To receive the best possible benefits from the energy work of Health Kinesiology, Holographic Repatterning, Bowen Therapy, Reiki, Yoga or any other complementary therapy, we must have the best possible nutritional fuel to manufacture those body bio-chemicals that repair and heal what's gone wrong.

Unfortunately, most of us are not feeding ourselves adequately enough for a smooth ride through life into a happy, healthy old age. Genetically, we have the capacity to be sprightly centaganarians!

GO ORGANIC! : I always recommend that as far as possible, we eat organic foods to avoid the potentially toxic effects of growth hormones, antibiotics, agrochemicals, carcinogens and GMOs.

PRESERVE NUTRIENTS - DON'T KILL YOUR FOOD! : It's best to eat fresh, raw or lightly cooked fruit and vegetables. Avoid fried foods and don't touch anything that's burnt! Minimally steam vegetables and fruit if necessary or cook in a pan with a lid on, with just a little ready-boiled hot water to cook lightly - al dente. Don't drown them! You can then use the remaining water containing the vegetable or fruit juices for healthy sauces.

COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES : (found in vegetables, most fruit and unrefined whole grains which also contain fibre for healthy digestion). These provide slow-releasing blood sugar to sustain our energy throughout the day. It is not good to take sugary, refined foods or drinks containing caffeine or alcohol for a quick boost when you are flagging. You may get a quick sugar high, but you'll pay for it by crashing again shortly after. Don't skip meals! Big healthy breakfast, medium lunch, small supper.

BENEFICIAL FAT : Dairy products and meat from cattle fed on ORGANIC natural pasture contain a beneficial fat, CLA, which helps protect against, heart and arterial disease, cancers, diabetes. It also helps you to achieve a slimmer, trimmer shape by storing energy from our food in muscle rather than fat tissue. Then, when you need it, energy is easily accessible and released. Even so, eat only small portions of meat no more than 3 times a week. You can get CLA from your diet by eating a little of organic pasture-fed animal products - meat or dairy - every day. All that is needed for the protective effect is 1% of your daily diet, or you can supplement.

N.B. Vegetarians! Most supplements containing liquid oils are in gelatine capsules.

SUPPLEMENTS : Sadly, because much of our agricultural land has been farmed intensively over eons, the soil is often depleted in minerals and contaminated by nitrate-based fertilisers. Without sufficient minerals, the benefits of vitamins may be limited and without these, the body may not have the wherewithal to build the body bio-chemicals for life. Also many nutrients such as Essential Fatty Acids are easily destroyed by cooking, storage and light. So we may have to SUPPLEMENT for optimum health!!! Make sure that supplements come from a reputable ethical company, which uses only the best quality effective ingredients.

Check whether the company gives nutritional advice over the phone - Do they give information about advances from new research? My favourite one is the mail order company Higher Nature, Burwash Common, East Sussex, UK. Excellent products, ethical, innovative, good advice and information.

DAYLIGHT : is also a nutrient that stimulates and feeds all body systems, from the tiniest part of a cell and every organ, to the brain. Without it, we become depressed and lethargic, as people with S.A.D will know. It is beneficial, then, even in Winter to spend some time in natural daylight. If this is not possible, get a full spectrum bulb or two (NOT a 'daylight simulation bulb'), sit where you can spend some time relaxing and basking, and let it shine on your head.

People with osteoarthritis will benefit, because full spectrum light stimulates the body to make its own Vitamin D. In our busy, stressful society, we have to override our natural bio-rhythms, which takes its toll.

It just isn't practical to be the nearly-hairless bear that lays down fat and semi-hibernates on the coldest, darkest shortest days of the year. We would be sacked!