Hello Friends! With fall fast approaching (It doesn't feel like it in Texas with our 97 degree weather but the calendar don't lie!) you may be under the persuasion that along with fall and winter come an inevitable barrage of colds, flu, and the like. And while it does seem like "flu season" happens every year around this time, it's important to note that there are other factors involved when it comes to people getting sick around this time of year. Holiday sugar uptake and less time outside to name a few.
A common misconception is that we just need to get our flu shots (or insert any other recurring virus here that applies) and we will be fine but that just isn't true.
Health isn't found inside of a needle. It doesn't come by overly sanitizing every single object or stripping our hands of the natural bacteria required to fight off viruses. It isn't written into existence by way of a prescription pad. No, true health begins when we take personal responsibility for the care of our bodies. When we treat them the way they were designed to be treated.
A healthy and strong body is always the best defense against sickness and disease.
You see, God gave our bodies the most amazing ability to heal. The problem is that we are inundated with toxins. Everything from the air we breathe, to the food we eat, to the products we put on our skin and cook with. These toxins contribute to chronic disease, compromise the immune system, and impair the body's ability to fight off illness.
As well as being on toxin overload, there are certain things our bodies need to thrive that many are sorely lacking. Good, clean food. Vitamins. Minerals. Rest, water, and sunshine.
Unfortunately, you won't find this information blasted on the nightly news. Teaching people to take control of their health doesn't bode well for the pharmaceutical industry and those who profit off of our illness. But I digress.
I've compiled a list of seven of my top tips for staying healthy. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but implementing these strategies will go a long way towards keeping your immune system strong.
1. Drink more water. Your body needs water to survive and thrive. Many of us are dehydrated, which causes a slew of health problems. Half of your body weight in ounces per day is a great place to start. Eliminate dehydrating and sugary drinks like soda and replace with water.
2. Always choose organic produce when it comes to the dirty dozen list. Berries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, and potatoes. These are the most highly sprayed with pesticides. Glyphosate (the main ingredient in roundup) is known to cause cancer and other disease. Corn and wheat products should be added to this list as well.
3. Drastically limit packaged, processed goods. Instead focus on real foods: fruits, vegetables, pasture-raised meat, fish, nuts, seeds, healthy fats, and organic whole grains. Some bodies do better eliminating entire food groups like dairy and gluten. I highly recommend an elimination diet to determine how these foods affect your body.
4. Avoid refined sugar. Sugar is a major factor in chronic disease and it contributes greatly to a weakened immune system. Be aware that sugar hides under many different names on an ingredient label.
5. Eliminate inflammatory oils. Highly refined seed and vegetable oils wreak havoc on your body, down to the cellular level. They cause harm to your arteries, organs, and brain, and create a hostile environment in the body that can lead to an increase in the risk of cancer.
6. Fast. Your body needs time to do what it was designed to do and it can't heal itself if it is constantly in digestion mode. Beautiful things happen in the body during fasting. Eating within a time period of 8-10 hours per day and then fasting for 14-16 hours a day is extremely beneficial and throwing in some longer fasts monthly will do wonders for the body.
7. Detox. Years of toxic buildup leave our bodies filled with junk that needs to be eliminated. There are many different cleanses and supplements available that will help your body to clear chemicals, heavy metals, etc. It's important for your detox pathways to be supported during this process. Detoxing with the guidance of a professional is always recommended.
Implementing these strategies for better health will keep your body strong. And when the next virus rolls around you can be confident in your body's ability to do exactly what it has been designed to do. If you're ready to get healthy and need help with a personalized wellness plan, book a consultation with me here.
Stay healthy Friends!
Amy
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