The True Path to Health

Hello Friends! It's been a hot minute since I've blogged and I'm excited to get back into the swing of things. I've been silent for a while as I have been waiting on the Lord's cue to begin writing again. I have many thoughts about current events (most of which I'll keep to myself) but I believe the most important issue right now is a reminder of where true health begins.

Health isn't found inside of a needle. It doesn't come by overly sanitizing every single object or stripping our hands of the natural bacteria required to fight off viruses. It isn't written into existence by way of a prescription pad. No, true health begins when we take personal responsibility for the care of our bodies. When we treat them the way they were designed to be treated.

A healthy and strong body is always the best defense against any illness.

You see, God gave our bodies the most amazing ability to heal. The problem is that we are inundated with toxins. Everything from the air we breathe, to the food we eat, to the products we put on our skin and cook with. These toxins contribute to chronic disease, compromise the immune system, and impair the body's ability to fight off illness.

As well as being on toxin overload, there are certain things our bodies need to thrive that many are sorely lacking. Good, clean food. Vitamins. Minerals. Rest, water, and sunshine.

Unfortunately, you won't find this information blasted on the nightly news. Teaching people to take control of their health doesn't bode well for the pharmaceutical industry and those who profit off of our illness. But I digress.

I've compiled a list of my top eleven tips for staying healthy. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but implementing these strategies will go a long way towards keeping your immune system strong.

1. Drink more water. Your body needs water to survive and thrive. Many of us are dehydrated, which causes a slew of health problems. Half of your body weight in ounces per day is a great place to start. Eliminate dehydrating and sugary drinks like soda and replace with water.

2. Replace non-stick coated pans. Did you know that the fumes emitted from teflon-coated pans can actually kill a small bird? Imagine what it does to our insides. Yikes. The best pans to cook with are stainless steel or cast iron.

3. Always choose organic produce when it comes to the dirty dozen list. Berries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, and potatoes. These are the most highly sprayed with pesticides. Glyphosate (the main ingredient in roundup) is known to cause cancer and other disease. I will add corn and wheat products to this list as well.

4. Limit screen time. Negative EMF's from electronic devices disprupt the frequencies in our bodies and can lead to anxiety, restlessness, dizziness, and in some cases more serious health issues. For more info on this subject check out my blog here.

5.Drastically limit packaged, processed goods. Instead focus on real foods: fruits, vegetables, pasture-raised meat, fish, nuts, seeds, healthy fats, and organic whole grains. Some bodies do better eliminating entire food groups like dairy and gluten. I highly recommend visiting a nutritionist or functional medicine doctor to find out which foods specifically work (or don't work) with your body. These type of doctors can also help you to determine the exact nutrients your body is lacking.

6. Avoid artificial fragrances. Artificial fragrance wreaks havoc on the respiratory system and is also a hormone disruptor. Choose products that are fragrance-free or scented with plant-based ingredients. Ditch the glade plug-ins and the scented candles and replace with pure essential oils in a diffuser. If you want to make the switch to essential oils you can purchase them here.

7. Before choosing conventional medicine, get to the root of any health problems. Symptoms are not the enemy. They are the body's way of signaling to us that something is wrong. Medicine masks symptoms, whereas a holistic or functional medicine doctor will address the body as a whole and discover the cause of the symptoms.

8. Avoid refined sugar. Sugar is a major factor in chronic disease and it contributes greatly to a weakened immune system. It also feeds cancer cells. My next health tip comes in handy here because sugar is an ingredient in many foods. It often hides under different names as well.

9. Become a label reader. This is one area where we have to be diligent. So many of the health problems present today are linked to the food we consume, the medicine we take, and the toxins that lurk in our personal care products. Familiarize yourself with ingredients to avoid and take the time to read labels when buying groceries. If you would like a list of these ingredients, plus many more wellness tips, visit my store to purchase a printable download.

10. Detox. Years of toxic buildup leave our bodies filled with junk that needs to be eliminated. Detox is a complicated process that differs for every person, which is why this is also best done under the care of a functional medicine doctor. Our personal favorite ways to detox are with zeolites and parasite cleanses. If you would like more info on this subject, please reach out to me, I would love to help.

11. Make sure your soul is right with God. True physical health begins with a healthy soul. Make your peace with God through Jesus Christ and then prioritize that relationship by following Him with all of your heart. Seek Him first and all else will fall into place. Do the best you can to care for your body as the temple of His Holy Spirt and then trust Him for the rest.

Implementing these strategies for better health will go a long way towards mind body and soul wellness. And when the next virus rolls around, instead of living in fear, you can be confident in your body's ability to do exactly what it has been designed to do.

Do you have any health tips to add to this list? I would love to hear them in the comments below.

Stay healthy Friends!

Xoxo, Amy

Disclaimer :

I am not a doctor. All information and resources found on this blog are based on my research, experience, and what I have seen work for my family and for others. No information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition. I encourage you to consult a holistic doctor or nutritionist before making health changes, especially any changes relating to a specific health condition. Do not rely solely on this information to make medical diagnoses or determine treatment. Do not stop using medication unless under the care of a health professional. Use this information as a general guideline to healthier living and a starting point for your own research.