Are you Healthy?

Defining terms is important.  “Health” is an extremely relative term.  

Many doctors will tell their patients that they are healthy if there are no red flags on their blood work (even if they don’t feel well).  Basically, if they don’t have a disease, they are medically healthy.

But I’d love for you to consider a different view of health.  What does it mean to be truly healthy?  Not just, not sick…but optimally well!

What would it look like to be healthy?

How would it feel to be healthy?

What could you accomplish if you were healthy?

How would it impact your family, business/job and future to be healthy?

I am not seeking to convince you that you’re not in good shape or that you’re worse than you thought.  Rather, I’d like for you to consider what might be possible for you.  You were created to feel amazing, radiant and full of life…energy by day, peaceful sleep by night.

7 Signs that you could use a health upgrade:

1. Low energy during the day- This is something many people are challenged by and has lots of potential causes.  But make no mistake…it is NOT normal!  It may be common but that doesn’t mean it’s normal or healthy.  Of course, the best course of action is to figure out what’s taking your energy.  It could be trouble sleeping¹ or a poor diet² or high stress and anxiety¹ or a lack of a specific micronutrient (like vitamin C, B vitamins, iron, magnesium and zinc).³ 
2. Trouble with sleep at night- You need 7-9 hours of good quality sleep each night with minimal interruptions.  A lack of sleep can lead to excess weight (or trouble losing weight),⁴ increased anxiety and depression,⁵ headaches⁶ and literally all causes of mortality.⁷  Another way to say it would be that not getting enough good sleep, makes your life shorter and everything more difficult.  For more on sleep, click here.
3. Irregular or uncomfortable elimination (aka bowel movements)- Healthy bowel movements should happen at least once per day and be “LBS”, long, brown and smooth.  You should be able to pass them with ease (no pain or straining).  Anything outside of that likely indicates that something is off.  Again, we’d want to figure out what the problem could be…potentially, stress, diet or a digestive challenge are most common. Addressing the cause is key.  Click here for more info on best practices for ideal elimination.
4. High anxiety, fear, worry and stress- This is a tough one.  For most of us, stress doesn’t feel like something we can control.  Although we can’t control it perfectly, we can do lots of things to offset and prepare for it.  If you are dealing with excessive loads of stress, know that your nutrients are being used up quicker than you likely realize, often, leaving you further depleted.⁸  If stress is what’s causing you the most harm, click here to learn the Secrets of Conquering Stress.
5. Hair, skin and nails that aren’t strong, soft and radiant- This one might seem less important but it’s not…your hair, skin and nails are an external picture of what’s going on inside.  You can think of them like the screen of your computer.  If your insides are healthy, so will be your outside parts.  If your hair is dry or oily or falling out, or if your nails are splitting and easily broken or if your skin is prone to redness, rashes or acne, something is needing support internally.  If you’re looking for a Crash Course in Radiant Skin, look no further.
6. High body fat percentage- Although being overweight has similar implications, I strongly prefer to look at body fat percentage whenever possible.  Weight can be deceptive.  You can have 2 people who weigh the same and are the same height.  But if one is 19% body fat and the other is 38% body fat, they look different, feel different and will have dramatically different health outcomes.  A study done in 2020, showed that a higher body fat percentage was associated with a lower quality of life as people age.⁹
7. The need for caffeine, sugar or alcohol to get through the day-  This is not to say that you can never have these substances, but if you need them to function or can’t get through your day (or night) without them, that’s a red flag.  Many people use sugar or caffeine to get quick energy during the day or alcohol to calm down at night.  It’s easy to just assume this is normal…again, it’s not.  There’s a solution.  It’s a sign that your body is needing support.  Finding the real cause is the key to finding the best, most effective solution.  It could be something simple, like going to bed earlier…or it may be something that involves a bit more detective work, like figuring out if your body is deficient in a specific nutrient.  It’s important to discern what your body needs.

If you are dealing with one or several of these things, don’t be alarmed but do take action.  Don’t wait until things get worse.  TODAY is the best time to start.

What’s your standard for yourself and your family when it comes to health?  Think about the little ones in your life (kids, nieces/nephews, grandchildren).  As long as they aren’t in the hospital, screaming in pain and don’t have a fever are you happy?  Of course not!  That is too low of a standard for these precious ones.  You want them to be FULL of life…have energy to play…grow as they should…sleep like a baby at night…be able learn, focus and play hard with friends.  

That is precisely my standard for myself and my clients. I don’t just want them to not be sick.  I want them to fully embrace and enjoy the abundant life they were created for!

If you’re feeling stuck and aren’t sure where to start, I’d love to help.  Call the clinic today to learn more about how you can work directly with me to figure out what you need and achieve radiant health once and for all.

References:

1. Greenberg DB. Clinical dimensions of fatigue. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2002. doi:10.4088/PCC.v04n0301

2. Azzolino D, Arosio B, Marzetti E, Calvani R, Cesari M. Nutritional status as a mediator of fatigue and its underlying mechanisms in older people. Nutrients. 2020. doi:10.3390/nu12020444

3. Tardy AL, Pouteau E, Marquez D, Yilmaz C, Scholey A. Vitamins and minerals for energy, fatigue and cognition: A narrative review of the biochemical and clinical evidence. Nutrients. 2020. doi:10.3390/nu12010228

4. Cooper CB, Neufeld E V., Dolezal BA, Martin JL. Sleep deprivation and obesity in adults: A brief narrative review. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2018. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000392

5. Tong L, Ye Y, Yan Q. The moderating roles of bedtime activities and anxiety/depression in the relationship between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and sleep problems in children. BMC Psychiatry. 2018. doi:10.1186/s12888-018-1879-4

6. Korabelnikova EA, Danilov AB, Danilov AB, Vorobyeva YD, Latysheva N V., Artemenko AR. Sleep Disorders and Headache: A Review of Correlation and Mutual Influence. Pain Ther. 2020. doi:10.1007/s40122-020-00180-6

7. Cappuccio FP, D’Elia L, Strazzullo P, Miller MA. Sleep duration and all-cause mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Sleep. 2010. doi:10.1093/sleep/33.5.585

8. Lopresti AL. The Effects of Psychological and Environmental Stress on Micronutrient Concentrations in the Body: A Review of the Evidence. Adv Nutr. 2020. doi:10.1093/advances/nmz082

9. Mikkola TM, Kautiainen H, von Bonsdorff MB, et al. Body composition and changes in health-related quality of life in older age: a 10-year follow-up of the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study. Qual Life Res. 2020. doi:10.1007/s11136-020-02453-1

Nothing said or implied in this post is intended to treat, cure, diagnose or prevent any disease.  It does not take the place of a qualified health care practitioner and is intended for educational purposes only.