Germ Theory corrected

Having strong immunity is on the forefront of everyone's mind in this time of masks and pandemics.

Have you ever noticed how some people seem to rarely get sick and others are sick all the time? Why are some people more vulnerable to infections and have a more difficult time recovering than others? What can we do to improve our health and immunity?

The Germ Theory says that infectious diseases are caused by the activities of microorganisms within the body. Germ theory considers all types of microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans as germs and they are responsible for disease. Western medicine and modern healthcare have been focusing on the germ theory of health for over 150 years.

The terrain theory says that the true cause of disease is the internal environment of a living organism - not external germs. Initiated by Claude Bernard and later developed by Antoine Bechamp, the terrain theory states that diseases are not caused by germs. Susceptibility to a disease totally depends on the quality of the individuals’ internal environment rather than germs. A weak terrain is more vulnerable to external invaders.

In my practice, I strive to remove roadblocks to health so that the body can return to homeostasis and the body's natural healing can occur. In homeostasis, the body can maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes. It's the ultimate goal. In homeostasis immunity is strong and the terrain is healthy. A healthy terrain can handle the foreign pathogenic microorganisms and they can be chased from the body.

Do not fear... we can change our internal terrain! Clean the tank, so to speak. The first step is to educate ourselves on what influences the terrain:

1. First and foremost, be conscious of what you eat. Eat organic food whenever possible. If you are feeding your body with unhealthy, inflammatory foods (refined sugar, refined oil, artificial ingredients, conventional meat/dairy, processed food, deep fried food, junk food) you are setting up an unhealthy terrain that may attract infections or disease. If you are nurturing your body with healthy, anti-inflammatory foods, you are allowing your body to create a healthy homeostasis that can protect you. 

Honor your body with a diet rich in:

- nutrient-dense foods

- organic greens

- vegetables & fruits

- herbs and spices

- nuts and seeds

- fermented foods

- healthy fats

- clean protein from pasture-raised beef

- free-range poultry and eggs

- wild-caught fish

2. Develop a positive mindset. Your health not only depends on the foods that you eat but also the thoughts you feed it with. Having a negative mindset can increase your stress levels, bring your energy down, and lead to poor sleeping habits. Having a negative mindset, feeling stressed, sad, or overwhelmed may also increase your risk of unhealthy habits such as eating sugary junk food or skipping your exercise routine. 

To develop a positive mindset, surround yourself with positive people and positive activities. Pay attention to your thoughts, and transform negative thoughts into positive ones! Keep a gratitude journal and practice daily gratitude. Practice positive affirmations. Seek out laughter and humor. It may feel weird at first and take some effort. But don't worry! As you practice, it will come more naturally to you.

3. Reduce your toxic load. Unfortunately, our modern world is full of toxins. There are toxins in our water, air, conventional produce, conventional cleaning and body products, and other household items. When you have a high toxic load it invites disease while lowering toxicity helps to protect your health.

Read labels!! You'll probably need a Dictionary of Food Additives to understand the crazy ingredients in conventional deoderants, shampoo, lotions, etc. Use organic, natural, and DIY cleaning, beauty, and body products instead of toxic conventional ones. Make sure that you have a good air filtration system in your home and invest in a water purifying system as well. Spend more time in the great outdoors and enjoy the fresh air.

In conclusion, right now we are all looking to increase our immune system more than ever before. The terrain theory of health offers a contrast to the germ theory. It explains that germs cannot cause infection and disease unless the conditions within the body allow it. It places an importance on creating health and homeostasis within our body to improve and protect our health, instead of trying to control our external environment by focusing on killing pathogens outside of us. The terrain theory of health believes that we can improve our health through nutrition and lifestyle.

"Vaccinating the fish" is not the answer. But as we are mindful of food choices, environment, and lifestyle choices we can clean our internal terrain. Therefore improving our health and well being!