Hacking me a new body
Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay
Health hacks are a way that is used to describe methods that change or alter our health which could b e associated with the idea of changing something in a similar way to which computer hardware or software can be reprogrammed. Being an engineer in sofware and sometimes hardware but more recently in cloud environments, I naturally looked for ways of changing my health for the better that were similar to the way I would change a computer system when faced with the horror of type 2 diabetes and the generally accepted idea that it is a progressive disease that can only be managed by drugs and more recently by losing weight. But I’ve been around the block enough to know that losing weight is not going to be easy, having lost over 20 percent of my previous weight at the point of my diagnosis as it is well documented that many ‘diets’ just plain dont work.
So finding the works of Tim Noakes, of whom I just saw yesterday in interview by the aptly named health hackers sparked my interest as Tim is another person in his field that at first did not see the need to cut carbohydrates, but over time grew accustomed to the realisation that he himself needed to change tack, embrase low carb, high fat and cut out sugar and all processed carbohydrates to take himself from being type 2 diabetic to full remission. It took him 8 years to fully achieve this goal, so I have respect for his long term commitment and for the fact that he is realistic about the time it takes to change your body and your health. This said, I thought then, and now have the proof that he was on to the correct path, one which I could resonably and safely follow.
Dr Noakes path has not been without difficulty as in April of 2017 he was charged by the South African medical authorities in regards to a tweet he sent, apparently advising a mother to feed their child with a high fat low carbohydrate diet when weaned off milk. For some background on this, I found the following useful :
Today, Professor Tim Noakes was found innocent of all charges in proceedings against him by South African medical authorities. This is his second acquittal; the first came in April 2017, which was then appealed. www.nutritioncoalition.us
and also
Professor Tim Noakes who has been embroiled in a court case about giving nutritional advice online has once again been found not guilty of misconduct. It is the second time he has been acquitted. Having been found not guilty in April 2017, an appeal meant it went it back to court. www.diabetes.co.uk
All of which amounts in my view to a pretty sorry state of affairs. How can a guy like this, who is helping people overcome type 2 and avoid it in the first place find himself in the midst of excoriating legal proceedings that are overturned twice and took over 4 years for him to clear his name, at his own expense I hasten to add. Needless to say he is wanting to banish what he calls 50 years of lies [in regards to bad food and diet advice] to end.
I can only think that those pursuing this failed attempt to strike Dr Noakes off the medical register are either entirely ignorant of the facts or have a vested interest in keeping things ‘just so’ and are trying to avoid embarrassment and possible litigation for their own mis-guided advice.
It is safe to say though that the case is now dropped, indeed dismissed and that Dr Noakes is free to continue his work, and I have been able to use his and others work similar to hack myself a new body that is no longer type 2 diabetic.
Thank you Dr Noakes, and all the others who have helped me on my journey to health.