Ask Arlene: Combating Chronic Illness

Hi Arlene!

I love your thoughts here on a healthier you. Do you have any specific tips on how to strive for a younger you for those who struggle with chronic illnesses and/or diseases?

Thanks!
Julie

Dear Julie,

Two things that came to mind: Have hope. Fight for your health.

If you don’t have any hope that things will improve in your life, you are probably going to feel old and tired. Surround yourself with books about personal growth (authors like Zig Ziglar, Dale Carnegie, Og Mandino, Andy Andrews) so that your mind will be rejuvenated. You may find that your body will follow suit!

A great online resource is Rest Ministries which is a chronic illness ministry created by my friend Lisa Copen. You’ll find numerous articles and resources written by people who suffer from chronic illness. You’ll find a community that understands your daily life and the challenges you face.

Then, fight for your health. Years ago, when I was in high school, my friend’s mom was diagnosed with cancer. She studied and started growing her own plants to eat. She ate vegetables like nobody’s business and what seemed strange in the 8’s (eating all those greens) doesn’t seem so strange anymore. She’s still alive and probably doing much better than others in her age bracket — simply because she took charge of her health. Watch the movie, Forks Over Knifes. Whether you agree with the movie or not (I still eat meat which they don’t like), you have to agree from their research that eating vegetables and whole foods fights and reverses disease.

You are not a victim of your body’s circumstance. Fight back with eating whole foods and exercising in whatever way you can. God bless you Julie and give you a great summer of health!

Arlene