Are you tired, achy, suffer from headaches, have gatro-intestinal upset, or other health issues?
I want you to know that these are not “signs of getting older” and it does not have to be this way.
I love those stories where you hear about 70 year-olds, 80 year-olds, and beyond, who have great health and quietly die in their sleep.
I don’t know about you, but I want to be one of those people and I want to help you be one of those people too.
And the answer is just as easy as they tell you, but without any tricks or gimmicks. My mentor has drilled this into our heads and I am going to share the secret with you in this 3-part series.
Those people have maximized what their bodies need, minimized what does not serve them, and, the truly key part, gotten out of their own way to give the space their bodies need to thrive.
Let’s start with maximizing what your body needs…
Our bodies need excellent nutrition, but that is not always as simple as it sounds. You may eat all the organic fruits and vegetables in the world and be super picky about consuming only grass-fed meat but if your body does not have a strong, healthy digestive system, you may not be absorbing the nutrients that you body is looking for. Supplementation may work but let’s dig deeper and look at the root cause:
- Chewing is one of the only parts of the digestive track that we can control. Make eating a mindful celebration. Make sure that you are calm and in a good place mentally because if you are stressed, your body will suppress stomach acid and you won’t be able to digest your food. Take the time to really chew your food. It should almost be a meditation. Chew your food 20-30 times; until it is almost liquid. Your digestion begins in your mouth, so take the time to give it a chance.
- Do you suffer from heartburn, take a proton pump inhibitor, or have a lot of stress? These are all signs that you have low stomach acid. Stomach acid is needed to properly breakdown the food that you consume. Without properly breaking down certain foods, especially protein, you don’t have enough amino acids to create neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine that keep us happy, allow us proper sleep, and help curb our cravings, among other things. Stomach acid may be increased by consuming apple cider vinegar or hydrochloric acid with peptain in the middle of a meal or by using bitters, depending on each person’s individuality.
- Do you move your bowels at least once per day? Do you suffer from constipation or diarrhea? All of these things give us information on how things are working in the small and large intestines where vitamins are made, nutrients are absorbed, and enzymes are released to help us further take what we need from our food. For constipation, magnesium citrate is frequently the answer. For diarrhea, psyllium husks may help. Again, you do not have to suffer with constipation or diarrhea but each person is unique.
What are some of the nutrients that your body may be missing? Listen to your body!
- Low serotonin, made from amino acids, may result in insomnia, depression, and constipation.
- Inadequate tyrosine, another amino acid, may lead to hypothyroidism, ADD/ADHD, depression, and restless leg syndrome.
- Low magnesium could cause osteopenia, headaches, constipation, muscle spasms, heart issues, hypertension, and GERD.
- Symptoms of low iron include anemia, fatigue, feeling cold or numb from oxygen not reaching the tissues, and hypothyroidism.
- Low vitamin B12 often results in low energy, neuropathy, and heart issues.
Of course, this is a very short list of your body telling you what may be missing.
These are all things that a good health coach can help you identify and find ways to increase your unique body’s way to bring these things that you need on board. Let me know if you would like help with this.
Missy Cohen, MPH, Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach is the owner of Just Breathe, a Salt Room and Healing Center, LLC. and my be reached at justbreatheasaltroom@gmail.com or by calling 508-366-8292. Consults may be done in person or over the phone.
