"Work is Joy when you share with others something truly beneficial which you also choose and value highly."

Following a Mercury Test that revealed abnormally high levels of the heavy metal that had accumulated in my body, I had been advised not to eat Any seafood Ever again.

For someone who has been known to indulge in such delicious healthy fare as sushimi salmon and tuna  up to three times a day, this indeed seemed like a life sentence of harsh deprivation. Nonetheless, I attempted to comply with this decree to the best of my ability for a year or so until my craving got the better of me and I decided this meant my body needed something I was missing.

I already supported the concept of Instinctive Nutrition which encourages you to listen to your body directing you to the food it requires. This to me meant as much raw unprocessed food as possible, including raw, kosher seafood. I also shared Dr. Weil's view that fresh is best, but having found that the fresh salmon we buy here in Australia is farmed in Tasmania, and following a severe reaction to some raw fish in Europe, I resorted once again to the convenience and safety of canned sardines.

Feeling a twinge of guilt for breaking my "fish fast" and not wanting to settle for anything but the purest of the pure if I was going to continue to indulge my seafood fancy, I was thrilled to say the least when the ideal choice was laid before me.

I love inspiring and meaningful words and there are two appropriate ones that here come to mind - Serendipity and Synchronicity -  perfectly timed un-coincidental providential guidance that suggested I investigate the wisdom and wealth of health information on the website of  the well known and highly regarded Dr. Jospeh Mercola who advocated consuming purity tested Wild Salmon from trusted sources such as Vital Choice.  

After discovering this pristine source of seafood, I then realised it needed to be shared here in the sunny Antipodes where we do not have the luxury of our own natural resource of wild red sockeye salmon which is native to the frigid waters of cooler climes in the far north Pacific ie. Alaska.

 Prevention is Better than Cure

In my book, robust health is a precious asset that is meant to be the normal experience for all of us while anything less is unnatural. While I believe we are far more than just our bodies, it makes practical sense to be a good steward of  the "vehicle" which we are blessed with for this journey through life by choosing the purest fuel available.

To take the analogy a little further, it seems logical that if we keep every part well oiled and running smoothly with the "good" oils (eg. Omega-3s from Oil-Rich Seafood such as Sockeye Salmon, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Fresh Raw Butter, Organic Coconut Oil, The Oils in Fresh Raw Organic Nuts and Seeds and Avocados) along with clean fresh air, water and sunshine, the end result will be greater mileage with less breakdowns.

In my history as a Registered Nurse I have seen too many painfully sad illnesses with often equally devastating side effects of medical or surgical intervention, so from the early days of my Nursing Training 36 Years ago, Prevention of the Negative and Promotion of the Positive have been compelling lifestyle motivators both personally and professionally.

Here is a light-hearted look at the wise philosophy of prevention first published in 1913 in the bulletin of the North Carolina State Board of Health, Volume 27, Number 10. The message of the poem is as relevant today as it was nearly a century ago

Fence or Ambulance?

By Joseph Malins

’Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed, though to walk near its crest was so pleasant;
But over its terrible edge there had slipped a duke, and full many a peasant;
So the people said something would have to be done, but their projects did not at all tally.
Some said: "Put a fence round the edge of the cliff"; some, "An ambulance down in the valley."

But the cry for the ambulance carried the day, for it spread through the neighboring city.
A fence may be useful or not, it is true, but each heart became brimful of pity,
For those who slipped over that dangerous cliff; and the dwellers in highway and alley,
Gave pounds or gave pence, not to put up a fence, but an ambulance down in the valley.

"For the cliff is all right if you’re careful," they said, "And if folks even slip and are dropping,
It isn’t the slipping that hurts them so much as the shock down below when they’re stopping."
So day after day as those mishaps occurred, quick forth would these rescuers sally,
To pick up the victims who fell off the cliff with the ambulance down in the valley.

Then an old sage remarked, "It’s a marvel to me that people give far more attention
To repairing results than to stopping the cause, when they’d much better aim at prevention.
Let us stop at its source all this mischief," cried he; "Come, neighbors and friends, let us rally;
If the cliff we will fence, we might almost dispense with the ambulance down in the valley."

"Oh he’s a fanatic," the others rejoined; "Dispense with the ambulance? Never!
He’d dispense with all charities too if he could. No, no! We’ll support them forever!
Aren’t we picking up folks just as fast as they fall? And shall this man dictate to us? Shall he?
Why should people of sense stop to put up a fence while their ambulance works in the valley?"

But a sensible few, who are practical too, will not bear with such nonsense much longer.
They believe that prevention is better than cure; and their party will soon be the stronger.
Encourage them, then, with your purse, voice, and pen, and (while other philanthropists dally)
They will scorn all pretense and put a stout fence on the cliff that hangs over the valley.

Better guide well the young than reclaim them when old, for the voice of true wisdom is calling;
To rescue the fallen is good, but ‘tis best to prevent other people from falling;
Better close up the source of temptation and crime than deliver from dungeon or galley;
Better put a strong fence ’round the top of the cliff, than an ambulance down in the valley.
 

As it turns out, Omega-3 oils and foods that are rich in them, are so good for you that they can not only help prevent many illnesses developing, but also help treat and alleviate numerous conditions. This makes them a great form of preventative "health insurance". You could say they act as both the fence and the ambulance for those of us who do happen to fall over the edge, whether by accident through ignorance, or by conscious or careless neglect. We are all in danger of both of these as we learn and grow throughout this journey we call life. The secret is to keep getting up if we fall down, concentrate on the goal, and take each next step that we can see on the path in front of us. We can only do the best we can with the light and knowledge we have at the time. As we learn more, we can adjust our steps according to the wisdom and understanding gained along the way.
 

A Cheerful Heart is Good Medicine

Developing healthy eating habits is a life-long challenge but when the choices are delicious and satisfying, reaping the rewards in feeling better may make it seem effortless and well worth the sacrifice. It is often in losing such an asset that one then realises its great value, so my hope for all of us is to learn to safeguard the treasure of glowing health. Fresh Wild untampered-with Nourishment from Nature is one Vital Choice you can make to keep your face turned towards the sunshine of a happy and healthy life. There is wonder-full wisdom in the mysterious marvels of nature that behooves us well to seek out. "Speak to the earth and it shall teach you"  

Most of all , keep your spirits up, for hope is a great healer and a positive attitude can make a world of difference.

"GrAttitude" is a "Great Attitude" to nurture in every situation. 

Look for the good in all and for the silver lining - or in this case the can lining without BisPhenol A! :)

Life is for learning valuable lessons but also having fun in doing so. Embrace your inner child.

Be kind and patient with yourselves and others

Smile  - laughter is a free immune boosting tonic - and the easiest to swallow :)

Hannah Delwyn Ben-David RN - Blessed to be a blessing

Pictured with furry friends at Emerald Wildlife Shelter where Carol and Co. do an amazing job caring for our orphaned or injured aussie icons