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Below you'll find a brief summary of our conversation with Dr. Rudy Proesmans. You can listen to the full episode on Spotify, SoundCloud & Apple Podcasts.
About Dr. Rudy Proesmans
Dr. Rudy Proesmans is an orthomolecular doctor. Orthomolecular medicine (ortho= Greek for correct) is a branch of medicine that aims to improve health through the right nutrition, combined with the right vitamins and minerals in the right dose.
Dr. Rudy Proesmans focuses on the prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer, rheumatism, chronic fatigue, and on "healthy aging". In 2009, his book "Optimaal gezond zonder medicijnen" ("Optimally healthy without medication") was published, now in its 20th edition, reflecting the latest scientific insights.
He's also a sought-after speaker at conferences at home and abroad on preventive healthcare. A topic close to JustBite's heart too, one we want to contribute to by offering more nutritious break moments in the workplace.
Preventive health
More and more people recognise the importance of preventive healthcare. By working today on a healthier lifestyle with balanced nutrition, enough exercise, quality sleep, and a healthy dose of stress, you can become and stay healthier. Preventive healthcare can help you age well, and can make the difference between simply not being sick and being optimally healthy.
The optimal diet
Unfortunately, there's no magic diet that's perfect for everyone. What matters most is discovering for yourself what works well for you and what suits your microbiome or gut flora, and finding a balanced diet that isn't too extreme.
Broadly speaking, the original Mediterranean diet suits most people best and helps prevent cancer, rheumatism, cardiovascular disease, arthrosis, and more. A diet rich in legumes, very low in sugars and carbohydrates, low in meat, with some goat's or sheep's cheese.
A partly (though not fully) vegetarian diet rich in vegetables, fruit, beans, lentils, and chickpeas therefore offers many health benefits for most people, and is also easy to maintain in the long run.
Really, you need to sense for yourself what feels right. Macrobiotic, vegetarian, vegan, or Mediterranean diets are generally easy for most people to maintain, are well tolerated, and deliver the best health results.
The white poison
Regularly consuming fast, refined sugars — the "white poison" — causes blood sugar swings that leave you with fatigue, listlessness, low mood, and other unpleasant effects. Fast sugars affect your gut flora and lower your resistance, contributing to conditions like type II diabetes, various cancers, and cardiovascular disease. By avoiding fast sugars, you take a huge step towards steering your health in the right direction.
Slow sugars, found in wholegrain bread, rice, potatoes, and fruit, are absorbed into the blood slowly, so they don't cause those harmful blood sugar swings. They supply your brain and muscles with the fuel they need.
There are also plenty of natural, responsible alternatives to refined sugar. Think of honey, maple syrup, or simply the natural sweetness found in fruit. Alongside their sweet taste, these alternatives also offer useful nutrients for the body.
Healthier breaks
People with desk jobs are best off avoiding classic, less nutritious snacks full of fast sugars as much as possible. Ideally, they keep their snacks as nutritious as possible, such as fruit, nuts, and seeds. Blueberries, for example, improve memory and concentration.
So be sure to avoid fast, refined sugars — these are "empty" calories that constantly stimulate your pancreas, leaving you with a yo-yo effect between brief energy bursts and exhaustion, and increasing your long-term risk of diabetes and being overweight.
Especially with a desk-based job, it's important to move regularly to boost your metabolism and increase your mental alertness.
Supplements
You can't put nutrition in a pill. A nutritious diet always remains the foundation, but some vitamins and minerals can't be sufficiently obtained from food alone. The right supplements in the right dose, tailored to your specific needs, can give you that extra boost that makes the difference between simply not being sick and being optimally healthy. Optimal health gives you better protection against cancer, cardiovascular disease, ageing, and more.
Tips to take charge of your own health:
- Choose more nutritious food. What you put in your mouth every day largely determines whether you'll get sick later on. Be sure to avoid fast sugars.
- Move! If you don't make time to exercise now, you'll have to make time to be sick later. Movement is incredibly important.
- Make use of certain dietary supplements, such as vitamin D and C. Supplements can offer valuable extra support, but they're no substitute for nutritious eating habits.
- Keep your stress at an acceptable level. A healthy, small amount of stress can contribute to a productive life, but avoid constant, high levels of stress.
- Get enough good-quality sleep
Together, all these tips can help you age well and need as few doctor visits as possible.
Conclusion
Nutritious food is the foundation, and it can help prevent many illnesses. Dietary supplements can be a valuable addition where needed. They can offer an extra boost and protection against the development of various conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, rheumatism, arthrosis, chronic fatigue, and more.