‘Hacks To Ideal Living’
Foundations For Health -Part 1
Food is medicine.
This wouldn’t be the first time I’ve brought to light ideas for food exchanges and eating protocols that (from my experience and understanding) make a big impact on our mind and body’s ability to be well.
Recently, there have been too many people I know diagnosed with an illness or issue of some kind and it’s hard to just sit back and do/say nothing.
When those closest to us face ‘problems’ that are surprisingly — or not — preventable, or at least more easily managed with relatively simple lifestyle changes and basic understandings of the foundations for health, I can’t help but want to share what I’ve studied, observed, researched, experienced and learned by trial and error.
While genetics do play a role toward the probability of one day living with an ailment such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and the like, its contribution is actually very low relative to many external factors we have the ability to control or mitigate.
For example; stress- whether it be emotional, physical or cellular, environmental toxins such as pollution, pesticides and chlorinated tap water, unprocessed trauma and childhood maltreatment, some food and drink and unnecessary adjuvants we use or eat all cause an inflammatory response in our body and wreak havoc on our systems.
The following are just some of the thoughts and statements I’ve heard or have been told over the years and, unfortunately, these instances have increased as I age:
- “He eats (or IS) so healthy, I can’t believe he’s got cancer.”
- “Diabetes? But she is so active.”
- “I’m already on a medication for that.”
- “I only have a couple glasses of wine or beer each night.”
- “I eat healthy.”
- “I eat low-fat.”
- “I drink enough water.”
- “I exercise.”
- “Well, it does run in my family so…”
- “Be careful! High blood pressure is genetic.”
…and the list goes on.
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I’m not sure if people simply choose to be passive yet reactive - stuck in a mindset of intentional disregard when they actually know what to do or have the capability of learning but they just don’t want to…until something happens to them or someone they love.
It could also be a simple misunderstanding of knowledge because there is so much information out there and it's hard to know what to do or what to follow. Do I follow the Canada Food Guide? It's 'healthy' right? (the answer is no). Is organic even a real thing?
It could also be an attitude of defeat that things will be as they will be…as if they have no choice in what happens to them…like a powerless boat out in the ocean during a storm getting thrown around in all directions…it's all genetic right?
Again, the answer is no.
We, as awesomely-created human beings, indeed have the ability to address, help and mitigate what happens to us…at least on a few levels.
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To be continued…
-Becky
