Many people, including the mainstream medical system, believe that health is the absence of disease or a diagnosis. No matter how bad you might feel-- if your lab tests are normal, or within normal range, you are healthy.
Health is so much more than a normal blood test. There is a huge gap between being healthy and being 'within normal limits'. Not having disease is good, but being healthy is so much better.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the definition is this:
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
I hear people say all the time, "I'm in great health, except for (insert condition here)....migraines, arthritis, cholesterol, etc". This doesn't make any sense. Your body functions as a whole. How can it be in two different places at one time?
Health is not a goal. Rather, it is the ultimate resource. It gives you energy, clarity and insight.
It allows you to:
- identify and achieve your dreams,
- satisfy needs and to cope with the environment
- be a creative part of society
- have healthy children (and then to keep up with them).
The body is continually striving to be healthy. It's working 24/7 to get it to (or keep it at) its natural state, as it repairs and rejuvenates. It's automatic and effortless, when we get out of its way.
How do I get it?
It doesn't come in a box or a bottle. Real health comes from good ol' fashioned care. Yes there is work involved, but YOU ARE worth it.
To keep it simple: nutrition, exercise, sleep, clean air & water are the basic components necessary for real health. Looking after these components puts your body in a better place for dealing with stress, making decisions, preventing illness and enjoying life.
Energy, zest, and vibrant aliveness are the side effects.
What can I do right now?
Let's talk about the nutrition component.
What are you eating or not eating that could be sabotaging your health? If you had an expensive, high performance race car, would you fuel it with the best fuel you could afford? Are you treating your body that way?
When it comes to food, here are my Top 3 Quick Picks for MUST do's:
- Food intolerance testing: Do you know what food you were just not meant to eat? You might be surprised.
- Hydration: clean water and fresh juice do wonders for the body. Everything works better and it shows in the skin. Want a clear glowy complexion? Get your drink on. Drink enough water that your pee is clear.
- Whole Foods: Loading up with a plant based diet of fresh vegetables, leafy greens, fruit, nuts, seeds, whole grains and sprouts will nourish the body and help return it to its regular state. Consume as much of these things as you can in the RAW form. Plant proteins are better digested and burn cleaner in the body.
I won't dwell on the don'ts', but this one must be addressed. It may seem cliche, these days, to talk about avoiding one of the biggest sabotagers of health...processed food. But, they are more prominent now than ever.
Aside from them lacking nutrients, most are loaded with artificial foods, flavourings & colours. The purpose of these is to make lifeless foods look better, taste better and become addictive. Real whole foods don't need these things. They are already colourful, tasty and the more you eat them, the more addicted you will be to feeling great. Plus, they are naturally loaded nutrients.
Don't be fooled by labels. Something marked 'gluten free' or 'vegan' doesn't make it healthy. Fortified, enriched and natural are also deceiving words to watch out for.
What do I need?
Motivation and a great exercise outfit aside, there are a some other things that will make healthy living virtually fool proof.
Fancy equipment is nice, but not necessary. A blender, food processor, cutting board, good knife, storage containers (I love mason jars) are great. A nut milk bag with the blender will allow you to make nut milks and juices. The nut milk bag is also great for sprouting.
If you have access to, or are willing to purchase, a juicer and dehydrator, they are great additions to any healthy kitchen.
If you struggle with reading labels, watching the scales, coming up with recipes, and trying to sort out what's really right with food, consider hiring a nutrition coach.
Get back to the kitchen. Back to the basics. Keep it simple. But eat like your life depends on it, before you actually have to.
Happy Spring! What a great time of year. The days are getting longer and moods are brighter.
Caesar salad is one of my families favourite's, and one of the few ways I can count on them 
