Author: mjl

Reflections on Life Today and Tomorrow

I’m done disagreeing with people about what they put in their mouths. Human beings, in general, don’t/won’t change their dietary course in life until their body, as a greater authority, on life, instructs them otherwise. And most of the time, a tragedy must befall someone before they make meaningful changes in a more positive direction. Whether it be loss of function, loss of body parts due to amputation or removal, deafness, blindness, cancer, kidney failure, or cardiovascular disease, eventually, the body will speak(protest) loud enough that a change will take place.

Unfortunately, that change is sometimes death. Often at an early age.

I want people to realize that they have the potential to live a long healthy life, even up to the age of 120 years in some cases. Yet, here we are in a world where people are willing to settle for somewhere in their mid-seventies with a body that is no longer productive above the age of 65(retirement).

What if you could live your life in such a manner that your body wouldn’t even begin to feel the need to retire until you reached 110 productive years?

What if your body could repair and maintain itself in a manner that led most people to believe that you were no older than a healthy, athletic 34-year-old according to today’s standards?

As far as I am concerned, it can be done, and I will continue working toward that end. I will continue to observe nature and what it means to be a human within the greater structure of the lifeform we call Earth. It is a macro-organism, and we are all micro-organisms dependent on it as our host.

Our existence is no accident. We are here at the pleasure of our host. We are a guest at the table of life. And I plan on taking full advantage of every opportunity afforded me to maximize the wealth of time that has been granted to me as a human.

If you can read this, you are a very fortunate soul and rich beyond the measure of many. And I hope that many of you reading this today will still be walking beside me in another 70 years on my 120th birthday.

-Michael J. Loomis

What Is Terrain Theory?

Terrain Theory postulates that there is only one single disease: acidosis. This theory is based on the belief that all disease is caused by cellular malfunction due to an imbalance of acids and alkalis in the body. Terrain Theory provides a framework for understanding how different factors can lead to disease and how to maintain health through proper diet and lifestyle choices.

Terrain Theory is not only a theory of disease progression but also a way to avoid the progression of disease that detracts from the quality of life and longevity. Terrain Theory recognizes that many factors contribute to our overall health and lifespan and that we must take care of our bodies if we want to maintain good health. Terrain Theory provides a practical approach or framework to achieving and maintaining health through proper diet and hygienic and healthy lifestyle choices.

Terrain Theory is based on the work of Dr. Antoine Bechamp, a French scientist who lived in the 19th century. Bechamp’s work was largely ignored during his lifetime but began to blossom in the early 20th century and been growing steadily ever since. Terrain Theory is a growing movement, and many resources are available to help you learn more about it. Terrain Theory is an exciting and innovative approach to understanding health and disease, and I believe it has the potential to transform the way we think about healthcare while providing us with a reasonable pathway to a much more productive quality of life, even beyond 100 years of age.

What Is Acidosis?

Acidosis is a term used to describe the state of having too much acid in the body. Acidosis can be caused by various things, including diet, lifestyle choices, and certain medical conditions. When the body has too much acid, it leads to cellular dysfunction and an overall imbalance in the body. This can manifest in various ways, including fatigue, headaches, and even disease.

Acidosis is a major contributor to disease, and terrain theory posits that all disease is caused by acidosis. Therefore, the goal of terrain theory is to create a healthy terrain or balance in the body so that diseases can be avoided altogether. This is done through diet and lifestyle choices that help to alkalize the body.

Acidosis is a serious condition that should not be ignored. If you think you may be suffering from acidosis, now is the time to start making better decisions that will lead to better health and greater longevity. Terrain Theory offers a promising approach to treating disease, but even more importantly, how to avoid disease progression in the first place.

What Is The Cause of Acidosis?

There is no single cause of acidosis. Rather, it results from a combination of things, including diet, lifestyle choices, and certain medical conditions. When the body has too much acid, it leads to cellular dysfunction and an overall imbalance in the body. This can manifest in various ways, including fatigue, headaches, and even advanced levels of metabolic disease, up to and including cancer.

Acidosis is a major contributor to disease, and terrain theory posits that all disease is caused by acidosis. Therefore, the goal of terrain theory is to create a healthy terrain or balance in the body so that diseases can be avoided altogether. This is done through diet and lifestyle choices that help to alkalize the body.

