metabolism has beneficial effects on the immune system and the cells of our body. The danger is when there is an overindulgence of reactive oxygen speices producing high levels of proxidants and free radicals. These free radicals are what cause our cells to degenerate. If the mitochondria have become damaged then cells won’t work effectively. The imbalance of redox signalling molecules can be caused by the health of our system and the environment around us. If we start to produce more Reactive oxygen species then free radicals such as Hydroxial increase in the cells causing havoc and leading to oxidative stress. Free radicals are reactive compounds that are naturally produced in the human body. They can exert positive effects (e.g. on the immune system) or negative effects (e.g. lipids, proteins or DNA oxidation). It is the imbalance of free radical production and antioxidant defence that leads to Oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress induces a cellular redox imbalance which has been found to be present in various cancer cells compared with normal cells.
Combating this imbalance is the redox signalling molecule reduction species; this messenger molecule is what releases glutathione in the cells which neutralise the free radicals. This allows the antioxidants to work effectively and keeping a homeostasis level in our bodies. It is a constant battle and in today’s world we are exposed so much to oxidative stress it is so important we address this redox signalling balance.

Oxidative stress can come from the following factors in our life: 
  • Stress
  • Prescription drugs
  • Excessive or no exercise
  • Negative mental attitude
  • Radiation
  • Ultraviolent light / radiation exposure
  • lack of  good nutrition
  • Pollution 

There is over 100 sextillion free radicals created in our bodies every day, this leads to lots of cell damage and an ever growing need for antioxidants like glutathione. A redox homeostasis promotes cell regeneration by neutralising reactive oxygen species; this is done by the functions of glutathione.

 Imagine if you cut an apple open and leave it, the accumulation of oxygen kills the apple. 
4% of the oxygen we breath in converts to free radicals so you can see the damage we are doing to our bodies living a toxic lifestyle, of which many of the stimuli’s cannot be avoided. This is what would happen to your cells without redox signalling molecules. 
Our bodies’ cells make Redox signalling molecules all the time and as we age these drop due to the exposure of oxidative stresses and our cells cannot regenerate, all health issues relate back to our cells. 

A simple PubMed search reveals that nearly 9,000 articles have been published linking oxidative stress with cancer pathogenesis. Thus, it is surprising that anti-oxidants are not routinely used as a component of cancer therapy and prevention.
 This is what makes glutathione so important.  
 

The damage oxidative stress can cause to our bodies

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The world we live in causes stress to our bodies, this comes in the form of oxidative stress free radicals inside the body, these free radicals cause damage to our cells and cause havoc inside the body. We can fight them with antioxidants. Any stress on the body even that of exercise causes damage, oxidative stress from exercise is harmful to our health, so it is very important to have high levels of anti oxidants going through and into the body. Especially after surgery where you are exposed to many drugs and high stress on the body. Your cells have gone through massive shock and need regenerating. So getting these antioxidants in is crucial. 
This is where Juicing and blending come in and being smart about how you Hydrate. Eating a high raw food diet combined with a healthy balance of meat and fish and supplementing my diet with natural organic aids is what I have found worked well for me. The most important part of my nutrition now comes from keeping it clean and juicing every day with key focus on hydration and antioxidant intake.
The importance of a balanced diet is so crucial to the body and mind if it is to function at its highest level, and even more important if you’re recovering or preparing for surgery. How you prepare can have so many positive effects on your recovery. 
 I am going give you a quick insight into how important nutrition and what we put in our body is so important if you want a healthy life. 

Facts about Reactive Molecules: 

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• Antioxidants are incapable of fighting free radicals without the help of reactive molecules.
• The reactive molecules in ASEA are produced by a complex proprietary electrochemical process that reduces and oxidizes the base saline solution, resulting in an equilibrium of several known reactive molecules.
• These reactive molecules are the same as those that are naturally produced inside of living cells and have been successfully measured over the last 30 years by the use of certain fluorescent dyes that act as indicators.
• Verification of the reactive molecules in ASEA is done regularly by utilizing three of these same standard fluorescent indicators, namely R-phycoerythrin (RPE), aminophenyl fluorescein (APF) and hydroxyphenyl fluorescein (HPF). 
 

Combating oxidative stress - 

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Recently a friend of mine told me the importance of Glutathione in the body and as it is native to our bodies and is our strongest defense against oxidative stress, I began my research in hope that I would find maybe answers to why my tumor formed in the first place, but more importantly how I could reduce the risks of it coming back, and ultimately rebuild my body from a cellular level back into one of a fighting fit athlete. I am aware of the damage done inside my body and want to fix that, and that has led me to hours and hours of research.

