Primary Healthcare

Biography

Biography: Tim Carr

Abstract

Diet and lifestyle are recognized as the primary determinants of major chronic diseases. Primary health care physicians are ideally placed to advise patients about primary and secondary preventive measures. Compliance, however, is largely dependent on patients’ motivation. This can be improved by personalizing preventive advice, so that the recommended measures are more relevant to and compatible with the patient. Maharishi Ayurveda, the reconstruction of the ancient Vedic system of medicine, offers a systematic approach to adapt preventive advice to the patient. Central to this approach is the determination of the patient’s mind/body type and digestive capability. This is assessed through a short questionnaire and simple clinical examination. The mind/body type is indicative of the patient’s metabolic type and responsiveness to different food groups, exercise programs and daily routines. Knowing the patient’s digestive capability, however, is the first step in formulating the dietary advice. It is known that the products of digestion can alter gut flora and the integrity of the gut lining and in turn influence the body’s immunological and endocrinological responses. Dietary manipulation of the digestive function therefore can have a major impact on health outcomes. In this approach the patient also learns to monitor the effects of dietary and lifestyle changes and to modify them accordingly – and is thereby empowered to take more responsibility for his or her health. Clinical experience confirms that by personalizing diet and lifestyle prescriptions in this way and educating the patient to self-monitor the results, compliance with preventive advice is greatly enhanced.