Author – Michael J. Loomis – Founder of Chew Digest

Three Pillars of My Life

1. Sleep
2. Nutriment
3. Movement(Yoga & QiGong)

Our body is an energy storage unit. Just like a battery, we store energy that can be used to power our bodily functions. This energy comes from the food we eat, and it’s stored in our cells. When we need a boost of energy, our cells release this stored energy to help us out. And, just like a battery, if we don’t recharge ourselves properly and regularly, we’ll eventually run out of energy and juice.

Did you know that the average person spends one-third of their life sleeping? That means that if you live to be 90 years old, you will have spent 30 of those years asleep!

It’s no wonder, then, that getting a good night’s sleep is so important.

Not only does it help your body to recover from the day’s activities, but it also gives your brain a chance to rest and rejuvenate.

Without enough sleep, you’ll start to feel irritable and run down, and you won’t be able to think as clearly as you need to.

So next time you’re feeling tired, take a break and give yourself a chance to catch some Zs. Your body and mind will thank you for it!

As well, I cannot understate the importance of nutrient-dense foods. They are the foundation of good health and well-being. Nutritionists recommend them for a variety of important reasons: they help with weight management, reducing the risk of chronic diseases while providing essential nutrients for vital body functions.

That said, it’s not always easy to get enough nutrient-dense foods in our diets. Many of us lead busy lives and don’t have the time to cook healthy meals from scratch every day. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of easy and delicious recipes that are packed with nutrients.

Being active is essential for overall health and wellness. Regular exercise has been shown to improve mental health, increase health span and lifespan, protect against obesity, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and cognitive decline.

Flexibility and range of motion are two key factors that are important for greater longevity and healthspan, leading to a greater overall lifespan. The ability to move your body freely and without restrictions can have a profound impact on your overall health and well-being.

A lack of flexibility and range of motion can lead to joint pain, stiffness, and poor posture. It can also make it difficult to perform everyday tasks, such as reaching for a shelf, bending down to pick up a child, or even preventing a fall that could land you in the hospital or, if you’re lucky, just bruised in body and ego.

Increasing your flexibility and range of motion at any point in your life can help relieve pain, improve your posture, and make everyday activities easier throughout your life. There are a variety of stretching and exercise programs available that can help you achieve these goals. Two of my favorites are Yoga and Qigong.

Part of my daily practice includes self-massage over my whole body. More specifically, lymphatic massage, of which there are many benefits. This type of massage can help to reduce swelling, improve circulation, boost immunity by encouraging drainage of your lymph nodes, and even help reduce puffiness and swelling. It can also be incredibly relaxing, helping reduce stress while promoting overall well-being.

Regular strength training comes with a whole host of benefits, both physical and mental, and you don’t even need to use weights. Consider Yoga.

First and foremost, it can help to improve your overall musculoskeletal health. Stronger muscles and bones mean a lower risk of injuries while keeping you mobile and independent as you age. Strength training also boosts your metabolism and helps to regulate blood sugar levels, making it an essential tool in the fight against diabetes.

In addition to the physical benefits, strength training can also do wonders for your mental health. It helps to improve your mood and self-esteem and can even be used as a form of therapy for depression and anxiety. So if you’re looking for a way to feel happy and confident, strength training is a great place to start.

Taking care of our bodies is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves. It’s so important to make sure we’re getting the energy we need to live our fullest and richest life.

Though it may be challenging to make some of these changes, they are essential for our overall health and well-being. Making minor tweaks to our daily routine can have a significant impact on how we feel physically and mentally.

Have you made any changes in your life recently to improve your health? How do you make sure you’re getting the energy you need every day? Share your tips with me in the comments, and thanks for reading.

Can Our Skin Sin?

Apparently so. Ever heard of Hamartoma?

A little context. The term hamartia derives from the Greek ἁμαρτία(hamartia), which means “to miss the mark” or “to err.”

Hamartia is also used in Christian theology because of its use in the Septuagint and the New Testament. The Hebrew (chatá) and its Greek equivalent (àµaρtίa/hamartia) both mean “missing the mark” or “off the mark.” There are several nuanced theological meanings, but the one that strikes me the most is the idea of a weakness of the flesh. And this reminded me of a question in the Bible that the disciples asked Jesus.

John 9:1-2 “Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Now I’m not here to discuss the validity of the Bible, but clearly, this idea was common in the first century. This idea wasn’t just pulled out of thin air.

This brings me to my current studies on skin disorders within the context of human physiology and disease pathology and the term ‘Hamartoma.’ An error in the normal physiology of human soft tissues or flesh.

Hamartomas, while generally benign, can cause problems due to their location. For example, when located on the skin, especially on the face or neck, they can be very disfiguring. Cases have been reported of hamartomas the size of a small orange. They may obstruct practically any organ in the body, such as the colon, EYE, etc. They are particularly likely to cause major health issues when located in the hypothalamus, kidneys, lips, or spleen.