Redox signalling molecules are formed within every cell of the body and  our  immune system and  cellular healing mechanisms depend on them for their effective functioning. A normal proper supply of Redox Signaling molecules means efficient cellular healing as damaged cells are either repaired or replaced by new, life-giving functional cells. The molecules also ensure our cells are protected too. 
 If you didn’t have redox signaling molecules, you’d die within seconds, that’s how important they are!
Another important thing to mention regarding Redox Signaling is that with age, we  have fewer and fewer of these molecules. In fact, after the age of 12, the cells’s production of Redox molecules decreases and as they are key to cellular health, the older we get, the more difficult it is to heal and repair.This is why most children usually have endless amounts of energy and heal relatively quickly, whereas older adults tend to take things more slowly and it can be more difficult to recover from illness and injury. It took 16 years of research and 3 years to stabilise the molecules in salt water. This is the first time in history there has been a substance with a 0% inflammation response PLUS a protective response of boosting antioxidants
 This is a new level of science that has never before been seen in biology, food science, sports science, etc. 
There is lot of studies on this subject and if your interested this link will take you to them  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=redoox%20signaling 

So what is ASEA and its benefits -   That IS the most important health science breakthrough of the last 100 years. 

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ASEA  is salt water (sodium chloride and water) that has been electrolyzed by a highly unique process. Sodium chloride is split into sodium and chlorine and water is split into hydrogen and oxgyen. So what do we then have? We have 4 atoms - sodium, chlorine, hydrogen and oxygen. Those 4 atoms are then rebuilt into exactly 16 molecules. 
 8 of these molecules are REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES (ROS) and 8 of these molecules are REDUCED SPECIES (RS)
 The ROS include molecules such as h2o2 (hydrogen peroxide), o3 (ozone), various chlorine derivatives and others. The RS molecules include various molecules as well. The ROS are positively charged oxidizers and the RS are negatively charged. 
 Normally, h2o2, o3, etc... can be toxic but in this balanced form, it happens to be the only 100% non toxic substance tested in history that has zero LD50 (toxicity test) reaction. This means there is no inflammatory reaction from this no matter how much is used while simultaneously stimulating a protective mechanism (boosting endogenous antioxidants). 


Want to learn more -  http://www.amazingmolecules.com/asea/

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Studies find that after drinking ASEA for one week, athletes experienced a shift in 43 metabolites
Salt Lake City, Utah — ASEA, LLC announces the release of groundbreaking findings at the Experimental Biology 2012 Conference in San Diego of a new study from the Human Performance Laboratory showing increased power output and endurance among competitive athletes. 

Even if your not an athlete, we should all think of our bodies in that way. Our bodies are made to work and we should treat them like temples if they are to work effectively and trust me after you have been through surgery and your body feels toxic and weak, you will look into every way possible to treat it well and keep it toxic free. Before you worry about how you look on the outside, you should take care of what is in the inside, and your cells are the key to healthy living, looking great and feeling amazing. So treat your cells right and everything else will take care of its self.  

Sports Science review -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLUodURMDv4  

• Is the only stable perfectly balanced mixture of reactive molecules that exist outside of the body. 
• Is based on more than 16 years of research, making it a safe and natural way to help your body function as it should.
• Native to the body and consistent with its natural chemical balance.
• Increases the effectiveness of the body’s most important natural antioxidants by over 500%.
• Supports immune system functions that reduce oxidative stress and repair cellular damage.
• Accelerates the body’ production of its own natural antioxidants, like glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase.
• Is the only product that delivers the balanced foundation that every person must have to allow their body and immune system to function at its optimal level.
• Simply contains the raw materials that our body and our immune system need to help support our overall health and wellbeing.
 Another interesting link to cell degenerating and disease that asea can combat is something knowing as Telomeres, these have no genetic function; they are simply stretches of DNA (repeats of base pairs) that protect the rest of the chromosome. These little bits of DNA are critical to healthy cell function and have been likened to the plastic tips on shoelaces because they prevent the chromosome from “fraying.”
However, telomeres become progressively shorter each time the cell divides. When they get too short, cells reach replicative senescence and can no longer divide.  There is studies linking this shortening to several health related issues.





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http://www.facebook.com/TeamASEAUK
Clinical Studies have shown:
• Safe for ingestion and exhibits zero toxicity, based on standard safety biomarkers.
• Athletic endurance, as measured by time to ventilatory threshold and time to VO2max , is significantly increased by more than 10% on average.
• Helps speed recovery after athletic exertion.

 Claims Supported by Research Institutions:

•  Increases antioxidant efficiency of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) inside living cells more than 500%.
•  significantly stimulates the production of the master antioxidants inside the cells without causing an inflammatory response.
•  significantly increases the efficiency of communication signals between cells, those involved in cell damage detection, cell repair, and cell replacement. 

