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Desert Health News


Living with Jennifer DiFrancesco


Harnessing Intention for Positive Energy and Wellness


Many Eastern principles and approaches can resonate and spread positive energy and wellness into our lives. The fol- lowing are a few techniques and approaches to explore:


• Chi is the aspect of energy from an Eastern perspective. There is a Taoist approach identifying two different types of chi; prenatal and post- natal. We are born with Prenatal. Some of us are born with stronger levels of chi at birth. Postnatal chi is the energy we cultivate and harness for ourselves after birth. Energy is everything we eat, think, do, absorb and practice.


• How do we harness Chi in life? We direct Chi through intention. How do we har- ness proper intention? In an Eastern approach, it is first through Yi (what you think - the initial forms of intention) then we progress to Chi (this is the energy behind thoughts and intention) then we arrive to Li (the action or end result from thoughts and energy). Health practitioners such as Reiki Masters and Qigong Practitioners help us realize and understand our energy flow.


• There are Chi Vampires. These are people that take the life from us. Individuals who have very low prenatal and postnatal Chi and are desperate to pull others into their low negative energy field. Instances of energy pull might simply be people around us who are having a bad day, need to be heard or have questionable bound- aries. We can learn techniques (such as Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese system of move- ment) to ensure we protect ourselves.


• Martial arts is a practice based around four ways to generate power. One can employ the movements of sinking, shifting, turning and rising. These are techniques that allow for leverage, momentum and power. These 4 movements are at the crux of proper movement. Multiple movements are put together and when employing these mechanics one is suddenly living from center. Our dan-tien (energy center), which resides in the belly assists us in powerful ways. Throughout the day we are using our center for all movement; expending energy outward and storing energy back inward. In order to feel connectivity in all day-to-day movement we must be in touch with these principles.


• We must learn how to still the fluctuations of the mind. This is the ultimate defi- nition of yoga; another Eastern practice that provides insight. How can positive in- tention be harnessed when the mind is darting from one place to the next? Taking some of the basics of asana (posture) and breath in yoga can create further clarity on the journey to “healthy habits.” Movements can be practiced in workday breaks. A backbend will give energy, a forward bend will provide a cool off, a twist will aid in detoxification, and a balancing posture will bring balance. These are all profound concepts woven into the practice of living and healing in our daily existence.


Intention is the first step in life toward achieving positive energy. Then, action to- wards a healthier, happier lifestyle will proceed.


Jennifer is a Desert native with 20 years of experience in the spa industry. She is the Director at the Hyatt’s Agua Serena Spa in Indian Wells and has a Tuesday morning well- ness segment as ZenJen on 100.5fm radio.


Hard to Change Habits?


Blame Your Killer Genes Continued from front page


weight, so he was the perfect lab rat using sophisticated blood tests to scientifically experiment on how foods and supplements biologically changed his own body. The re- sults amazed him. Not only did he lose over 75 pounds, but he restored his body’s normal cell functioning. His LDL (“bad” cholesterol) dropped more than 100 points and his HDL (“good” cholesterol) increased 50 points. His migraines vanished and his blood pressure dropped to 90/50.


After further research, Gundry created the Diet Evolution and found that people who adopted the program all experienced positive, life changing results. He moved to the Desert to establish The International Health and Lung Institute and The Center for Re- storative Medicine.


Gundry’s protocol is not the typical diet recommended by health care professionals. “We are what we are because of the interaction of compounds in food and our envi-


ronment that activate the genes in our body, literally switching them on or off and telling our genes to do good things or to do bad things,” states Gundry. “A lot of times there are things happening at the cellular level that we might not feel from day to day but are hav- ing a tremendous influence on the long term effects in our body. This is a process that has been going on since the dawn of time. It’s a beautiful design as long as you understand what the design is looking for.”


Gundry believes that aging and death are not preordained, but “ordered” to occur by


what he calls “killer genes” to make room for new copies of your genes (your offspring) to survive and reproduce. This is not a theory, but a behavior that scientists have known for years. It’s these genes that make you crave sugar, tobacco and other substances that may kill you in the end.


“Your genes are constructed to achieve three main goals: 1) deliver genes into the fu-


ture by reproducing; 2) ensure the survival of your genetic copies; and 3) after accom- plishing #1 and #2, get out of the way so you don’t compete for limited resources with your offspring. And here’s the clincher. The faster you accomplish these goals, the better things are from your genes’ point of view.”


It seems that the western diet has evolved as if controlled by these killer genes. We now


have more diseases designed to kill us off quickly. And studies show that populations– even animals–newly introduced to the Western diet prefer this food and even crave it.


“Food has changed dramatically in the past 100 years. Our diet was remarkably uni-


form for millions of years up until about 8000 years ago when grain and beans were introduced and about 100 years ago when processed grains came along. A significant change also occurred 50 years ago when farm animals stopped being fed foods that they normally eat and were fed grain, which they were not designed to eat.”


The Good News? You can “tame” your killer genes, and in fact tell your genes to behave to your benefit


by deactivating bad cells, repairing damaged cells, and reproducing healthy cells, with diet and supplements.


“I approached this new field as a research project and every one of my patients is their


own laboratory. I get rather fascinating blood work every 3 months on every one of our patients. With special genetic testing, we can track food that people eat and supple- ments they take and their effect at the cellular level. These tests can tell me if a patient has stopped taking a supplement and even if they have changed brands.”


Even Better News? www.clarksnutrition.com


Gundry has found that this reversal process works at all ages. “I call myself a restorative medicine professional. My job is to give people tools to restore their body to as perfect a health as they want. I teach people how to de-age. What has been most surprising to me is that it is never too late. We have found that you can actually return quite damaged cells into very healthy cells. I have seen people in their mid to late 80’s completely turn their lives around–get rid of what are considered chronic diseases like diabetes, arthritis, Parkinson’s–and go about leading their exciting and active lives.”


Gundry adds with a smile, “I have 90 year old women who now won’t even look at 80 year old men because they are too boring.”


How do Gundry’s peers react to his new practice? “My client’s call me ‘No More Mr.


Knife Guy’ so it doesn’t get any better than that. Some physicians think I am selling snake oil, but the biggest compliment comes when they send me patients, or come to see me personally, and we are able to change their lives around.”


To start your journey towards healthier cells and to turn off those killer genes, memo-


rize the following “Gundryisms”: • If you eat less, you’ll live longer • Eat food “live” to arrive at a hundred and five • Vegetables are good for you because they are “bad” for you (according to your killer genes)


• Exercise is good for you because its “bad” for you • Drink some red wine, and you’ll be fine • Keep your genes guessing as to the timing of your next meal • The cooler your engine runs, the longer you’ll go without a major breakdown


Dr. Gundry is on the medical staff of Desert Regional Medical Center. Dr. Gundry’s Diet Evo- lution is available at Barnes & Noble in Palm Desert or online at www.BarnesandNoble.com.


www.DesertHealthNews.com Wellness


May/June 2011 News from the Valley’s Integrated Health Community


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