Immunity+: Revitalise in 28 Days

By Dr Mickey Mehta and Sanjeev Kapoor

Better immunity in 28 days with Dr Mickey Mehta. Plus daily meal plans from chef Sanjeev Kapoor.

People want to do everything they can to strengthen their immune system and stay healthy - especially in the face of a global pandemic. But there is no magic pill to reduce the risk of infections. Only a holistic approach can help you lead an optimally healthy and vibrant life.

In Immunity+: Revitalise in 28 Days, leading holistic health and fitness guru Dr Mickey Mehta and acclaimed chef Sanjeev Kapoor collaborate to create an easy-to-follow schedule to integrate the mind-body-and-spirit connection. From yoga exercises to mindful meditation and nutritional-packed food recipes, the book has it all.

Drawing from the best of ancient wisdom and modern science frontiers, Dr Mehta shows you how to revitalise and restore your prana or life force. Chef Kapoor's vegetarian dishes are a treat for your taste buds while containing the nutrients you will need to help fight off the most stubborn diseases.

Your go-to source to enhance your body's natural defences, Immunity+ is a must-read.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins India
• Release date: Nov 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9789354891274

Dr Mickey Mehta and Sanjeev Kapoor

Dr Mickey Mehta has been a leading global holistic health guru and a corporate life coach for 36 years. His previous books include Lose Weight Gain Shape (2019) and The Shoonyam Quotient (2017). Sanjeev Kapoor is an Indian chef, TV host, entrepreneur and author of several bestselling cookbooks.  

Book preview

Introduction

We generally take our health for granted until some chronic ailment wakes us up. Then, we take recourse to medical help. Medicines, by and large, help to suppress the symptoms; however, the state of disease may not disappear. It is then we wonder—what can we do to stay healthy effortlessly?

We start looking at lifestyle changes, and that is if we think we need to. At times we are oblivious to this factor as other pressing issues consume our thoughts and time. We don’t just miss the bus—we miss out on the right direction that will lead us to a healthy destination.

Here I’d like to say that the human mind is capable of manifesting one’s reality.

Competition at work, excessive ambitions, marital issues, relationship concerns, parent–child arguments, and endless other issues create a stress-mess. Weighed down by these problems, we lose our clarity of thought. We get lost managing all these issues, instead of focusing on ourselves.

Stress and illness go hand in hand. There are many diseases that are caused by stress.¹ Emotional stressors affect the immune system, which breaks down the natural defence mechanism of the body.

A negative state of mind is a risk factor for major illnesses.² Our thoughts, emotions, feelings, passions, likes and dislikes, beliefs and attitude influence major changes in our body. Illnesses show up in the mind first and then in the body … we call them psychosomatic illnesses. Your hatred will kill happy hormones, your resentment will ruin your ease, your detestation will translate into disease and your anger will put your biology in danger. The grudges and resentment we hold against one another, our hatred and anger towards some people, and envy and jealousy towards others; all these negative emotions affect our health and can cause the onset of disease.³ We must learn to get over them, as harbouring and supressing debilitating emotions can be a very unhealthy way to live, which brings upon us a complete paralysis of our state of being.

For years now, ever since the Spanish Flu in 1918, the world has been facing pandemics that have left the common man baffled. But before that, in late 1917, the world was exposed to radio waves/radio frequencies (RF). Radio waves are a type of electro-magnetic radiation. According to studies, when any biological system is exposed to a new electro-magnetic field, the cells in our body are destabilised because of the RF.⁴ This causes a state of disorder, discomfort, disease, decay and ultimately death.

In 1968, we had the Hong Kong Flu. The world was at that time once again exposed to radio waves and satellites.

Today, as we confront COVID-19, one of the most dangerous challenges this world has faced in our lifetime, we are exposed to RF radiation from radio and TV broadcasts, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, cell phones (and cell phone towers), and to top it all, 5G.

Is it just a coincidence that these outbreaks coincided with the disturbance of the electromagnetic field, disrupting the flow and rhythm of natural energy?

Healing goes beyond just the body. If we want to get healthier, we need to be aware of our minds and bodies to manage it harmoniously. We can say we have been healed completely when we find our inner equilibrium, when we have better awareness of our being to learn to be in harmony with our inner and outer environment. This heals the separation, the dividing lines, and helps us become whole once again. Cultivating a culture of creative thoughts, productive deeds and companionate words will channelize our emotional energy, translating into a baseline biology, which we call homeostasis. We can channelize our emotions through various means. Eating healthy, pranayama, affirmations, essential oils and various yogic Vedic practices work wonders with the mind–body–soul system. The organic unity of the cellular community gives rise to IMMUNITY FOR HUMANITY.