Hydrogen water sticks:  The Power of Hydrogen and its effects on the body

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Hydrogen water sticks :Dr. H. Hayashi, a Cardiovascular Surgeon from Japan, has developed a hydrogen producing mineral stick, more commonly referred to as the Hydrogen Rich Water Stick. The Hydrogen Rich Water Sticks are backed by 25 years of clinical research and a patented delivery system  Hydroxyl is the most dangerous free radical molecule in the body caused by oxidative stress. Active Hydrogen is the most effective scavenger of free radicals and thus something that you should look very closely at and consider. Dr. Hidemitsu Hayashi Active hydrogen stick is the most effective anti-oxidant/free-radical scavenger known, and the only byproduct of the reaction is water. free-radicals are responsible for causing aging, DNA damage, and disease. While hydrogen is a superior anti-oxidant, it is also literally the fuel that powers the body.The chemical-engine that powers human cells is called ATP (adenosine triphosphate), and ATP is fueled by hydrogen. Research has shown that most diseases can only form in overly acidic conditions! Alkaline water can assist the body in dealing with these overly acidic conditions. (Hydrogen-rich water prevents the acidity from forming in the first place. Hydrogen Stick Performance:
One Stick - Outperforms ionizer machines.
Two Sticks - Provides dietary hydrogen as though eating a raw food diet.
Three Sticks - Disease Remediation. Maximum hydrogen water can hold.
If your serious about your health and performance then investing in Hydrogen sticks and using them in a glass bottle is something you should be doing. Stop putting more toxins in your body with all these sports drinks made of sugar and toxins and choose non toxic natural methods of hydration. 

Hydrogen-Rich Water is enhancing Athletic capabilities, and is the best Athletic Water available. Athletes find hydrogen-rich water to be the best energy drink for steady energy and no crash. Hydrogen plays a crucial role in the mitochondria making ATP for all your energy needs.
in 1978 Dr. Peter Mitchell was awarded the Nobel Prize for this theory "chemiosmosis" which explains how hydrogen is used to make ATP 

Lots of information about Hydrogen and its sporting benefits can be found here http://www.livingwaterusa.com/ http://www.medicalgasresearch.com/content/2/1/12/abstract 

More on Hydrogen - Click on diagram to enlarge and see how the Hydrogen cycle works

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CLICK TO ENLARGE
When DNA is damaged by reactive oxygen species, it is repaired by enzymes. 8-OHdG is produced during this process, transported through blood stream, and excreted in urine. Studies observed the degree of DNA damage by measuring the amount of this substance excreted in urine (the rate of production).
* The formal name of 8-OHdG is 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine,which is a marker of oxidative damage to DNA
Studies show that the consumption of hydrogen-containing water before
exercise reduces the level of 8-OHdG excreted in urine by 20% compared with consumption of ordinary water before exercise. In other words, consumption of hydrogen-containing water before exercise reduces DNA damage caused by  reactive oxygen (hydroxyl radical). This means that hydrogen-containing water can be used by athletes to reduce DNA damage and physical fatigue caused by bodily stress due to harsh training, games, or competitions under extreme situations. hydrogen-containing water H4O before exercise reduces the excretion of 8-OHdG per hour (the rate of production) 

  • Detoxifies your entire body                 
  • Builds younger looking skin
  • Helps heal ulcers and sores
  • Provides stronger & thicker hair
  • Aids in reducing blood pressure
  • Slows free radical body damage
  • Aids in lowering cholesterol levels
  • Helps the body flush heavy metals

Hydrogen the strongest antioxidant 

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Click to enlarge
It has been theorized that some of the excellent health and longevity exhibited by high mountain peoples (Villacambas, Hunzas) may be in part due to their ingestion of this hydrogen laden water (as well as to their primitive diet of unprocessed foods). 
 In the absence of an adequate supply of hydrogen ions, intracellular function, intercellular communication and energy production are inhibited. Toxins and free radicals accumulate causing health deterioration. Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, the Nobel Prize winner in physiology, explains it best: “No electron moves in the living system unless it is accompanied by hydrogen.” 
High levels of free radicals are a major cause of aging, contributing to many acute and chronic diseases as well. A free radical is a toxic compound that has lost a negative charge by giving up an electron, and is produced in the body as a by-product of metabolism. Free radicals, therefore, carry unpaired charges and are extremely unstable. They are capable of attracting an electron away from a vital cellular site, such as electron rich DNA. The human body is deficient in hydrogen a lot of the time.  Because of this, the body will endure significant amounts of free radical damage.
 

More benefits of Hydrogen

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Two years after surgery - Boxing training
  • Improvement of allergies & asthma
  • Aids in increasing blood circulation
  • Aids in lowering saturated fat levels
  • Stabilizes health & supports healing
  • Improvement of peripheral circulation
  • Aids in reducing cellulite and wrinkles
  • Improves memory in aged individuals
  • Hydrates you six times more than ordinary water
  • Supports proper pH by reducing acidic conditions
  • Improvement of chronic constipation & diarrhea
  • Improvement of blood glucose & hba1c levels in diabetes mellitus

Training - Recovery - Adaptations

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Make sure you get enough good sleep
Exercise is Important, but it is a stress on the body, so we need to be smart and make sure we are doing all we can to recover. This is doing everything right and looking at all the small details and asking yourself the question, will this make me recovery and better?
Sleep is a key area of recovery and probably the most important area. If your not getting enough sleep your body just cant repair and adapt. During sleep your body repairs itself from the daily stresses in our days. Having a good sleep hygiene is crucial to maintaining great health. You should have a pre sleep routine that starts your mind and body to unwind and relax, this is a great time to meditate. Pay attention to what your putting in your body during the last few hours of the night before you go to sleep. Try not to expose your mind and body to high stimuli. This is a period of relaxation and for your body to release the correct hormones to allow your body to recover and adapt in time for the next day it must be in the right place going to sleep. During the first 20min of sleep your body releases Growth hormone. This is a crucial part in the recovery phase.

