After the huge success of Patrick Holford’s Talk in Bantry last Autumn we decided to invite him back again, but this time for a full day’s workshop, which we are hosting on March 29 in Organico Cafe.
In our business, it can be exhausting having to deal with so many new, often faddy, diets and supplements. We are constantly asked for the latest version of, say, omega 3, or the latest probiotic – and sometimes there is merit in a new development, but often, you find that it’s just marketing spin. The Internet has a lot to answer for! So it’s reassuring to find someone to work with who bases his advice on science and research, rather than trends. And who gives practical advice that anyone can follow, which is safe, reasonable and grounded in reality.
We are very excited to be able to offer an entire day’s workshop this time – it will give us all a chance to really take in what we need to change and to ask questions, as well as come away with a personalised health plan.
The workshop is called the Seven Essentials for 100 per cent Health, and it’s based on an on-going survey of over 100,000 people, studying what those with the best health have in common.
Through surveying hundreds of thousands of people, Patrick has found that there are seven fundamental processes in the body that, when out of balance, often drive disease.
The first is digestion. In the survey only 14 per cent of people enjoy good digestive health. Eight-one per cent of people have less than one bowel movement a day. If you get bloated after eating, Patrick suggests you are probably eating something you’re intolerant to (wheat and milk are the most common culprits) or not digesting properly.
The next is keeping your blood sugar level even and avoiding sugar. In the survey, 80 per cent of people say they often have low energy. Forty-two per cent of people wake up tired. The key to keeping your energy level high, and losing weight and controlling sugar cravings is to eat a low glycemic load (GL) diet. In his workshop, Patrick will show us what this means. This not only prevents but also reverses diabetes.
In the 100 per cent health survey he found that 82 per cent of people become quickly impatient. Sixty-four per cent become anxious or tense easily and 32 per cent have poor memory. Your ability to stay sharp, with a good mood and minimal risk of disease depends on getting enough B vitamins, vital for a process called methylation. A simple homocysteine blood test can determine whether you have healthy methylation. If high, this increases risk for dementia and depression.
Patrick also found that people who eat oily fish three or more times per week, or nuts or seeds three times a day are 60 per cent more likely to have optimum health than those who do not. Essential fats from oily fish and seeds keeps your mind and body well oiled, reducing risk for heart disease, halving joint pain, improving mood and banishing dry skin.
Getting enough antioxidants from fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices, drinking enough water are two other health essentials. The seventh essential he calls the ‘communication network’. ‘Inflammation, aches and pains, but also cancer, is a breakdown in the body’s communication network,’ he says.
“I am convinced that these fundamental underlying processes are driving people’s major and minor health issues. In this workshop we work out which are out of balance they leave with a precise action plan to reverse disease and regain health. Staying healthy is easy when you know what counts. As Marcel Proust said “The act of discovery is not in finding new lands but seeing with new eyes.” That’s what the Seven Essential of 100 per cent Healthy People workshop is all about.”
Patrick will lead The Seven Essentials Workshop in Organico Cafe this March 29, which is a Sunday, between 9.30am and 5.30pm. Ticket price includes a delicious lunch, healthy treats and coffee, as well as notes from the workshop. Tickets are limited, booking available through Organico (in person or call 02751391) or through Eventbrite/Facebook (there is an extra charge for online bookings).