Above all, we must remember that the most important part of healing is letting go, letting it be, give and forgive.

Holistic healing is where you consider the body, mind, spirit and emotions for the overall healing of the individual. Helping you strengthen this connection between your body and mind is the cosmic energy, prana.

I’ve spent over 40 years exploring various facets of health and healing, getting this world MICKEYMIZED with my signature blend of ancient wisdom, married to modern frontiers of science, endeavouring for a disease-free world along with wit and wisdom on wellness and helping people lead disease-free and healthy lives. I have interwoven Yoga, Ved, Zen, Tao, Tantra plus Chinese, Greek and many more philosophies to develop an innovative, holistic health system to self-heal, transform and transcend. At the crux of my 28-day master plan for boosting immunity is increasing prana, the life-giving force that we require to regulate our fast-paced lives.

Ancient cultures believe in the presence of an ‘energy body’ in addition to the anatomy of the physical body, prana, nadis and chakras, which I’ve tried to explain in Section I and throughout the book in bits and pieces.

In simple terms, prana is extracted from the air we breathe from the infinite space (akasha) we live in. It is prana that stimulates and enhances the immune system primarily. By strengthening and boosting our immune cells, prana improves our chances of coping with any kind of viruses, bacteria and germs. Once we are conscious of this, managing our well-being becomes easier.

It is time we learn to take charge of our lives and work at making our immunity infinite, invincible with its army of solider cells, and our inner strength uncompromisable to cope with these invasions.

Dr Mickey Mehta

A virus is toxic purge from toxic cells,

The electromagnetic fields, our behaviour—inwards and outwards,

and our personalities/characters

Can make us responsible or irresponsible actors

The culprit is not the virology, your actions and beliefs can change you biology

Faith can change your physiology

Breathing can change hormonology

Meditation and prayers can change your psychology

Spread positivity

No room for negativity!

Get optimized!

Get Mickeymized!

SECTION - I

The Science of Prana

1

Soothed Nerves, Life’s Reserves

A short overview of the nervous system

Our nervous system is a collection of nerves and specialized cells called neurons. This network of nerves and cells is responsible for communication within the body. The nervous system transmits signals to all parts of the body. It is the centre of activities such as learning, thought and memory. It is made up of the brain, the spinal cord and the network of nerves.

The nervous system is divided into two parts

The somatic nervous system controls the voluntary actions of the body such as walking, writing and typing. The nerves connect to the skin, sensory organs and all skeletal muscles.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates the involuntary functions of the body such as digestion, excretion, sweating, heart rate, respiratory rate, pupillary response, urination and sexual arousal. It also regulates the heart, lungs, stomach, intestine, liver, kidneys, bladder, genitals, sweat, and the salivary and digestive glands.

The ANS functions via its two branches—the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). As we know, the nerves of both systems control various functions of the organs in our body.

The SNS gets the body ready for the fight or flight response. This response can be read via blood pressure, cardiac output, increased heart rate, bronchial dilation in the lungs, the release of stress hormones and metabolic changes such as increased blood sugar levels. In fight or flight mode, the body gears up to cope with any stressful situation.

On the other hand, the PNS relaxes and slows down the body. It helps to balance the effects of stress. Normalcy is restored to the body by conserving and restoring energy.

A balance between these two systems is called homeostasis.

In our everyday life, we cannot always flee from stressful situations. The fight and flight response may not be the best or the most appropriate one at times. When we find ourselves experiencing negative feelings and stressors, we often tend to suppress them. This has a negative effect on our body, building up to chronic stress, which eventually manifests as disease.

The hypothalamus—an important organ in building immunity

This is a little organ but a very important one. It is the main connection between the mind and the body. It is located near the base of the brain near the pituitary gland and the thalamus. It plays a very important role in many important processes of the body.

The most crucial role of the hypothalamus is to keep the body in homeostasis as much as possible, which is a healthy balanced state. Some of its other important functions are controlling body temperature, thirst, appetite and weight control, emotions, sleep patterns, sex drive, childbirth, blood pressure, pulse rate, and the making and balancing of bodily fluids.