Recovery is as important as exercise - Nutrition - Sleep - Relaxation - Hydration

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Training and adaptation model
Soviet sports scientist N. Yakovlev's model of training and adaptation. After a workout, there is a recovery period followed by a period of super-compensation. The optimum time for the next workout is at the peak of super-compensation. Too early, and the body is still recovering. Too late and the benefits of the last workout are lost. The intensity of the workout must also be adjusted to achieve optimum training effect indicated by the blue curve. The recovery period will also depend on factors such as nutrition, hydration, and amount of sleep  If we train too hard for our current conditioning and recovery rate, we head ourselves into deepening fatigue and ultimately to breakdown. If we don’t train hard enough, we obtain too little benefit. The right intensity of training allows us to recover fully, and then to enter a period of super-compensation. If we train again at the maximum of super-compensation, we gain the greatest training effect. If we wait too long, we lose the benefit of what we did before 

Things to think about when asking yourself are you doing everything possible to be performing at a 100%

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This is what is called factors of performance and is used throughout sports coaching and management. 
You can adapt it to any part of life though. If your performance goal is weight loss, new job, 10k, Holiday, health changes, or a marathon this model can be used. I used it with some of the young skiers I worked with after they raced. We would sit down and look at all the performance factors and ask each one if they did the most in regards to each factor for their race.

How this can work for you?
Look at the diagram here and just think of your goal as the performance area, then look around at all the factors and ask yourself a simple question of, am I doing everything possible to reach my performance goal in regards to each area. Are these factors working for me? or against me?
You can try making your own factors to performance guide on paper. Put your goal in the middle and work around it with all the areas of your life that can have a positive or negative effect on it and then focus on each area to reach your goals. Remember leave no stone uncovered 

Objective planning - We don't just achieve things by chance - We must work for them.

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Click to enlarge - My first week out of hospital
Just before leaving hospital my surgeon told me to make a plan of each day with a list of objectives and stick to it. This was so important as after a month in hospital it would be easy to go home and just lay in bed and sofa watching TV. I new those weeks were going to be so crucial in my over all rehab so I sat down and made a plan. The weekly outline can be seen here. I stuck to it fully and it showed to me how important structure is in your life. Without any clear structure your mind wonders and your body follows. This can be true in anything we do. Make a plan and adapt it as you go along, but stick with it.
Everything I did in those early days was a massive challenge. It took me one hour to have a shower and get ready for my day with my heart reaching 140bpm.
I know now that making this plan along with a list of goals for each day on the back of it that I wanted to reach that day has been my solid foundation into recovery and high performance sport. It is important you build a strong foundation, much like a house has to have strong foundations to have a strong structure. I like to think of a tree. First it develops its roots, then its core before branches and lastly the fruits grow. Not one part is rushed and it can take years. This is how you should approach your goals. Wither they be Health, sport, weight loss, work etc.

NUTRITION: 

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Amino Acids: These are the building blocks of protein. Protein is needed by every living organism, and next to water makes up the largest portion of our body weight. Amino acids are used in most body processes and are responsible for many crucial functions in the mind and body. There are 28 of them with the liver manufacturing 80% and the other 20% must come from diet. It is very important to your health for them to be all present in your body as they function to aid in, nervous system, brain function, muscle recovery, immune support, hormone secretion such as Growth hormone and insulin, Skin and energy levels. Some of them also act in a antioxidant manner in removing ammonia in the body that is produced from protein synthesizes. 

Vitamins: Vitamins are separated as fat soluble and water soluble. Each vitamin plays a key role in bodily functions and are key to a healthy life. The fat soluble vitamins are A,D,E,K. They are responsible for general health, and daily repair of cells. Over doing on these vitamins can be dangerous as the body does store them and they can be toxic in excess. On the same hand if your diet is poor you will be deficient in them. 
Water soluble ones are all B vitamins and vitamin C. They are easily destroyed in cooking and storage; also they are secreted in our urine, making it important to be replaced every day. With vitamin intake it is crucial to have a varied and balanced diet and avoid junk food.

Minerals: Minerals are responsible for so many key roles in our body, from muscle contraction, building new tissue, nerve system function, immune system, energy functions and regulate your bodies PH.   

