3:39:43 Friday 22 August 2025

Never give up

John Arts
Abundant Living
www.johnarts.co.nz

My favourite motivational cartoon is the one where a large bird is in the process of swallowing a frog, but the frog, head halfway down the bird's throat, is choking the bird with its hands preventing the bird from swallowing. The caption predictably is: 'Never, never give up”!

Unfortunately I get to speak to many people facing health challenges who seem to have given up – without really investigating and trying all available options.

One of my favourite people I help is a man who contacted me over a decade ago – then in his mid 80's complaining about various problems and in his own words he said he 'thought he was on his way out”.

He called yesterday for another three month supply of the antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and Omega 3, which he believes have helped him live in good health for another decade. He recently celebrated his 95th birthday.

My advice to people who are unwell is to look at all your options and work through them. I spoke to someone yesterday with a serious form of cancer with a very uncertain prognosis. She was trying everything. Her strong faith meant she had used prayer and with an open mind had accepted a range of complementary health options, such as high dose intravenous Vitamin C, before having standard chemotherapy. The result being her oncologist has been amazed at her progress. She has really thrown the kitchen sink at the problem and has much better than expected results.

This is exactly my attitude to health problems – whether it is cancer, arthritis in your thumb or just that you always feel tired. My discipline of Nutritional Medicine is almost always compatible with orthodox medical treatment. I am sure that for most people the question is where to start. Whether you speak with me or anyone else, I encourage you to start the process of investigation to look at your options. The first criteria you should use is whether your advisor really has your best interests at heart or are they just trying to sell you something. A good complementary advisor will be very thorough and create a programme specifically for your circumstances. So like the frog, regardless of your circumstances – there is always something you can do. What do you have to lose?

John Arts is the founder of Abundant Health. For product information visit www.abundant.co.nz

If you have questions or would like a free health plan phone 07 578 9051 or 0800 423 559 or email john@johnarts.co.nz

You can join his newsletter at www.johnarts.co.nz