's motd Sunday Jan 17, 2010

[Guest guest]

I LOVE JANE E. BRODY!

Sunday, 17 January 2010

Jane E. Brody is an amazing writer and author. She writes about health, fitness and aging. She also writes a regular column for The New York Times called Personal Health. She's written a great many books on health that have helped a lot of people. And as you can tell from the title of this message, I've been a big fan of hers for a long time.

Last week, Jane published a very interesting article I want to share with you. Her subject in this article was Hippocrates. You've probably heard of him. Hippocrates was a Greek physician who is recognized as the "Father of Medicine". He was a physician way back in 400 BC. That was a long time ago, I know, but I have to tell you, Hippocrates was very much ahead of his time. Hippocrates, even back then, recognized the link between a person's environment and disease. You've heard of the Hippocratic Oath, right? Well, yes...it was named for Hippocrates. The Oath, which still applies in modern medicine, details the importance of a patient's right to privacy. And it asks every physician to lead an honorable personal and professional life while prescribing only those treatments that will help cure the patient.

You know, back then in the BC years, they wrote their thoughts not only on a material called papyrus but on stone tablets and even on the walls of caves. Now, Ms. Brody had a quote in her article that is attributed to Hippocrates. And here's what it says:"All parts of the body which have a function, if used in moderation and exercised in labors in which each is accustomed, become thereby healthy, well-developed and age more slowly; if unused and left idle, they become liable to disease, defective in growth and age quickly."Well, my goodness! That's what I've been saying all of these years! So, I guess that means, in some small way...I'm related to that great Greek physician...Hippocrates! Seems even back in the BC years, he had the right formula. And I'm simply passing that formula on to you today!So do use your body but don't overuse it. Exercise your body everyday and you'll stay strong and healthy. And as long as you follow the advice of my "distant relative", Hippocrates and me, hey...that body of yours could live to be 100!Hmmm, you know what? I think maybe I'm going to start going by the name...HIPP!Love,