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Looking after
the body and the
spirit
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Américo
Domingos
Nunes
Filho |
Spiritist
philosophy
affirms that the
human
incarnation is a
need, teaching
that “the union
of the spirit
with matter is
necessary” (question
25 of The
Spirits’ Book)
and that the
“spirits must
suffer all the
vicissitudes of
bodily
existence” (questions
132 of The
Spirits’ Book),
as it
equally affirms
that “the
spirits are
created simple
and ignorant and
educate
themselves
through
struggles and
trials of
corporeal life”.
The good
Spirits,
according to
Spiritism, are
those who were
able to show
“predominance
over matter” (question
107 of the
aforementioned
book). The
philosophic
affirmation that
reads “the pure
spirits go
through all
degrees of the
scale and strip
themselves of
all matter’s
impurities”
(question 113)
is very
clear as “to
gain experience
the spiritual
being needs to
know good and
evil”
(question 634).
Therefore, it is
in the densest
vibration that
the simple and
ignorant Spirit
chooses its
path: “If there
were no
mountains, man
would not
understand that
he can climb up
or descend; if
there were no
rocks, man would
not understand
that there are
hard bodies”
(question 634).
The Spirit,
individualised
and refined
divine sparkle,
needs the
physical world
with its own
resistance, to
awake and
exteriorise its
potentialities
(“God’s kingdom
is within
oneself”).
In the
introduction of
“The Spirits’
Book”, Allan
Kardec reveals
that the
incarnate Spirit
is under the
influence of
matter and that
man overcomes
the influences
through
elevation and
purification of
the soul; and by
doing so it draw
itself near to
the good Spirits
with whom it
will one day
be.
The physical
body is a
passive
instrument of
the soul
In the work “The
Gospel according
to Spiritism”,
chapter 17, item
11, the
honourable
codifier of the
Spiritist
philosophy
publishes a
message from the
Guide Spirit
named Georges,
emphasizing the
need to look
after the body
which according
to health and
sickness, has
such an
important
influence over
the soul that is
found captive of
the flesh. He
goes further by
saying that in
order for this
living prisoner
(the soul) to be
able to expand
itself to the
point of
understand the
illusions of
freedom, it has
to have a
healthy, strong
and willing
body. The
spiritual entity
tells that
Spiritism
demonstrates the
relationships
that exist
between the body
and the soul and
also says due to
them having
mutual
dependency,
taking care of
both is very
important. To
neglect the
needs that
Nature itself is
indicating is to
neglect God’s
law.”
The spiritist
teaching is rich
regarding the
importance of
the incarnate
being treating
the physical
body well; which
is an important
vehicle for the
great travel the
Spirit is
inwardly doing,
gradually
discovering
divinity within
itself.
The
exteriorisation
of the Spirits’
abilities
depends upon a
healthy body (“Mens
sana in corpore
sano”).
In relation to
healthy habits,
one must avoid
smoking and
drugs in
general, as well
as a sedentary
lifestyle and
bad eating
habits where
there is the
predominance of
carbohydrate,
fried food, use
of damaging fats
such as
saturated and
trans-fats, the
consummation of
alcohol, fizzy
and sweet
drinks.
It is important
to eat a lot of
fruit in general
It is important
to greatly
reduce the
consumption of
sugars and fats,
as well as to
practise aerobic
exercises
(walking,
swimming,
cycling, for at
least 30 minutes
per day) and
anaerobic
exercises for at
least three
times a week,
through muscle
building
exercises which,
besides
modelling the
body, increase
muscular mass
that
spontaneously
burns more
calories.
It is also
important to eat
a lot of fruit
in general (low
content of
carbohydrates,
high content of
fibres and
pectin, rich in
vitamins and
minerals); raw
vegetables (for
the same
reasons); grains
and the skin of
cereals (rich in
fibres that aid
digestion and
have a lot of
vitamins and
minerals). It
is necessary to
eat lots of
wheat germ, oat
bran, flax and
amaranth, which
make difficult
the absorption
of fats and bad
cholesterol (LDL).
