I almost died 6 years ago. I took a dangerous black box antibiotic and spent every day for the next 2 years fighting for my life.
There’s no real cure. And doctors couldn’t help me. So I joined a fluoroquinolone toxicity group where more than 10,000 members worldwide were forced to cure the progressive toxic illness before it killed us.
In doing so, we had to become biologists and developed knowledge on healing modalities that in many ways made some of us healthier than we ever were before. Before I became ill, I had been planning a trip to Asia but it became impossible. Now, 6 years later after full recovery, I’m a stronger person with a new zest for life and an unfinished quest for worldwide travel. It’s been a blessing to come full circle and finally get to live out my dreams.
So believe me when I tell you, I’ve earned my chops in holistic health advice. With the help of my Creator, I saved my own life while on my death bed.
The tips I’m about to share just might transform you too. At the very least, they’ll help you better steam through your journeys. And what better way to traverse the world than in tip top shape.
Nutrients Are the Fuel That Keeps You Going
It starts with what you put into your body. Many people don’t understand how important this really is. They think it’s ok to snack on nutrient empty foods filled with preservatives that are silently destroying their bodies.
It’s like putting sand in a Ferrari when it requires premium gasoline.
Because of the illness, my body has developed an autoimmune reaction to food preservatives. Because now it identifies them as foreign, which they are. While it causes me symptoms like crippling arthritic pain, I’m thankful that my eyes are now wide open. Because before, the damage was occurring silently. The cure is simple. I just don’t eat them.
Listen, if you can’t identify the ingredients on a label, you shouldn’t be eating it in the first place. It took me near death to undo my lifetime of eating habits and switch from status quo junk to pure one ingredient whole foods like eggs, apples, avocado and almonds. These foods are living foods. They grow on trees and underground. They contain nutrients designed to nourish your cells in very specific ways made by your Creator to help you thrive. Because trust me, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese isn’t gonna save your life.
I put together a list of the foods that I feel are most nutrient dense and beneficial to the body. They are salmon, blueberries, pomegranate, broccoli, avocado and almonds. Get as much as you can.
You can also add in things to your diet like chia seeds, spirulina and moringa to aid your body further. I recommend getting your nutrients from real foods as this is how the body best absorbs them.
And here’s a few tips to make sure that you’re absorbing those nutrients optimally. Don’t take antacids. Your stomach is supposed to be acidic so it can break down foods efficiently and absorb nutrients. Also, try to chew your food more to better break it down to aid in the absorption. Don’t overdo it with smoothies. Because when you chew food, enzymes are naturally released that will also help break down foods. With smoothies there is no chewing. Also, I never drink anything 30 minutes before or after a meal. Because it will dilute your stomach acid and make it less potent.
When it comes to actual supplements, I only take a few. Magnesium, K2, Black Seed Oil and Soursop.
K2 helps shuttle calcium from the soft tissue in your body to your bones and teeth where it belongs. I became a true believer of that when I no longer had plaque building up on my teeth after supplementing with K2. It was clearly shuttling the calcium buildup to my bones. And when we keep the plaque off our teeth, we’re also doing our gums a huge favor. I’m convinced that it also helps decalcify the pineal gland which I believe might also be susceptible to calcium build up.
Magnesium is required in over 300 biological processes in the body which include the production of both serotonin and melatonin. So when you’re depressed and can’t sleep – think magnesium. It always seemed odd to me that when people are depressed they also can’t sleep. Now it makes total sense. It’s could be a magnesium deficiency.
If you’re traveling to countries near the ocean, the water is filled with magnesium. There are 5 Blue Zone locations in the world where there’s an above average number of centenarians living there. Centenarians are people who live to the age of 100. Those locations are Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California. While the people here eat an abundance of plant based foods, engage in daily physical activity, have strong social connections and live a relaxed lifestyle – It’s not a surprise to me that all of them are near the ocean. Four of them are islands completely surrounded by water.
Do be careful about the local food as you travel. While you’ll be introduced to some amazing fruits and vegetables that you’ve probably never heard of, you’ll also probably be introduced to some gastrointestinal issues.
India and other third world countries are known to have water that isn’t clean. While they might not drink the tap water, many still use it in their cooking believing that the heat kills the bacteria that makes it unhealthy. But that requires a consistent temperature for a specific amount of time.
Be especially careful of street food which has the added risk of being prepared by people who do not have to follow the guidelines that restaurants do. While the temptation is high to try Indian samosas, Thai moo ping and Mexican tamales from the street vendors, I save my appetite for restaurant foods. Especially since street foods that contain meat put you at the most risk. It’s just not worth it to me to become ill even for a day, let alone long term with hepatitis.
Exercise Wherever You Are
A big concern for many nomads is finding a new gym when they relocate. But many digital nomad hubs are geared with gyms. The more realistic concern is what happens when you’re exploring more remote areas?
I’ve never been a gym person so this has never been a problem for me. I don’t enjoy sweating and grunting in front of strangers during my workouts. I’ve always worked out at home. My transition to exercising on the road was easy. On the road, I use the weight of my own body as my gym.
I do planks for my core, crunches for my abs, cheater pushups for my upper body, and squats for my legs. I also carry a portable exercise band that I used in physical rehab after a back injury. It hardly takes up any space in my suitcase.
