A Short List for Prevention, Healing, Maintaining
Do you have unwanted symptoms? Recently I asked this question on a zoom meeting to my group of women I support.
Let me remind you, I have been through a lot. The first five years of trying to heal, I spent thousands of dollars, have tried many doctors both conventional and natural. I have had many tests and tried many different healing protocols, along with so many other things. I wanted to try it all, and eventually I did heal from this awful condition.
I am often asked what I did to heal? What diet do I follow? How did I detox? It took years and it may likely take a book someday to explain it all.
I have come up with a short list I would like to share with you. The list and the order of the list may surprise you.
#1- Stress Management
No matter what diet or what protocol you try, if you do not manage your stress, it will not work, and you will not fully heal. Stress makes us sick. Stress keeps us sick. Regulating your nervous system is key! As you know nutrition is very important to me. At first, I thought it was the number one way to heal. No matter how healthy we eat if we do not control our stress our body cannot digest properly or absorb the nutrition you are eating.
I always ask new members of my support group to rate their level of stress. It is not very surprising the answers I receive. Most everyone in the group has some type of stress in their lives. Whether it be personal, or a relationship problem. Dealing with elderly parents, or the relationship with their children. Maybe your job is very stressful, and of course our chronic illness itself is very stressful.
#2- Breath
Why am I putting breath or breathing as number two? Most people do not breathe properly. Stress does not help. Being anxious and stressed causes irregular breathing. What is the first thing we do when we are born? We breathe we do not eat!
Put your hand on your belly, breathe to see if your belly is rising. You breathe from your belly not your chest. Focus on mindset! Yoga, meditation, practice breathing daily, and proper breathing will become a habit.
#3- Sleep
Rest and digest! I really think breath and sleep are equally important. They go hand in hand.
We need to prioritize sleep over your To Do List. Believe me, I have always had a problem with this and still need lots of work in this area. If you manage your stress and learn how to properly breathe you will sleep better. Sleeping creates healing. Rest and digest! We need to do what it takes to sleep. CBD, meditation, essential oils, turn off the TV, or purchase a pair of blue blocker glasses. Worry causes sleep issues. Being uncomfortable in bed is another big problem.
If you are not comfortable you will not sleep well. Is your mattress comfortable? Are your pillows comfortable? Identify and change what the problem is for your sleeping issues. Make bedtime a routine!
I am sharing a link to a CBD sleep aid I have used.
#4- Water
You hear me talk about the proper amount of filtered water during the day. I am constantly filling my water bottle three to four times a day. Often adding minerals to it. I have shared plenty of products you can add to your water but there is a very simple solution as well if you do not want to spend the money. Adding some Himalayan Sea Salt and a fresh squeezed lemon to water does wonders. Especially first thing in the morning when our bodies are very dehydrated from sleeping all night. Here is just one link of a product I use. I am also adding another product I use that I am not affiliated with.
Half your body weight in ounces in filtered water each day and add 8 ounces more if you work out or drink caffeine.
#5- Food & Nutrition
Some of you are probably wondering why I have this at #5. I want to tell you if you can get the other four things down you will have success in the nutrition department. You are now ready to absorb the nutrients and digest the food you are going to eat. Nutritionally dense food is so important.
The other thing I want to stress, is a food intolerance test. I know this is probably not the number one thing that people want to do because of cost and maybe you just don't believe in it. But I truly believe you can be eating healthy and eating something your body does not agree with or want at this time that could be harming you and causing inflammation. That was me back in 2018. I was eating healthy almonds and found out I was highly intolerant to them.
Real food! One ingredient food! Stay away from packaged or processed foods. Healthy oils only. No fried foods! My list could go on!!!!
If you are interested in a quality food intolerance test, please contact me and I will give you the information. Interpretation is also included, along with a proper protocol.
#6- Movement & Connection
Moving our body does not have to be hardcore workouts. Movement could be walking, yoga, biking, swimming, just move your body!
Connect with people. See people in person! Even though social media is a blessing, it’s also ruining relationships. The Covid mess, is another tragic situation that has ruined relationships and put too much distance between loved ones and friends. We need touch and we need hugs. We need interaction as human beings. Touching people and spending time in person with family and friends help release neurotransmitters. This also helps fight inflammation. Hang with likeminded people, hug family members. Find your people and build relationships. If you have toxic relationships make a change and find people who make you feel good.
#7- Toxins
I am very surprised this is so far down on my list. However, if you do not do the previous bullet points, you will have a hard time detoxing. It took me years and lots of money before ridding my body of toxins and infections. We need to get rid of toxins in our home and try our best to read labels!
Toxins and infection are all around us. Our bodies can handle a small amount, but today we are on overload. This is an area that I had proper testing through Functional medicine and then tackled the problem properly.
Do these things because you love yourself! This list can be explained much more in detail, however I wanted to touch on these things to give you something to think about. I am here for you for further explanation.
Trying to heal causes so much stress. I promise, you will do much better if you concentrate on these things. Yes, your doctor and testing are very important, but I promise you, things will improve if you follow these simple steps. Give yourself grace and stop trying to be everything to everyone. That is my largest issue in life and I'm still working on it.
People often wonder why they are not improving with spending so much money on “proper” supplements and food. We are individuals. Healing is just not doing one thing for 30 days! It’s a puzzle, with lots of pieces! This list may seem simple however this list can be powerful!
