When asked to accompany an European-Australian to go for a run around a football field, an Australian aboriginal person accepted the invitation and ran with him around the ground. When they came to the starting point, the Euro Australian wanted to run again, a puzzled indigenous australian asked him: will you come back here at the end of the run? Yes, said the Euro-Australian enthusiastically. Then, said the Indigenous australian, more relaxed now, I will wait there for you.
Most indigenous people do not understand "Exercise" while they know very well what it means to be active, the first one in their eyes, does not have a specific destination or immediate result whereas the second one, being active, you can get your tucker (food), go back to your country (land identified to them).
I am an Endocrinologist and I usually try to persuade sedentary people to move around a little bit. But more than once, among my own colleagues, I have come across the metabolic dysfunction caused by excessive exercise.
Excessive exercise training causes mitochondrial functional impairment and decreases glucose tolerance in healthy volunteers
Highlights
- •Here, we investigate the dose-response effects of exercise training in healthy subjects
- •Excessive exercise training induces substantial mitochondrial respiratory impairment
- •Mitochondrial impairment is associated with impaired glucose tolerance
- •Despite excessive training, markers of global oxidative stress were unchanged
Summary
Graphical abstract
We live at a time when good nutrition is almost impossible to get. Half the americans get their calories from highly processed food. No amount of exercise will mitigate the damage done to your body by bad food.
Currently I am very content and inspired by an indigenous friend of mine and his able wife. He decided to change his nutrition, stick to that change and she expertly prepares the meals which they both enjoy together and the effect on his body metabolism has been nothing short of miraculous.
They send me photos of their blood sugar readings before, one hour and two hours after breakfast, lunch and dinner and I tell them that they have become members of the Century Club, maintaining their blood sugars around a 100 all day long.
Before Breakfast:
For a person who was in the Emergency Department (A and E) at the local hospital with sky high metabolic numbers, this is more like a miracle.
The miracle here is the FOOD as pictured, thanks to his expert chef wife. Congratulations to both of you, my dear friends.
When we started working together, I realized that I had to put aside certain prejudices of the doctor (medical education does make you prejudiced about other people's knowledge and wisdom) and embrace what the Indigenous Americans have taught me : Respect the person and acknowledge their knowledge.
In short order, we agreed that he can go off his medications, Metformin and Long Acting Insulin and also his medications for high cholesterol. These are what I call the Diseases of Civilization.
Coming back to the title of the blog, exercise is necessary, but have an active mind as well, excessive exercise may damage your metabolism but in my opinion, the major aspect for your health is your Nutrition (way more than your exercise).
and here is one example, of my Lakota friend and his wife, both of them have become members of the Century Club.
PS I am a member of another Century Club, a person who has travelled to 100 countries or territories, but I wanted to join the Century Club of Brave Thunder Journey.
I am happy to report that my blood sugar during the day fluctuates only slightly around the 100 mg/dl mark. A proud distinction!
MY ADVICE TO MY PATIENTS
PREPARE YOUR OWN FOOD