SELF MANAGEMENT:

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Skin Brushing: 
This is one area of my recovery that has played a key role in nerve function. I skin brush everyday and it is really helping areas of my body that were numb from surgery. Using the dry skin brush will help your circulation, strengthening the immune system, stimulate the nervous system, tone the muscles and improve digestion. Using the skin brush will help stimulate the nerves and increase blood flow to the area your brushing, this is great for the removal of toxins. Skin brushing will increase the body’s ability to clear the Lymph system and increase blood flow; this will improve your skin and have a great impact on your general health. 
  •  Stimulates blood and lymph flow. 
  •  Removes dead skin cells. 
  •  Stimulates the hormone and oil glands. 
  •  Reduces cellulite
  •  Strengthens the immune system. 
  •  Stimulates the nervous system, tones the muscles, tightens the skin.    Nurtures your body. 

Coconut oil: Knowing as the Tree of Life 

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Coconut oil has not only nutrient benefits but if applied to the skin has tremendous benefits for general health. It is used in medicine and many products around the world; it is also great for cooking with and is the only oil that won’t become toxic during the heating process of cooking unlike other cooking oils. Applying coconut oil to your skin has antioxidant properties and is great for your skin and hair. It is probably the best moisturiser you can use as it does not contain chemicals like most skin care products. I have recently started drinking coconut water for its hydration benefits, so combing all the coconut products into my daily regime has had a tremendous benefit in my overall health. These two links provide great reading on this amazing tree of life.

http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html

http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/


Massage:

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 I try to get a massage once a month, the benefits of massage are all similar to skin brushing and it has a real great benefit on the mind as well as the body. It is a chance for you to just switch off and let someone else help in your recovery. After surgery I made a decision to do whatever I could to be healthy. I asked myself one question. “Is this going to make be healthier” If the answer was no, I don’t do it, and if the answer is yes, I embrace it. Even though this can be a costly process I cannot stress the benefits it has for mind and body. Followed by a nice cup of herbal tea. It also helps take the tension out of the muscles and the nerves. I go to a spa and get 90min full body massage and always feel great when I come out. I would recommend this for everyday general health but it has a real positive effect on my recovery. Check with your doctor if you are out of surgery that massage is ok for you, all massage facilities should have you fill out a pre massage medical form to make sure you are ok to receive massage treatment 

Meditation and visualization:  

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I began using this before surgery to visualize surgery going well, but it really came into its own during my recovery. I would visualize me walking, running, lifting weights and rowing. There is lots of evidence showing the power of visualization and its effects on both the mind and the body. I would lie in my hospital bed and do sessions throughout the day, especially of my left arm moving and my legs working. This all helped and I continue to use this in everyday life. The whole body is linked with the brain and the nervous system and the more effective we become at making these systems all work together then the better our body will function. Meditation was something I did a lot of in karate, we would use it to prepare the mind and body for sessions and also to return and recover them after training. Every session would start with a form of meditation so the body was prepared to train. I used it during my recovery to help my mind and body relax after the stress of rehab. During recovery my mind and body were subject to high levels of stress, trying to get healthy again and learn how to live, but also trying to make it back onto the team. This is all stress, and I would try and meditate throughout the day and sometimes during training/rehab. It was me trying to find my flow, so my body and mind would work in sync without me over thinking or stressing. This was hard in rehab as you always have days where you’re knocked back completely and you feel like giving up. It was those days that meditation and re centring your body and mind was crucial.  Give it ago, set aside 10 minutes in the morning to prepare your mind and body for the day and then again before bed at night to help calm the body and mind for sleeping. I like to light some candles and go through a stretching routine which finished with me meditating for 10 minutes. Start with even just 5. Just close your eyes and try to free your mind of all thoughts and stresses. It is worth getting some books or even on you tube, you can find some links that will talk you through 

It is all about creating a balance between body and mind and maintaining calmness. Think of your body and mind as a still lake, if someone drops a stone in, it will cause a ripple. Think of all the stresses in our life as stones, and we end up with lots of ripples and eventually the water becomes very rough. This is similar to what happens in our body. So by trying to calm our body and mind, we reduce the damages of the stones and keep a flat calm water lake state within our body.  We are ultimately trying to achieve a mind body link of total relaxation and calmness. The effect this us on our health is unreal and you will notice a massive difference in your health by using these two techniques in your daily life. 
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JKA Karate sensei and students using meditation to prepare for training so the mind is calm and ready to learn, then to recover from training to return the body to a calm state as in the lake

