By Sarah A LoBisco
Last week, I discussed the four keys to achieving optimal wellness: attention, restoration, sequence, and time. Most people have a hard time ignoring step one. The body is pretty masterful at getting our attention and through any means necessary. It can signal in unwanted cues, such as pain, low energy, rashes, you name it! This is just its way of alerting us to check in and assess how well we are doing with our body maintenance and self-care.
Below are some questions to ask when unwanted symptoms pop up:
- What have you NOT been eating lately? Food is medicine.
- What may your body need to heal?
- Are you getting muscle cramps? If so, do you need more magnesium rich and calcium containing foods? How much organic nuts, broccoli, and dark chocolate have you eaten?
- What have you been eating that may not be helpful for your body? Again, food is medicine.
- Are you breaking out in pimples? Maybe you need to cut back on dairy and sugar.
- Is our appetite excessive and you can’t feel full? Do you need to eat some more fermented foods or cut back on sugar?
- Basic self-care questions:
- Am I getting enough sleep? How’s my pause button?
-Rest and sleep boost immunity and overall feelings of well-being.
- How are my relationships? Are they serving me?
–Healthy relationships help with stress which affects your immune functioning, hormones, and mood!
- Do I believe that I can be happy and healthy and am I taking time to have fun?
-Use the power of positive thinking
- Am I moving enough or sitting down on the bench at the park on my IPOD apps and emails? (We all know about exercise benefits, right? Movement helps keep all the organs healthy, especially the heart and brain.
4. Do I need more support to make the above changes? Dysfunctional independence and living a life unhappy and as a martyr is not fun. Perhaps it’s time to reach out for assistance in igniting a change.
Finding what will work for you is the most important thing! The biological needs of sleep, emotional support, nutrition, exercise, and meaning are the foundation of wellness. Then, if your body still needs assistance, it’s important to look for a practitioner who will treat you as an individual.
Treating People, Not Numbers
For me, individualized medicine is looking at ones genetic risk factors, environmental exposures, and the interplay of all the systems of the body, not just supplying a supplement for a symptom. As a Naturopathic and Functional Medicine practitioner, my aim is to address the entire person, looking at the external foundations as well as the internal.
What about individualized testing?
How does Vitamin D fit in? Click here to read more.
