#348: Native Americans Knew Better
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Yes! magazine published a short article by Danielle Hansen two years ago that recently caught my eye. In it are ways in which some Native American traditions have been found, by science, to be healthier than their modern equivalents.
I'll summarize the article's points and comment on each (in green). But first, I should acknowledge that Ms. Hansen has a connection to native heritage, and I don't.
Keep Moving
Good start, though the broader picture is perhaps more telling: Make your own things from what nature provides (beauty, plants, collections, decoration). This will mean activity that keeps you moving.
Get outside
Good again. Just seeing the natural world helps us.
Go barefoot
While a good suggestion, this advice should probably caution against tenderfoot tendencies to overdo. Feet will build toughness, but it takes time.
Hydrate
All well and good until the last sentence mentions a daily intake of 64 ounces. That is approximately eight glasses, a level of water intake that has been debunked, as anyone on a cool or cold day who tries it can tell you.
Fast
Know that every body needs a different level of food. But, the key is doing things for oneself (cooking, playing, planning, socializing), and engaging with the natural world. That alone will keep one active and in good shape.
Squat
Except there's a much more important point to make: Whole foods that aren't run through a factory provide fiber; processed foods, that we buy ready to eat, are often stripped of their fiber content. Rather than the angle of our bodies, the natural bulking that whole foods offer is the more significant factor.
Block the blue
Are sleep disorders caused by blue light (computers, etc.) or by stress, crisis, or a lack of activity during the day? I would emphasize the later, and suggest that weariness in the evening is to be embraced.
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