Illness happens. Often, we feel that we are partly responsible due to previous errors in judgment. I did. Or, we might have done everything we know to do to live a healthy life and now we have an illness that threatens our health and possibly our life. Serious illness is not a defeat of life but a part of life. It can strengthen our spiritual resolve or cause us to fall. It is an issue of faith and trust.

Learning that you have a serious illness is not a time to roll over and give up. We are summoned to pray (and pray for each other) to a God who can bring healing to any infirmity. Yet "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied with action, is dead." (James 2:17)

Paul instructed Timothy on a specific remedy for his physical problems "use a little wine because of your stomach and frequent illnesses" (1 Tim 5: 23) We have the same responsibility for our illness as we do for maintaining good health. We need to seek advice from professionals and to study the topic of our illness. Traditional medicine has much to offer to diagnose, cure or control most illnesses. Most traditional physicians, however, know very little about natural remedies, especially diet remedies. Other disciplines of medicine offer great benefits for some problems but are narrowly focused on their specialty.

All of these have a potential benefit for illnesses that we might encounter. Who should we see and what should we do? The first important step is to get an accurate diagnosis. A Primary Care Physician is usually the best place to start. Once a diagnosis is determined, find out as much as you can about your particular condition. ASK QUESTIONS! Use other resources such as pamphlets, books, articles, the Internet, etc. Use this information to make wise treatment decisions.

Unfortunately, any treatment has failure rates, success rates, and complication rates. This means that if something worked for you, it might not work for me. Also, one person might have had a very easy course with a treatment that might produce serious side effects in others. The treatment choice needs to be the best guess as to what will most likely work, have the fewest bad effects, and be provided at a reasonable cost. A professional can help make recommendations, but the ultimate decision is yours.

Once a decision is made for treatment, it is important to continue to seek information. The treatment might not work as well as we would like, or there might be some unpleasant side effect. Many illnesses benefit from several simultaneous treatment methods. For instance, the control of high blood pressure often requires medication, salt restriction and weight reduction. Almost any malady will be improved if the general health status of the body is improved. Good nutrition and physical exercise are the keys to improving one's overall health. Some illnesses are improved by certain dietary elements. Intestinal problems, cancer, and connective tissue disorders (such as arthritis) can be influenced, sometimes significantly, by diet.

There are many books on cancer survival. Some of the key agents mentioned to improve cure rates or prevent cancer are "antioxidants". These are found in many food sources and some vitamins. I believe that the recovery I had from prostate cancer is partly due to a diet rich in antioxidants. Other food associations are not so clear, but there are statistics to suggest good or harmful influences on cancer causation and survival.

A 600+ page work published by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, entitled "Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: a global perspective," lists many cancers, all published research about these cancers, and their known nutritional associations. This work includes population data, scientific trials, cultural research, etc.

There are numerous accounts of individuals who have noticed improvements in certain disease states with alterations in diet. I received this email from a long time friend who has Crohn's disease, a serious bowel inflammation:

All treatments, traditional or nutritional, need to be approached advisedly and with a positive spirit. The point is that nutritious food universally helps any illness. The most nutritious foods are raw fruits and vegetables (cooking destroys enzymes that help cells do their work and remain healthy). There are many other food products (herbs and supplements) that may be beneficial and worth a try, but they must be approached with caution and information. Sugar is actually toxic to the immune system and impairs the defenses against infection and cancer. There are harmful chemicals in our food and water that must be considered. Organically grown vegetables are preferable but more expensive. Washing vegetables in mild baking soda or special soaps removes most of these chemicals. There are organically grown meats available but again they are more expensive. Fish have fewer opportunities for contamination and are usually safer than meat. Shellfish have tendencies to transmit diseases and need to be eaten with caution. Water is safer if bottled, filtered, or distilled.

So what are we to do? It seems like the only way to stay healthy is to fast or escape to the mountains and eat pine nuts and berries! Not so. It really comes down to becoming more informed about the food we are eating, and making the wisest choice. We usually have choices. Over time we can develop a lifestyle of eating nutritious food on a regular basis and enjoying what we are eat. But it takes thought, effort, and support from our friends and family. We will also have to ask help from God as we pray, "Bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies.".

Let me conclude by revealing the greatest benefit I have received. I now realize that my efforts to improve my physical health are not about how I feel or even how long I might live. In fact, they are not about me at all. It is all about trusting that God knows what He is doing with my life. The discipline to follow His ways have helped me to follow His will.