Our Human Body is Miraculous!

A pretty vibrant Lantana bush in Dak Lak city, Vietnam.

Today, I had an "aha" moment about myself. I want to share a single message: "Our human body is a miraculous, sophisticated bio-chemical-physical machine. It is also our doctor, our own master teacher. When we try to understand the language and messages of the body, we will always find the best solutions that can help improve the quality of our lives."

The story begins with the fact that I have had a long-standing concern about specific characteristics of myself. Their constant presence has made my eating habits unpleasant for many years. Since childhood, my physical body, emotions, and mind have always had a strong rejection reaction whenever there is a sour taste in my food or drink. Additionally, my teeth are weak, prone to cavities, and very sensitive to hot, cold, or physical solid stimuli despite my careful dental care following the recommended techniques of dentists.

For many years, I have sought to understand the root causes and implications of those body signals. I asked doctors, read, and researched why my body is sensitive to sour tastes. I tried to understand from a spiritual perspective by asking, "Is this sour taste related to events that have created such strong emotions that my subconscious still remembers so vividly?" None of the answers I have received have been convincing or helped me change or take appropriate actions to improve my well-being.

As I grew up, I became more aware that my body tends to react strongly to anything containing artificial chemicals - something I have previously discussed in my earlier articles about common traits experienced by highly sensitive individuals and Empaths (such as reactions to prescribed medicine, fragrances, processed food ingredients like MSG, alcoholic beverages, anesthetics, etc.). One reason for this is that the cellular and sensory organs of highly sensitive individuals tend to react much more sensitively than the average threshold of an average person. I do not intend to imply that highly sensitive people are "different" in a negative sense. Instead, I emphasize that this is a biological-emotional-neurological characteristic of highly sensitive individuals. When unaware and understood, this trait can cause a lot of distress and misunderstandings for the highly sensitive person and their loved ones.

Recently, as my daily writing schedule became busier, I found myself having to rely on fast food and takeout meals. This led me to recognize another characteristic of my body. It tends to react unfavorably to fast food, such as fried and stir-fried dishes, dishes high in trans/animal fats, and the additives and food coloring used in restaurant-prepared meals. My body's response in these situations includes tingling sensations in the spine, numbness in the neck, and a frozen head. I got a prolonged burning sensation in the stomach and intestines and discomfort, tightness, and pain in the chest and kidney areas. Sometimes, I could not breathe normally for a few minutes. These reactions significantly impact my quality of life and work.

Two days ago, I talked with a friend who noticed my reaction when my teeth touched an ice cube. He explained a similar trait in himself, which led him to research the ingredients in toothpaste and change the toothpaste to reduce the sensitivity.

What was helpful to me was not just that my friend introduced me to a new brand of toothpaste but about triggering my curiosity to start researching the ingredients in toothpaste and how they helped address the root case that led to tooth sensitivity. When I read the first line of the website of the company that produces the toothpaste, It read "acid-weaken enamel," wow, this was my 'Aha' moment!

So, what was my real 'Aha' moment? It is not because "acid-weaken enamel" is new to me, but because I understood the message my body has been trying to convey for many years. I react strongly to acidic foods not because the food is bad but because my body wants to let me know that "foods and drinks containing a lot of acid are not suitable for my body." The manifestation of this message in my teeth is that my tooth enamel is more prone to erosion than those whose bodies do not react strongly or are more tolerant to acid. So, it's not that my teeth are inherently prone to decay, but that my body is extremely sensitive to (organic) acids in the food and drinks I consume. When these are "processed" in the mouth, biochemical reactions create acids that erode the enamel, the first protective layer, leading to the easy entry of bacteria into these weakened areas. Depending on the individual's body characteristics, this can quickly or over time cause gum inflammation and cavities and ultimately affect the tooth nerve.

So, based on my understanding of my body's message, the solution for my sensitive teeth is to limit the consumption of foods and drinks that trigger acid production in the mouth. I should also use toothpaste that supports enamel protection and stimulates the natural repair process of damaged enamel surfaces.

Similarly, I need to increase the intake of foods that neutralize acid levels and/or restrict foods and drinks with high acidity to the levels that fit the needs of my body. Given my specific characteristics (imbalance of alkalinity and excess acid can lead to oral, stomach, liver, kidney, and lung issues), I should consider using alkaline-rich foods and drinks to maintain a balanced pH level in the body to neutralize acid. Additionally, I should combine suitable physical exercise methods to promote metabolism and detoxification.

I will start implementing these solutions and share with you the results they bring.

I wish you all a happy and healthy weekend, with more self-observation, understanding of your body's language and communication, and more admiration and love for your amazing body.

Written by Dang Bao Nguyet.

Photo by Minh Tam.