Hydration:  Himalayan salts 

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Himalayan salts are something I would greatly recommend you include in your diet and also bathing in them.
I have been using them in my recovery and training as a way of staying hydrated. It is something I felt the benefit of right away and is far more better than using sports drinks that are full of chemicals to keep you hydrated. These salts will provide all you need to stay hydrated and keep your body away from chemicals and pollution. 
This pink salt from the Himalayan Mountains, which is over 250 million years old, is as pure as the ancient primal oceans and contains all the minerals and trace elements essential to human life. The elements trapped within the Himalayan pink salt are particles small enough to be able to be absorbed by the human cells. Himalayan Crystal Salt supplies us with a truly ancient ocean of energy and regenerates our body on all levels. There are 84 minerals in this salt. Minerals are the foundation nutrient for the entire body, every process in the body requires minerals, thus the 84minerals in these salts are one of the greatest ways of keeping the body hydrates and functioning on a high level. 
 These salts promote a stable PH level in the body acting as an alkaline, aid in absorption of food, prevent muscle cramps, support cellular function and keep the body fully hydrated. Himalayan pink salt is natural, the cleanest salt available, and has wonderful healing properties. Evidence shows this salt has life generating powers for the body and nervous system. Salts that are typically used in our diet are full of pollution and are stripped of their minerals and should be avoided and replaced with the Himalayan pink salt. 
Coconut water: Coconut water is great for hydration levels due to its high level of minerals, I try to drink it most mornings or during the day and before bed. I also add this to some of my blends and juices. Spinach, coconut water, berries and a banana is a perfect energy drink and far better for you than your bottled sports drinks full of chemicals.  


Yoga

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 This is something I started whilst in Mexico and found an instant benefit from, it really helped my nervous system and my posture, both of these were severely damaged from surgery. Yoga is something I have kept in my regime and I go through routines daily. It has really helped in my recovery and I am moving more freely with better posture. It has been great for my flexibility which has had such a positive effect on my recovery. Yoga is great for a mind body connection and like karate, teaches you how to combine mind and body. It has ancient theories on posture, breathing and meditation and the health benefits it can have on your body. It teaches an awareness of both mind and body and how we move, breath and hold our posture. The improvements in flexibility allow your body to function more effectively and it has great benefits on combating stress. The health benefits of yoga are vast, and I would recommend finding a good teacher and learning this art. The areas of benefit from yoga are physiological, psychological, biochemical.

Pilates:

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 I used the reformer in lots of my rehab training and continue to use this piece of equipment on a weekly basis. I have a set routine for upper body, lower body and core control. This type of exercise is all about control and breathing. I have found massive gains in recovery and sporting performance from this exercise. The health benefits from this type of training are similar to yoga.
I have found I have greater posture and control of my movements as it requires you to produce very exact movement patterns with total control. It is easy to just muscle the movements, but to find that control and flow of movement is very difficult, but when you do it  has a great transfer to sports performance and everyday health. This is a great way to exercise and I took some classes in Mexico that were pretty intense Aerobic workouts, so it can be lots of fun at the same time as challenging your body. The great thing about this training is it really requires you to concentrate on your postural control and breathing, something that is lost in everyday living with our lifestyles, so this is a great way to re-educate the mind and body on how it should move and function. I cant stress how vauable this has been in my recovery and as an 

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Pilates reformer - I spent many long days in here during my rehab, It was a key ingredient in my recovery. A world class facility and a top support chain of medical EIS staff
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Pilates room
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Using the Pilates reformer for upper body control and strength work

Juicing - Blending - Greens - Manuka Honey and much more

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This is something I tried years ago, but it was messy and lots of work, not today, juicers and blenders are much more easier to use and clean.
I started back on this as part of my daily routine about one year after surgery and i wished I had started before going into hospital as the differences I have noticed in my health, energy levels and skin are amazing. I have a daily routine which is as follows:
  • Breakfast mix - 1 scoop of mega greens, 1 scoop of wheatgrass,1 sccop of  maca powder, and 1 scoop of Spirulina
  • Through out the day I stay hydrated with coconut water and Himalayan salts
  • When I come home from training again I repeat the Breakfast mix again
  • During my cooking of dinner, I will add Gogi berries, Co - enzyme Q10, nuts and seeds, and Flaxseeds
  • Then before bed I repeat the mix of  1 scoop of mega greens, 1 scoop of wheatgrass,1 sccop of  maca powder, and 1 scoop of Spirulina 
  • I also use manuka honey as it is very high in antioxidant. I have a hot cup of this honey right before bed. If you can take 3 cups a day that would be perfect. 
  • Each day I will make a juice or a blend, this combines a mix of fruits, veg and greens. This depends on how I feel but there is so many recipes out there, Just look on you tube and you will get instant ideas. It takes no time at all and I promise you will notice the difference, and they taste better than anything you can buy. Make your own drinks!

It is important to remember, your body will only function as well as you fuel it, and in today's world where most things are acid based, and we want our body to be in an alkaline state to be at its healthiest, it is crucial that you plan what you put in your body if you want maximum health, and for it to look and function optimally.
 There is some good information out there on this kind of approach to your diet and lots of medical studies on its preventative effects of diseases. I have certainly felt the effects in my rehab when my diet is full of fresh food and water. keeping our body fighting against free radical damage and oxidative stress is key and high antioxidants are key, and this kind of diet is rich in antioxidants.
 Hydrogen Ionized water sticks are something that is worth looking into, this area has gathered lots of research and has some good studies backing the benefits to our health and curing illness.  
By keeping our cells in the body hydrated and knowing that  hydrogen water is one of the most effective ways of getting antioxidants into the body, and enhances the green drinks you take, it is defiantly worth looking at the hydrogen water sticks. They can be combined with Himalayan salts for added benefit and you can see instantly the benefits of taking on board pure hydrogen water.


