What is this "Pathways to Better Health blog about?

It’s estimated that 50% of adults over 50 in New Zealand may be suffering metabolic decline - a gradual loss of vitality (and often weight gain) that will eventually result in one of our major leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, diabetes and dementia.

The signs are subtle, gradual and may be mistaken for old age, lack of willpower (it's not!), menopause, existing health conditions, or side effects of medications.

It’s a downward spiral. Each negative change compounds on others in a negative feedback loop.

However, when we find the right levers, we can turn this around within days or weeks, and our pathways to better health can work like an upward spiral.

Pathways to Better Health blog is structured to provide you with a map into this vast subject.

Start by measuring the state of your own health,

→ identify your own likely root causes of declining health,

→ identify your own strongest opportunities to improve your health,

→ find ways to fit those improvements into your lifestyle,

→ observe → adapt → repeat,

→ to upspiral your health, and prevent, manage or even reverse disease conditions.

This blog is split into four categories.

The first category helps you tune in to your body. If you want to discover what works for you, then you will need to learn to understand what your body is telling you.

The second category explains the ten root causes of metabolic decline in ten short articles, each with a self-test quiz at the end. You can score yourself to discover your greatest opportunities.

The third category explains what you can do about it. Ten articles about ten ways forward. How to help you find your highest leverage opportunities first. And the no-brainers that represent easy change.

The fourth category offers tools for change. How to replace harmful habits with healthy ones, each building on the others, following the principle of compound interest.

Disclaimer: I am merely a retired veterinarian who is translating medical science into plain language. This is educational only, not personalised advice. Please seek advice from your healthcare professionals before you start your pathway to better health. This process is designed to help you work better with your doctor.

Throughout the articles, you will see what I call “mind-shifts”. These are concepts where new information discovered in the last 30-40 years has changed the way we think. These may explain the mismatch between what modern science knows and what the health system actually does! There is a long lag phase between the two, perhaps twenty years or more.

You’ll also see links to online resources. I offer pathways and perhaps connect you with online mentors using references that I have fact-checked and credibility-checked.

I’m interested in your experience as a reader, perhaps any questions you might have - so your feedback and questions are welcome.

Please contact me at [email protected]

I wish you all the best in finding your own pathway to better health.