So again, “Who sinned(missed the mark),” this man or his parents?”

Was this an ancient way of asking if a malady was genetic or hereditary? The main difference between these two terms lies in the fact that hereditary diseases have the potential to be carried from one generation to another, whereas a genetic disease can either be hereditary or not, but there will always be a mutational change in the genome.

This takes personal responsibility to a whole new level. Clearly, poor lifestyle and diet choices like smoking, drugs, and drinking can affect a child in the womb.

What about Twinkies, Coffee, and Taco Bell?

How Zen Found Me

While driving around the charming streets of Long Beach California, the second-largest city in Los Angeles County, zen found me in the front seat of my 2015 Toyota Prius. At least that’s how it seems to me. I imagine it is much like what a musician experiences with their instrument of choice after many years of practice and professional playing. It’s like a switch flipped one day and now for the most part I feel like I’m just along for the ride as I flow from one ride to the next.

As an Uber driver, I find myself spending most of my time behind the wheel in the city where I was born. One of the benefits is that I know where all the potholes and unruly bumps are to be found. Most of the time I miss them, but occasionally they do creep up on me when I look away from the road for a moment to check the navigation or a song title. Such is life.

After 12,500 rides I can look back and see that somewhere around 10,000 rides things changed. I would say that I went from being reactive to simply responsive. Things that would have bothered me previously stopped bothering me. At first, I would have described it as though I had simply grown numb to the whole driving experience. It’s more like I quit being surprised by the unexpected behaviors of others around me. Of course, the potholes still bother me because the only time I hit them is when I glance away from the road for a moment. I’m just not so sure I will ever be able to get used to them.

 

 

I consume, therefore I am

How old is the basis for my belief about my Creator?

My experience is like a lot of yours if you are Christian. I know about God because of the testimony of Felt Board Jesus brought to colorful life on Sunday mornings.

The historical Jesus lived about 2000 years ago. About 2000 years before our common understanding of the human microbiome that consists of countless species of microbes of all sorts in every nook and cranny of our body. Some 1600 years before Galileo Galilei perfected the first device known as a microscope.

2000 years ago people were living in a world where they could NOT see the microbial life all throughout their bodies but they could feel and sometimes see the effects. Like the wind, they could not see the wind but they could see and feel the effects of it.

To them this was part and parcel with what they called the supernatural or the unseen realm. However in the passage of time that which was supernatural or divine slowly began to be organized into kingdom, division, class, order, family, genus, and species of different microbial life. That which was once demonic and Legion is now better understood as disease process remedied by the removal of unclean things.

So what if that still small voice, that thing that motivates you towards good will and compassion were simply a result of the universe of things that call us home communicating? Every time we get a craving for something we are experiencing this very thing. If we are doing something that is expanding and promoting life we are sent pleasure messages. If we are behaving in a way that is subtracting from life we are sent pain messages.

So what other messages are there? Have you ever tried to record and categorize them? We all know our favorites. Drink that beer, eat that Snickers, drink that Pepsi, etc.
Kind of makes us look like deaf and blind cavemen when you consider how many billions of different species are able to communicate within us at any given time.

I don’t believe in a literal creation week less than 10,000 years ago by any means. I’m as much of an evolutionary biologist as can be when it comes to my understanding of how we got here.

I don’t know where the first act of creation started and I don’t know that creating will ever end, but I am pretty sure that we are here by the will of the things that fill our innermost being with their life; their essence. And the best part is when I run my life through this framework it just seems to fit.

I assume that my body is not my own. That I am the least of all my brethren. I make up only 1% of the DNA and only 10% of the cells are human. That my body is the Garden of Eatin for all those little microbial lives that find me the host with the most.

What if our body itself is their food and it is our job to keep serving up the banquet?

In 460 BC Hippocrates identified phtisis (the Greek word meaning “consumption”) as the most widespread disease of his day and observed that it was almost always fatal. YIKES!!!
Kind of ironic that a disease called consumption would be the result of a lack of proper nourishment hindered by faulty consumption.

All that to say I no longer eat for myself. I do put food in my body but it is food that I know my gut microbes want first and foremost. I don’t ever want them looking around for snacks.

Life is much easier when I am a good steward of the body(gift) I have been given.

Fasting, Longevity, and Workaholism.