So avoid acid type foods, stay as clean as possible, if you aim for 80% coming from clean Alkaline foods you will notice a huge difference in health, performance and if your looking to loose weight, stay away from all these fad fast diets, and aim to exercise for no less than 3 hours a week, eat clean foods, and your on the right road.
There is lots of information out there, so get learning and enjoy a healthy, full of energy life today and don't wait till you have to make the change due to illness.

GREAT THINGS TO JUICE AND BLEND:
This is a list of what I put through my juicer on a weekly basis and I certainly feel a massive difference. I have put a list of fruits and Veg that you can use and the vitamin and minerals found in each. You can experiment with recipes and find what you like, I try all sorts of mixes and then add coconut water to them all so they last longer. You can make your juice up the night before and use as a breakfast tool for those of you who skip breakfast if your in a rush, you could add oats to your blends and have a fruit/oat smoothie. 

Fruits:
  • Apples - Vitamins: A,B1,B2,B6,C -  minerals: calcium, chlorine, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, iron 
  • Apricots - Vitamins: B,C bet-carotene -  Minerals: Sodium, potassium,  magnesium,iron, calcium, silicon,boron
  • Banana -  Vitamins: B,C, beta-carotene, folic acid - Minerals: Potassium, magnesium, calcium, silicon
  • Blueberries - Vitamins: B1,B2,B6,C,beta-carotene, folic acid - Minerals: calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc
  • Blackcurrant - Vitamins: C, beta-carotene - Minerals: Potassium, calcium,magnesium, phosphorus
  • Cherry - Vitamins: B,C,beta-carotene - Minerals: Calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, copper, silicon
  • Cranberry - Vitamins: B,C,beta-carotene, folic acid - Minerals: iodine, calcium, chlorine, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium
  • Grapefruit - Vitamins: C,beta-carotene - Minerals: calcium, potassium
  • Grapes -  Vitamins: B,C,E,beta-carotene - Minerals: iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium
  • Kiwi - Vitamins:  C,E,beta - carotene - Minerals: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium
  • Lemon/lime - Vitamins: C, beta - carotene - Minerals: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium
  • Mango -  Vitamins: B,C,beta-carotene - Minerals: calcium, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, iron
  • Melon - Vitamins: A,C, folic acid - Minerals: calcium, zinc, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus
  • Nectarines - Vitamins: B1,B2,B3,B5,B6,beta-carotene,folic acid - Minerals: calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, potassium, copper
  • Oranges - Vitamins: A,B6,C,beta-carotene,folic acid - Minerals: calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, copper
  • Papaya - Vitamins: C,beta-carotene - Minerals: calcium, magnesium also contains protedytic enzymes
  • Peaches - Vitamins: B3,C,beta-carotene, folic acid - Minerals: calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, copper, silicon
  • Pears - Vitamins: B6,C - Minerals: copper, potassium
  • Pineapple - Vitamins: B,C,E,folic acid - Minerals: potassium, iron, calcium, sodium, phosphorus and also contains the enzyme bromeline
  • Raspberries - Vitamins: B,C,E,beta-carotene - Minerals: calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, zinc
  • Strawberries - Vitamins: B,C,E,beta-carotene, folic acid, niacin - Minerals: calcium, potassium, iron, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur, zinc
Vegetables:
  • Avocado - Vitamins: B,C,beta-carotene - Minerals: potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus also contains essential natural fats (only blend)
  • Beetroot - Vitamins: B,C,beta-carotene, folic acid - Minerals: Chlorine, manganese, calcium, iron, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, chromium, magnesium
  • Broccoli - Vitamins: B,C,beta-carotene, folic acid - Minerals: calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur
  • carrots - Vitamins: B,C,E,K,beta-carotene - Minerals: calcium, iron,phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, chromium, magnesium, sodium, iodine, silica
  • Celery - Vitamins: B,C - Minerals: calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, sodium
  • Cucumber - Vitamins: B,C,beta-carotene - Minerals: sodium, silica, manganese, sulphur, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, cholrine, magnessium
  • Fennel - Vitamins: B,C,beta-carotene - Minerals: calcium, chromium, cobalt, iron, magnessium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon, sodium, zinc
  • Ginger - Vitamins: C - Minerals: copper, potassium, sodium, iron, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium
  • Parsnip - Vitamins: C,K,folic acid - Minerals: potassium, iron, calcium, manganese
  • Peppers - Vitamins: B,C,beta-carotene, folic acid - Minerals: potassium, silica, iron, calcium,phosphorus, magnesium
  • Spinach - Vitamins: B,C,K,beta-carotene, folic acid - Minerals: iron, iodine, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur
  • Tomato - Vitamins: B,C,K - Minerals: potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, iodine
  • Watercress - Vitamins: B,C,E,beta-carotene, folic acid - Minerals: sulphur, calcium, iron, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, chlorine, potassium, iodine
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Early morning run in Mexico 15 months out of hospital - There was times where I thought I would never run again, so doing a 6km run on the sand followed by hour of yoga was the dream start to a day - Far nicer than waking up in a hospital bed with no movement and watching the clock tick - Get healthy today and stop abusing your body, treat it well and it will reward you! Trust me its not worth taking for granted till the day you loose it and then realize how fragile it can be and it needs looking after

