It is well known that the body system of human beings or living creatures is usually susceptible to illnesses and occurs either in chronic or acute form.

Apart from the contagious form of illnesses, most of the deadly body illnesses tend to develop slowly and usually take years to manifest as signs and symptoms.

Some diseases occur in dormant form until they are diagnosed at a late stage.  We have to accept that degeneration is a fact of life and it’s possible for health of human being to decline  until it’s lost potentially.

The pace at which our bodies degenerate greatly influence our health status. There are many reasons or factors that can influence the state of our health.

One of the common causes of illnesses is toxicity. There are two main types of toxicity that can cause diseases or body illnesses. There is the exogenous and endogenous toxicity.

Endogenous toxins are toxins that are produced inside of the digestive tract by microorganisms. While some endogenous toxins are eliminated as gas, some make their way into our bloodstream by travelling through our intestinal walls, and once they make it into our bloodstream, they can access our cells and contribute to toxic burden.

The best ways to minimise the amount of endogenous toxins that are produced in our digestive tracts are to chew our foods well, eat mainly fresh, minimally processed foods, and ensure exposure to friendly bacteria. 

Exogenous toxins are chemicals that are made outside of our bodies that can harm our cells if they are ingested, inhaled, or absorbed into your bloodstream.

While it’s unrealistic to live and work in an environment that is completely free of exogenous toxins, we can minimize our exposure to exogenous toxins by being aware of the most common toxins. Most of these toxins are commonly or readily used in our house holds.

To be optimally healthy, our cells need enough energy to carry out everyday metabolic activities. These calories are obtained by burning important body macro-nutrients such as proteins, fat, and carbohydrates.

For good health, Our cells require a steady supply of important micro-nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. And to be optimally healthy, we require adequate intake of water, fiber, and phytonutrients.

Phytonutrients are organic components of plants that are not essential to health, but are needed to experience optimal health.

Examples of phytonutrients include flavonoids such as citrus and acerola cherries, carotenoids found in carrots and spinach. Others mega nutrients are found in Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.

The best way to ensure optimal nourishment of our cells is to eat nutrient-dense foods - these are foods that are highly concentrated in vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and phytochemicals.

Nutrient-rich foods include fresh vegetables, legumes, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Organic eggs and wild fish are also healthy, micro-nutrient-rich foods that are well tolerated by many people.

Type of foods that contribute less to our well-being include highly processed foods that fill us up but do not  provide substantial amounts of natural micro-nutrients. Such food materials include  soda and other chemically processed drinks or food materials.

Adequate physical rest is critical to preventing premature disease and dysfunction, as the endocrine system relies heavily on restful sleep to function properly.

Adequate emotional rest goes hand in hand with the section above on emotional trauma. Taking time to rest the mind and nervous system via meditation, prayer, reading, or any other activities that help us feel calm can promote optimal autonomic nervous system tone, which is an essential requirement for getting and staying well.

Promoting optimal vitamin D status by exposing skin to sunlight without getting burned has been receiving tremendous support from the research community over the past several years. Vitamin D supports several major organ systems, including our nervous, immune, skeletal, and cardiovascular systems.

Optimal health also requires optimally oxygenated blood, which is only possible when we have regular access to fresh air. Do not overlook the importance of sleeping in fresh air.

Dr Joseph Kamugisha is an oncologist  at Rwanda Military Hospital, Kanombe