Hi, my name is Michael and I’m a workaholic…LoL

I really do enjoy working 7 days a week, however, that can get exhausting; not just physically, but also emotionally. So I’ve been trying something a little different. Working 7 days a week, but then taking a 4-day break once a month. I may eventually try to focus my work attention a little more to get to the point where I can do that twice a month. Work 10 days on and then 4 days off.

This time around; on this 4-day break, I decided to fast. Just water for 72 hours. Woooooof. Knocked me the hell out. But now that I am 64 hours into it I am feeling much better and well cleansed. My skin looks wonderful and what little inflammation I had has reset back to what it should be.

I may even consider doing this once a month. Ironically if I did it would save me at least 10% on my monthly food bill. Not a bad savings in times like this. And as a benefit, it is well known in the scientific and medical community/literature that a 72-hour fast or prolonged fasting can lead to regeneration of the cells of your immune system. Imagine; resetting your immune system so that it can fight a better fight leading to better health and ultimately greater longevity.

I decided on 72 hours because I’ve gone much longer before. That and I had 4 days off to deal with the yucky feelings. My understanding is that those yucky feelings(keto flu) are a result of the body catabolizing its own, what we call stored fats. I imagine this is where the body stores a lot of the toxins that it can’t process now for processing later should we choose to do something beneficial like fasting. Which likely would have been a default thing that we have lost in time because of this world of plenty we have been enjoying for decades.

So I imagine the reason we begin feeling better after a few days is that our body has had a chance to clear out the toxins that were stored up for later processing which is accomplished through the act of fasting.

P.S. I’ve been doing a 12/12 feeding schedule for quite some time now. That seems to offer the best benefits overall. Metabolic and other health concerns arise when going above or below the 12-hour feeding window.

I know I’ve spoken to you guys a lot about eating certain ways and how important it is, but I really want you guys to know that longevity of years is and should be the ultimate goal. But even more with a body that looks and feels no more than 24.

We’ve been given by right of birth a gift of a potential 120 years of time that we are miserably failing to attain, and why anyone wouldn’t want to live to 120 years or more is beyond me. Especially if we could do it with a body that is functionally 24 years of age.

I do want to and plan to live to 120. I do realize that I am likely going to have to bury a lot of people I love that don’t want to live a lifestyle that lends towards that end, but I, at this point, cannot see it any other way. I want to fully appreciate the gift we have all been given. Why shouldn’t we?

I am going to try. Why not try it with me?

What is Cancer and How Do We End Up There?

What is Cancer?

According to most sources, cancer is defined as a disease. A disease in which some of the body’s cells grow in an uncontrolled manner often times spreading to other parts of the body.

I would like to offer a different perspective.

I would like to suggest that it is not a disease in and of itself but one of many stages of a logical process that takes time to develop. It is not something that simply happens to an individual by chance, but an end-stage of a long process that has a growth that is organic and measurable in nature.

If someone finds themselves in a situation where they are what we call being diagnosed with cancer it’s not by chance. It is a logical process that can be observed, usually over many years, if one knows what evidence to look for that leads to that diagnosis.

All that to say, that cancer is not the problem, but a sign of a body that has been in a state of disease for quite some time.

How do we end up there?

That depends on a number of factors in the overall equation of a life form. It primarily depends on the state of the soil in which the seed is planted by the farmer. The soil in this case would be the mother’s womb. And the seed would be the germ(sperm) placed by the farmer(biological father) within that soil.

One might ask, what does the mother’s body have to do with someone being diagnosed with cancer?

I am not sure that most would have a good answer for this, but I believe after almost 5 years of research on the subjects of human physiology and disease pathology that I have gained some unique insights that might very well shed some light on this question. Insights that I might have otherwise missed had I not looked at the human body as a microcosm, within a comparative framework of Earth as a whole eco-system. A smaller version of Earth. A microscopic version of the Earth as a whole considering we are quite literally made from the dust of the Earth and to that dust we will again return.

I chose this framework by which to examine the human condition because of our self-imposed limitations on observing how the human body works at scale. We cannot simply cut open a finely tuned human body to observe how a heart beats or how a brain thinks. We can only observe it from the outside looking in and rather blindly at that.

So what can the earth(land) tell us about how the human body works?

It has been said for millennia that a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. This I would suggest is the basis by which we can better understand how someone can end up with a diagnosis of cancer at any point within the framework of life from birth to death at the ripe old age of 120.

I imagine some of you are beginning to see the point that I am trying to make. That cancer does not simply befall us, but that it is something that is cultured over a long period of time. If this is what you were thinking, I would have to agree with you. No matter what stage of life we find ourselves in a diagnosis of cancer should come as no surprise. It, in my opinion, is something that we should by now be able to see coming from a distance and that we’ve had the answers for quite some time. We just didn’t realize it.