Then I make sure I get a nice 30 minute walk in every day. The beauty of new locations is that I get to find a new hike every time I get to a new place and see wonderful new things.
When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, the key is to ingrain it into your routine. As if this is just a part of who you are so that it feels off if you don’t do it. Because the weight gain and sluggishness will come fast if you don’t get the right nutrients and exercise regularly. Invest in yourself now, because it’s only going to get harder as we age.
But there’s more. So much more. The following health modalities have given me mind blowing health results. I know some don’t look very appealing, but I encourage you to try them out for a period of time and gauge how they make you feel.
Healing Modalities Practiced All Over the World
Fasting
We were never designed to be grazing food all throughout the day. When we fast, it gives our digestive system a break so that our bodies and blood flow can go to other parts of the body for healing. Constant eating also causes insulin spikes all day long.
Buddhist and Hindu cultures know this and practice fasting regularly. For them it’s a spiritual experience that helps them practice self control, to learn and grow and to purify negative karma.
I healed the most from plant based foods. My relationship with them became spiritual. And thus, I allowed my restraint of them to also open up the door to spirituality. To enable me to appreciate them all the more when I would break my fast.
I do an 18 hour intermittent fast every day. I only eat during a 6 hour window of time with lunch at 11:30 and dinner at 5:30. It took no more than a couple of weeks to become very comfortable in this routine without feeling like I was depriving myself
Then I began to add in a 24 fast every month. Once you hit the 24 hour mark, your body starts to eat up its own damaged cells. Damaged cells that are wreaking havoc on your body functions. Once those cells are gone, your body begins to function more smoothly.
After each 24 hour fast, I noticed how much the inflammation in my body had gone down because my brain felt so clear. Inflammation in the brain causes brain fog and memory issues.
Extreme Cold Therapy
“The Iceman”, Wim Hoff from the Netherlands, made extreme cold exposure a real thing. But I realized its powerful effects when I was forced to stand outside in 30 degree weather for 45 minutes at the DMV due to Covid distancing.
I was at the height of my illness and suffered from severe brain fog. When I arrived back home, I couldn’t help but notice how much clearer my brain felt. Not to mention the decrease in feverish flu like symptoms.
Sauna
The Scandinavian countries have a culture of sauna use. Sauna was something I had tried before I tried extreme cold therapy and saw good results. I went from feeling like toxic waste to feeling relatively healthy after each detoxing session. But I couldn’t keep up with the cost.
The Native Americans also deeply understand its benefits and gather for sweat lodges that go on for hours of ceremonial detoxing.
Sunlight
Don’t ever let them tell you the sun is bad. It recharges the mitochondria in your cells. It also sets your circadian rhythm by initiating melatonin production first thing in the morning to then release it at night when it gets dark for a good night’s sleep. Most doctors will tell you that sleep is far more helpful than psych meds.
Grounding
Don’t forget to kick off your shoes and go barefoot on your travels as the earth emits negative ions which spark our charge and keeps us healthy. Positive ions that are bad for us come in the form of pollution, dust, pollen and mold. You can get beneficial negative ions in the form of waterfalls, the ocean and even the shower. Have you ever noticed how refreshed you feel after a good rain storm? That’s because it produces negative ions that your body absorbs.
While you’re at it, do some forest bathing too. The Japanese call it Shinrin-yoku. Not only do trees emit negative ions, they also provide a lot of oxygen.
Vibration
One of the most interesting modalities I discovered along the way is vibrational therapy. Before I started fasting, even before I did extreme cold therapy, I came across a massage therapist in my sickest state. I was hoping to massage the toxins from my body. But what she introduced me to at the end of our session, I will never forget.
At the end she asked if I’d like her to perform a singing bowl on me. I was desperate to heal and ready to try anything. So she placed the bowl on my body and slowly moved a thick stick around its rim. A vibrating sound emerged. In the moment, I didn’t feel anything. But after I left, it felt as if my shattered body was coming together. The sensation would only last for a few hours, but I would remember it forever.
Here’s my theory on why it works. All of our cells function at a certain optimal vibration. When our cells and systems go down, that vibration also goes down. I believe when the therapist performed the singing bowl on me that my cells found their original vibration and they along with my systems and entire body started working in harmony again. But my body was so toxic at the time, that they soon lost their vibration again.
You’ll find singing bowls used in Southeast Asia and in Tibetan and Himalayan cultures. I’m planning a trip to Nepal and can’t wait to practice this healing modality in the very region where the practice comes from.
Conclusion
I hope these health tips help keep you healthy, strong and living your best life. Moreso, I hope they help provide the endurance you need to travel this beautiful world. For it’s those beautiful cultures around the world that gifted these healing modalities to you.
Before you ever leave for your new destination, make sure that you are covered by traveler’s health insurance, because most health insurance plans won’t cover your medical costs in a foreign country.
Become mindful about what you put into your body because nutrients are your fuel, exercise even when there’s not a gym and use fasting, extreme cold therapy, sauna, sunlight and vibrational therapy to help make you super human. Because these are the very things that helped me to travel the world again.
Delicious travels!