Lifestyle

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 I cant tell you enough how important it is to Keep physically active and the benefits it has on preventing  major illnesses, and how it is the basis for a healthier lifestyle.
 Taking the first steps to changing your lifestlye today and starting sport will be the most amazing path you ever take. You will  not regret it and there is such a variety of sports out there that cater for all needs you will find something that you enjoy and at the same time gets you fit. You will meet new people and travel on new paths. You might find a new passion and start competing. It might just be the thrill of learning somethng new. What ever it is dont waste time, get out there today and get your body moving and trust me you will not turn back. There are so many activities out there to take part in to make a difference. 
  • Try out different sports or activities until you find something you like.
  • Join a team or club where you could meet new friends and learning new skills.
  • Activities that you can do as a family or with friends may help with motivation. rounders etc
  • Try and exercise outside  in a forest, a beach, a park or mountains.
  • Make sure you vary your activity so you don't get bored.



Healthy Body

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Starting out on your sporting life will have amazing effects on your body and you will start to see how great you look an feel in no tme. A fit body will  let you deal with todays stresses more effectively. It takes a life change today for you to get the benefits of a healthy body tommorrow and requires you getting  exercise, looking at your diet, your sleep and relaxation habbits .
Your diet is one of the most important areas you need to change to start out on your healthy body, a diet rich in vitamins and minerals with all the correct food groups and plenty of water. Avoid all those fast pace foods and easy option junk energy foods and drinks and keep your diet clean and healthy. 
 
Getting the right balance of  exercise, nutrition and rest is cruciul for the body to function in its best way.  It is not possible to abuse your body for years and then hope that a last-minute effort toward bodily health will correct everything at the last minute. So start a sporting  journey today and be inspired by how much a healthy body can fullfil your life and those around you.......



Healthy Mind

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 In todays life we all suffer from stress and anxiety and the pace of life is getting faster. Its very important for you to take time and make time for exercise in your life. Starting out on your new sporting  journey will boost your self confidence and your mind will feel great from the break of everyday stress. Stress on the mind can lead to illness, so its so important you start now.
Taking up a sport or just getting out in the park will produce physical changes in the body which have a positive affect on your mind by increasing the production of chemicals like serotonin, which regulates mood, increased body temperature which reduces muscle tension and increased levels of adrenaline which activate our parasympathetic nervous system, resulting in a calming effect.
Exercising regularly also changes your daily routines adding variety to your life and increasing your energy levels all of which contribute to giving you a healthy mind, If you start your new sporting life today you will notice an increase  in self esteem giving you a more positive outlook on life and boosting your self confidence all of which is great for a healthy mind. Dont waste anymore time!!!!!!!
  
No matter what your job is you should get some time in for competitive games or a sporting activity, trust me it will be such a great feeling on your mind you will start to feel and notice positive changes in the rest of your life.......



Fitness Goals and staying motivated

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The hardest thing for most of us is to keep it going, especially when we loose the motivation and the optiion of sitting on the sofa sounds so much nicer than getting your sports kit on and getting out there. This is when its important to be true to yourself and what you want from life. You want to be healthy, full of energy, to feel great and positive. This is where your motivation comes in, and having some plans or goals written down can be of great help. Over the years i have met some of the greatest athetes and learned how they got through the hard times by setting goals. It gave them a clear path to work from and kept them motivated, especially through injuries.
I have certainly used what i have learned from everyone of them, and i know its going to be one of the most important parts of my recovery from surgery, and getting fit and healthy again.
Setting out  a list of goals, starting very small and working through them each day will be the key to my full recovery. Without this i would have no plan or focus and would simply end up going through the motions. With clear goals in place i can focus on where i need to be and where am starting and take each step as it comes.
You dont have to go into the depth that an Olympic athlete might go into with planning and setting your goals, but to simply write some dreams down with when you want to achieve them, and how your going to take the small steps to reaching them will put you into the right mind set to achieve any of them on your path.... You could do this for that special holiday, that 10k race you allways talk about or that weight loss and energy you want....... Remember dont let your mind hold your body back!!!!!