It is
fundamental to
add salad leaves
to the menu
(great quantity
of fibres,
minerals and
vitamins) and
regarding
proteins ; the
best ones are
from fish,
preferable fish
originating from
cold water (rich
in omega 3) or
chicken breast
without the
skin.
Omega 3 is an
important fat
that is not
naturally
produced by the
body; therefore
it is necessary
to consume it
through a good
diet, rich in
extra virgin
olive oil, flax
seed, nuts,
chestnuts,
cauliflower,
spinach and fish
such as salmon,
tuna and cod.
In this case, it
is important
that the fish
are consumed
cooked, as
frying destroys
omega 3.
Fibres
contribute to
the functioning
of the bowels
The best known
benefits of
omega 3 are the
decreasing of
bad cholesterol
(LDL) and
triglycerides as
well as to
decreasing
arterial
pressure.
It helps to
reduce the risk
of developing
Alzheimer
disease,
dementia, mental
tiredness,
diabetes,
stroke, asthma
and even some
types of cancer.
The fibres
provide satiety
(full
satisfaction of
the appetite)
and contribute
to the functioning
of the bowels.
Anti-inflammatory
substances are
formed through
the fermentation
of fibres by
bowel flora
bacteria.
Amaranth is a
grain, symbol of
the cuisine of
the Incas, rich
in minerals,
fibres and
protein and of
high biologic
content. It
contains all the
essential amino
acids that the
body is unable
to produce.
Whilst in the
liver it
inhibits an
enzyme that is
responsible for
the synthesis of
bad cholesterol
(HDL).
It is different
to other
vegetables as it
contains
bio-available
calcium (better
absorption by
the body).
It is also very
important to
consider
antioxidants and
probiotics, the
first ones
eliminate free
radicals (which
are naturally
formed in the
body and damage
cells, speeding
up the aging
process and
cardio-vascular
disease).
Their main
sources are açai,
resveratrol
(found in
grapes) and
acerola.
Probiotics are
bacteria that
live and improve
the intestinal
flora,
strengthening
the immunologic
system and
reducing the
risk of
intestinal
tumours,
diabetes and
obesity.
Probiotics
sources are:
fermented milk
and yoghurts.
Trans-fats cause
a rise of
cholesterol
As for sweets,
one must give
preference to
home made ones,
made with fruits
and gelatine.
Important
recommendations
worth
highlighting
are: 1-Avoid
industrialised
food (high salt
and fat
content); 2-
Leave the table
as soon as one
is full; 3 -
Take care with
social
gatherings:
consummation of
fried food,
fizzy drinks,
alcoholic drinks
and sweets. It
is ideal to eat
a light snack
before leaving
home, 4 - Avoid
eating
hydrolysed
vegetal fat
(trans-fat), a
great enemy of
health, and
found in
industrialised
food stuff
(ready meals,
ice cream,
bread, chips,
fried food,
cakes, pies,
puff pastry,
simple and
filled biscuits,
microwaveable
popcorn,
chocolate,
margarine, fast
food in general,
etc. This
fearsome villain
is not absorbed
by the body,
becoming
deposited in the
arteries and
accumulating in
the abdomen and
entrails. They
are a specific
type of fat,
formed by a
process of
natural
hydrogenation
(which occurs in
the rumen of
animals) or
industrial
(process of
hydrogenation
that transforms
liquid vegetable
oils into solid
fat). They are
used to improve
the consistency
of food stuffs
and increase the
expiry date of
some products.
Meat and milk
naturally have
small quantities
of these fats.
Trans-fats cause
a rise of total
cholesterol, LDL
(bad
cholesterol) and
reduction of the
levels of the
good cholesterol
(HDL).