When there are unbalanced factors in the body that need to be addressed, the parts of the body affected send signals to the brain and they alert the hypothalamus. In response, the hypothalamus releases hormones into the bloodstream. This helps in restoring balance to the body.

The hypothalamus acts as a bridge between the hormonal system and the nervous system. It is also connected to the pituitary gland.

The pituitary gland plays a major role in the body as it controls all other endocrine glands. Information is passed through the nerve fibres between the thalamus and the pituitary gland through hormones. Together they control the many glands that produce the hormones of the body, called the endocrine system. Some of the glands are the thyroid gland, the adrenal cortex and the reproductive glands (gonads).

Our emotional and physiological states are linked to the hypothalamus.

The ANS is regulated by the hypothalamus and controls our internal organs and glands, including such processes as pulse, blood pressure, breathing, and arousal in response to emotional circumstances.

When we are highly stressed, there is an imbalance between the hypothalamus, nerves, hormones and the immune system, resulting in disease. Constant stress batters the body’s defence mechanism and creates internal imbalances that can cause psychosomatic illnesses.¹

Psychological and emotional states influence the development of any physical illness such as blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers and susceptibility to infections, backaches and cancer.²

Whenever we fall ill, we must go to a doctor; however, there are times the medicine does not work and the illness persists.

So how do we make ourselves invincible then?

Look back and see, identify any change, regulate your attitude towards life or an individual and the thought processes at that point in time. It could be the cause of the illness.

The six important chemical elements in the body

We must become aware of the six important chemical elements present in our body, proper consumption of which keeps the body healthy and invincible. We are already aware that the ANS regulates much of our bodily functions. The proper release of hormones, which are neurochemicals, (i.e., that participate in neural activity) are responsible for the body functioning well. To reiterate, our thoughts release certain vibrations that affect the balance of our hormones.

Happy thoughts release happy hormones and negative thoughts release acidic neurochemicals that are damaging to the body. They block the flow of oxygen and healthy fluids to our nervous system and the brain.

Certain organs in our body help release the chemicals mentioned here. These organs are governed by our hormones and our hormones need not only good and positive thoughts, but they also need prana, the life force or oxygen that rejuvenates every cell in our body.

Yes, one can get some of these chemicals through food. However, prana is the best source.

Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus are the six chemical elements that make up 99 per cent of the mass of the human body.

Sixty-five per cent of the body is made up of oxygen. Oxygen is an oxidizing agent. Large amounts of oxygen are found in the lungs and the bloodstream. Oxygen that is inhaled from the air is bound in the haemoglobin in the blood. It is this oxygen in the cells that helps produce the energy that the cells require to function and repair.

Carbon dioxide is present in every single molecule of the body. It is thrown out as a waste product when we breathe. It accounts for a lot of our metabolic reactions in the body.

Oxygen and hydrogen are bound together to form water. Hydrogen is found in every molecule of the body as well. It acts as a positive ion in chemical reactions. (An atom is made up of neutrons, protons and electrons. Ions are charged atoms or molecules. An atom is said to be a negative ion when it has more electrons than protons as its composition. And if it has more protons than electrons, it is a positive ion.)

Naturally, nitrogen gas should be found in our lungs as nitrogen makes up 78 per cent of the air we breathe. Nitrogen in our body is a component of amino acids. Peptides and proteins are built by amino acids. Nitrogen is also an important component of our DNA and RNA (stores genetic information).

Calcium is the most abundant metallic element in the human body. Almost 99 per cent of it can be found in our bones and teeth. Lack of or low levels of calcium can result in teeth problems and bone issues. However, this is not its most important function. Calcium is used in muscle contraction and protein regulation. When overall levels of calcium are low, the body can divert some from the bones, making them brittle and prone to injury. Over time, having too little calcium can cause osteoporosis. Hence it becomes necessary for us to upscale our diet to ensure that the body gets enough calcium.

Phosphorous is needed to keep the teeth and bones strong. It helps in the making of proteins that we require for our growth, and in the maintenance, regulation and repair of cells.

Life hurts, life heals,

Life soothes, life peels,

In perfect balance life smoothly wheels,

Let balance be prioritized.

Get Mickeymized!

2

Vibrate with Energy, Create Synergy

Understanding prana

This is an excerpt taken from a very old Vedic story.

The