In January of 2016 I got on an airplane, as I often do, and flew to other parts of the Earth. But even when I travel, I think about you, because I love nothing more than overseeing your well-being. I bring you health tips from every corner of the globe, and it’s fascinating how every nation, every tribe, does something we can learn from.
This time I visited India, Singapore, and Dubai. I made some on-the-spot videos for you while I was there, and you can watch them on my YouTube channel. Below are my latest health tips for you, and they cover everything from what to put in your mouth to what to do with your butt hole (oh yes, just read through the end).
India is a country from where we’ve been scooping many health-promoting traditions, from Ayurveda medicine to Kama Sutra teachings to Yoga practice to Maharishi’s meditation to spices in cooking.
And since I mentioned spices in cooking, I simply must speak about Curry. Historically, we don’t include much Curry in the Western diet, but we definitely should. Curry is a spice Indians use in many dishes, and you’re likely familiar with this yellow-orange spice if you have eaten in Indian restaurants. You see, Curry powder includes Turmeric, which has an active ingredient, Curcumin. Curcumin is actually quite a king when it comes to health benefits. This compound has proven its anti-inflammatory, blood-sugar-regulating, cholesterol-lowering, and even anti-cancer properties in both animals and humans. In fact, one of my clients cured her dog from cancer by giving her large doses of Curcumin in a capsule form two times a day for 3 months. Do yourself a favor, make sure you include Curry spice powder in your diet.
Another great thing Indians use in cooking is Ghee. I attended an Indian wedding and spoke to the cooks when I got a chance. I wanted to know what oils they used for their dishes to taste so good. I was pleasantly surprised when I learned the cooks were using something that Ancient India used back then – Ghee, a clarified butter which you can make by simmering regular butter in a pan and removing the liquid portion from it. Ghee is fat. A good fat. You need fat to be healthy (and sane). Claims that saturated fats are going to kill you is a myth. In fact, it is not saturated fats, but partially hydrogenated vegetable oils – trans fats – that will kill you. Saturated fats provide a number of health benefits, so you must include high quality butter, cheeses, meats, and other animal-derived foods in your diet.
Singapore is a country that enjoys some of the highest longevity rates on the planet, and I of course wanted to observe what lifestyle habits they have that we can learn from.
One of the interesting things I noticed was that Singaporeans reach for a vegetable even at breakfast. While we in the US reach for a bagel or muffin in the morning, Singaporeans eat some bok choy or a tomato when the day starts. Vegetables for breakfast? Sounds so unappealing to our Western palate, right? And yet, it isn’t once you try it. Your body will thank you for it by giving you better health to enjoy. Various medical communities can disagree on many different things, whether it’s soy, meat, chocolate, or coffee, but there’s one food group that every medical body agrees on – vegetables. Like it or not, it’s one food category that you absolutely must put into your body if you want to have a long functional life. Ideally, consume a veggie at every meal.
Another smart thing they do in Singapore is include coconut oil in their daily diet. I’ve been recommending coconut oil for many cosmetic and medicinal uses with great results. Coconut oil has numerous health benefits. It is made of medium chain fatty acids, and around half of its composition is lauric acid. Your body converts lauric acid into monolaurine, a substance that benefits you in many ways, including healthy brain, immune, thyroid, and heart support. What’s even more amazing is that coconut oil doesn’t become rancid easily, and that’s a crucial piece of information because rancid oils are harmful to your body and your blood vessels in particular. Coconut oil is an easily digestible oil, and your liver converts it to energy right away as opposed to storing it as fat. So, treat your body well and put some coconut oil on your plate.
Dubai is a bustling global city within the United Arab Emirates, and I personally found it impossible not to fall in love with Dubai while I was seeking their health tips for you.
Just like in the US, Dubai’s population has a growing concern with climbing rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart conditions. It’s not irrelevant that I observed sugar-laden soda as being the most popular drink in Dubai. But I seek what other nations do better than we do in terms of health-support, and that’s what I sought in Dubai too. One example is they eat Dragon fruit more often than we do. Dragon fruit is full of antioxidants and vitamins, just like many other fruits, but the seeds of dragon fruit (they’re all over the flesh of the fruit) are rich in valuable polyunsaturated fats that lower the risk of cardiovascular disorders. Not only that, but the fruit also naturally contains captin, a phyto-compound that pharmaceutical companies create synthetically as a heart medication. So eat a dragon to your heart’s content, my dear.
Another great habit I found they have in Dubai is using a bidet fountain (shatafa) after using a bathroom. Meaning, after going Number 2 in the toilet, they use a little water fountain as a butt-cleaner, to put it crudely. And I loved-loved-loved this habit of Dubaians. In the US, it is customary to just wipe your butt with paper and move on with life. I’m sorry, but that’s unhygienic. Not only can it leave the residual odor between your glutes, but it can also lead to urinary tract infections (UTIs). The most common microbe causing UTIs is E. Coli, a bacteria found in your colon. Your normal leg movements throughout the day can lead to your colon bacteria (e.g., E. Coli) spreading from your anus to your urethra, which can then cause urethritis and then cystitis. Women are especially susceptible to UTIs due to our anatomical differences (shorter urethra, etc.). That’s why I highly recommend you use more than just a dry paper to clean your butt hole.
I commend you for reading through to the end, my friend, because that means you’re committed to your health.
Stay tuned for my health tips, in all ways and always!
So very truly yours,
Dr. Inna