Garlic decreases
the amount of
bad and total
cholesterol
It is
fundamental to
eat foods that
stimulate the
increase of HDL:
fruits rich in
vitamin C (which
avoids the
oxidation of
cholesterol and
consequent
deposition of it
in the walls of
the arteries)
and rich in
pectin (soluble
fibre which is
concentrated in
the pulp) such
as
apples, tangerines,
oranges, guavas, which
reduce the
absorption of fats during
digestion.
Drinking green
tea is essential
as it is very
rich in
polyphenols
which are
responsible for
the
strengthening of
the arterial
wall and help in
the reduction of
cholesterol (as
also does olive
oil as it is a
beneficial fat
with a great
concentration of
vitamin E,
polyphenols and
phytosteroids)
and protecting
the heart. Olive
oil must not be
heated up as it
suffers
modifications,
becoming
transformed into
saturated fat.
Garlic is
important as it
decreases total
and bad
cholesterol. A
glass of red
wine inhibits
the action of
free radicals
and improves the
dilation of the
blood vessels.
Soya protein
reduces the
content of bad
cholesterol.
It is also
beneficial to
eat oil seeds
(almonds,
cashews,
walnuts, Brazil
nuts,
hazelnuts), all
sources of omega
3, vitamin E (an
antioxidant
which preserves
cardiovascular
health) and
arginine (a
great
vasodilator
which hinders
the accumulation
of cholesterol
in the arteries,
thus protecting
the heart).
There is a
simple and
widely used
method to
measure body
fat. Known as
the BMI (Body
Mass Index) it
is calculated by
dividing the
weight of the
individual in
kilograms by the
square of your
height in
meters. The
normal range is
within 18.5 to
24.9. Overweight
range is between
25.0 and 29.9.
Obesity grade I
(moderate) is
within 30.0 and
34.9. Class II
obesity
(severe): 35.0
and 39.9. Class
III obesity
(morbid) ≥
40.0.
Triglycerides
are a danger
when in excess
The method of
waist
circumference
(belly) fat in
the abdominal
wall can also be
employed and
indicates
involvement of
the viscera
including the
liver.This fat
is very easily
deposited in the
arteries.
It is the main
indicator of
obesity and is
more associated
with
cardiovascular
disease,
diabetes and
hypertension.
The usual
measurement is
around the navel
area and it
should be <94cm
in men and <80
cm in women. A
more worrying
measurement is
(94-102cm in men
and 80-88cm in
women).
Metabolic
syndrome is the
association of
hypertension, a
large abdomen
and high
cholesterol.
Abdominal
obesity has a
relationship
with resistance
to insulin where
the action of
this hormone is
not correct: it
does not have
its full
activity,
harming the use
of glucose by
the cells.
Abdominal
obesity is
connected with
the marked
deposit of
triglycerides, a
fat with the
largest source
of energy. This
fat when in
excess is
deposited in the
arterial vases
(increasing the
risk of
cardio-cerebral
vascular
diseases).
Triglycerides
are a result of
food consumption
(80%) and are
also produced in
the liver (20%).
In excess, they
are as dangerous
as high levels
of cholesterol.
Sweet and
farinaceous
foods help in
their
absorption.
Man
has the duty of
taking care of
the health of
the body
Therefore, man
has the duty to
have a zeal for
the conservation
of his body.
Apostle John, in
a letter
addressed to his
friend Gaio,
said to him:
Dear one, above
all I wish for
your prosperity
and health, just
how prosperous
is your soul”(
3rd
Epistle, Chapter
1, Verse 2).
Paul also
emphasized the
importance of a
well cared for
physical body,
revealing that
“the body is the
holy Ghost” (1st
Epistle to the
Corinthians,
Chapter 3, Verse
16).
Therefore the
somatic
framework should
receive all
necessary care
of hygiene,
instruction and
health so that
the
reincarnation of
the spiritual
being is
productive.
Américo Domingos
Nunes Filho - is
a MD based on
Rio de Janeiro.
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