Defending the Borders, Part III
Being Proactive Against Invaders
This month, we’re closing this series by encouraging you to have a strategic lifestyle that protects your Body Nation. It is proactive and anticipatory in nature.
In military terms, this concept is well demonstrated by the events of 9/11 and the Boston Marathon attack in 2013. When events like this occur, our governments stop to ask the question, “How did this happen and how do we prevent it from reoccurring?”
Do you ever look at your health this way? Do you ask yourself what events occurred that left you exhausted, or with a cold, flu, stomach virus or yeast infection? And more importantly, what can you do going forward to prevent this from happening again? Here are simple proactive and defensive strategies to prevent attack.
Make Wellness Your Lifestyle Routine
Our lifestyle choices direct us in one of two directions: toward disease or toward wellness. Where are your choices taking you? Adopting a healthy lifestyle for life is the single greatest step you can take toward staying well and protecting your health. The core foundational pieces must include:
- Food and water choices that truly nourish the physical structure of the body.
- Spiritual or meditative time for mental health and self-respect.
- Quality sleep for healing, balance, detoxification and restoration.
- Routine exercise for strength, stress reduction and stamina.
Are you taking good care of yourself? Get started on a commitment to continually adjust your lifestyle to achieve balance in this foundation for wellness.
Anticipating What Lies Ahead
To avoid getting caught off guard, like our nation did with 9/11, you will find it helpful to anticipate possibilities and take protective, preventative measures. Here are examples of what this looks like:
- Crazy Busy Week Ahead: Schedule and plan non-negotiable self-care appointments for wise food choices, adequate sleep, exercise and quiet time.
- Germy Places: Anticipate airplanes, hospital visits or being in crowded venues and increase probiotic intake for a day or two before, during and after. In addition, keep you hands clean and off of your face. (The more people you are around, the more likely germs will be passed).
- Life’s Most Stressful Events: Recognize that the most difficult life events require a wellness strategy. A dying parent, loss of a job, divorce or loss of someone you love each demand streamlining your life by delegating what you can, stepping away from some commitments for a time, and investing more time in self-care and wellness. Consider professional help, rally friends and family for support, ask your wellness provider about diet and supplements that can help to ease anxiety, reduce inflammation and improve rest.
- Feels Like You Are Coming Down With Something:
o At bedtime, increase your military force right where you need it by opening a probiotic capsule and dumping its contents on the back of your tongue before putting your head on the pillow. Doing this places military forces right in the ears, nose and throat.
o Consider adding or increasing supplements that boost your immune function such as probiotics, Silver Sol, zinc, vitamin D and vitamin C. (See Supplement of the Month section in this newsletter.)
o Focus on anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, antioxidant foods (see the Nutrition article in this newsletter.)
- General Maintenance and Upkeep: Seasonally, take time to cleanse your body through juicing, fasting, eating raw or some similar cleansing technique that works well for you. Consult with Nancy Mehlert, our nutritionist, for methods that will meet your individual needs.
- Take Direction from Your Body: Most of us are miserably out of relationship with our body. It does speak to you, so learn to listen to it! Listen for thirst, pain, exhaustion, fullness, or hunger and respond with provision. If a craving exists for a healthy food such as a vegetable, nut, or meat, then meet that demand by getting that exact food. (Be aware of malware messages for donuts, ice cream or chips. If you get those messages, some other malicious invader is attacking you).
- Get Out In Front of Potential Trouble: If you know you have to have x-rays taken or a certain medical procedure will involve antibiotics or steroids, put a dietary and supplemental plan in place to protect and maintain your gut bacteria by increasing probiotic doses and consulting with your wellness provider for assistance.
Anticipating possible damage, taking proactive steps, and developing a well balanced lifestyle will lead you to wellness.