A better way to understand this might be to look at this is in reverse. As in, what would life look like for someone that would never end up in a place where they were said to have cancer. A life of ease, rather than a life marked with evidence of disease or DIS-ease.

One example of this can be found in the efforts of Dr. Francis Marion Pottenger, Jr., an early twentieth century physician from Monrovia, California. In his research, he discovered that when an animal(cat) consumes an uncooked diet according to their species specific requirements, that they don’t end up in a state of disease. On the other hand, an animal(cat) fed a diet that consists of processed foods ended up with all manner of disease much like we human’s do.

To Be Continued…

 

A Beneficial Addiction?

It is truly an awful thing to admit, salt shaker in hand, that we have warped our minds into such an obsession for this flavor crystal that only an act of providence can remove it from us. Or is it possible that it is simply so much of a necessary part of our existence that our body ensures its consumption by rewarding us greatly for fulfilling its desire?

No other kind of bankruptcy or depth of depravity has no man known like this one. Salt…now become our rapacious creditor, phone in hand, bleeding us, extracting all of our self-sufficient precious hydration and will to resist its demands, leading us that we should follow. Or is it precisely a key component that our body needs to properly move hydration about the body as our body in its infinite wisdom sees fit? Most likely yes and yes.

Little did I know almost 5 years ago when I walked into that room(A.A.) and admitted that I was an alcoholic that it would be just the beginning of my journey to find better answers to how I could have ended up in that room with a bunch of other salty alcoholics would end where it did. In the salt mines.[EDITING]

I believe I have found the mother of all addictions, the true foundation, the pillar of all things impulsive, compulsive and reactionary. The way that I feel today after almost 3 months with no added salt is free; like a genie from a bottle after a few thousand years. Truly free to live and thrive; lacking no potential.

I am under the impression that for the maximum amount of joy and potential that this body has to offer us as its lucky conscious passenger, that we should only ever put anything in it that it has evolved with for all of its existence.

Anything man has added to that equation over the last few hundred years has done nothing but hinder our progress and turn us into human jerky, preserved in sodium chloride, twice embalmed, ready for the undertaker well in advance, whose job will be easy in light of our love affair with salt and all things convenient.

Welcome to the club, I’m Mike and I’ve been salted…8)

Who Is the Richer?

It’s not often that I take a minute to ponder the most valuable things in life. But, as I sit here with a bottle of Single Malt Aquafina by my side, I can’t help but consider what really matters. Like most people, I suppose, family, friends, fitness, and finances come to mind. But here’s the kicker, my dear readers: those who are considered successful and truly living the American Dream rank the same thing at number one: time.

Yes, time. That slippery, elusive, ever-fleeting commodity that we all seem to lack. And why is that, you might ask? Well, it’s simple really. Time is the one thing we can never get back. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. And that’s why it’s so damn valuable.

But here’s the thing, folks. Time is useless without health. You can have all the time in the world, but if your body is in an advanced state of disease and decay, what good is it? Health is the foundation of wealth, the bedrock upon which everything else is built. Without it, time as a currency enters into a state of devaluation. And believe you me, that’s a state you don’t want to be found in.

Now, when it comes to wealth, there’s a big difference between the modern and ancient worlds. Back in the day, wealth – anything substantially above mere subsistence – was incredibly rare. And I’m not sure people today realize just how dire the situation was. In those days, you were lucky to have a roof over your head and a crust of bread to eat. But nowadays, we’ve got it all. We’ve got fancy cars, big houses, and all the gadgets and gizmos we could ever want.

But here’s the catch, my friends. All those things are just distractions. They might make us feel good for a little while, but they don’t bring true happiness. They don’t bring fulfillment. And that’s because true wealth isn’t measured in material possessions. No, true wealth is measured in experiences, in memories, in moments. And all those things require one thing: time.

So, as I sit here with my bottle of Aquafina, I implore you, dear readers, to take a step back and consider what really matters in life. Is it the big house or the fancy car? Is it the fat bank account or the latest iPhone? No, my friends, it’s none of those things. It’s the time we have with the people we love, the experiences we share, and the memories we create.

In the end, that’s all that really matters. So don’t waste your time chasing after things that don’t matter. Instead, focus on what’s truly important. Cherish your health, cherish your time, and cherish the people who matter most. That, my dear readers, is the key to a truly fulfilling life.