A few weeks ago, we began the discussion of “Resetting our Health”. “To put it simply, we have become a culture of pill-pushing and band-aid adhering. We take notice of our symptoms, rush to treat them and move onto the next thing without any more thought. We have stopped asking “Why?” and we have stopped looking into the root causes of our illnesses. Instead, we have turned to treat surface symptoms, hoping for the best. Natural, alternative medicines aren’t any better, as there seems to be an herb or supplement for everything these days.” Today, we want to jump into the specifics of what resetting our health actually means under the category of nutrition.
Foundations of Health
Off the bat, we need to make the disclaimer that health looks different for every single person. We at Zock believe that there is no “one way” to be healthy and live a life of wellness. What works for you does not always work for someone else. And what works for someone else doesn’t mean it will necessarily work for you. Health and wellness encompass a wide range of factors and variables. The foundations we cover in this series are only meant to be a guide to help you figure out what works best with your body and your life. While they are important, when they are thought of alone, they can only do so much. It is only when you sync them up and think about them as a whole can your health truly transform.
Nutrition 101
Dr. Tracey Stroup, a wellness professional for over 25 years, has her clients follow a rather simple nutrition plan:
- Tree
- Ground
- Run
- Swim
- Fly
No, this isn’t a random list of nouns and verbs, but rather a way to think about where your food comes from. If it falls from a tree, grows from the ground, runs in a field, swims in water, or flies in the sky, eat it. If the food is organic and non-genetically modified, that’s even better. We should be eating food that was once able to sustain itself and reproduce. Do a deep dive into the foods you eat on a consistent basis. Where do they come from? Do they fall into these categories?
Our bodies thrive on nutrition – not a set number of calories or percentage of carbs, fats, and proteins. Yes, our food is made up of those macronutrients, but it is the micronutrients that our bodies thrive upon. On a daily basis, our bodies require essential fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and probiotics. The best way to get all of these essentials is through living food. It is almost impossible to get these micronutrients from packaged and processed foods.
Non-Food Food
We have an overwhelming number of food choices in today’s world. A number of these choices are genetically modified. They are full of preservatives, chemicals, pesticides, and additives. Through marketing, we have been told to think that health is what we read on food labels. But in actuality, real food doesn’t require a label. A banana is a banana. Broccoli is broccoli. An egg is an egg. Who needs labels when the ingredients are what the food actually is? The longer the label, the farther away from actual food the product is.
We know this trend has been encouraged by our “on the go” lifestyles. It’s much easier to grab a power bar or heat up a frozen or canned meal than to take the time to cook. We aren’t insisting you ban all packaged meals from your home, but rather encourage you to make swaps when you can. Trade your chip habit for fresh fruit or veggies. Try fresh hummus instead of cheese or other processed dairy dips. Try opting for grass-fed beef vs beef pumped with steroids and hormones. You don’t have to change your entire life (and if we’re being honest, those kinds of “cold turkey” changes rarely stick anyway). But rather make small choices every day, and over time, you’ll be amazed at how your life can transform.
Stop Dieting, Start Living
We know nutrition can feel overwhelming. As a culture, we are bombarded by professional and non-professional opinions of how we should be eating. There are programs and resources out there that can definitely help guide you if you think you need to reset your nutrition. However, diets are not lifestyles nor are they fully sustainable. Counting calories and restrictions from point systems or macro counts shouldn’t dictate your life. You cannot give up carbs or fats for life and still find optimum health. Nor should you let eating labels be the end all be all to the way you eat. If you are called to veganism, by all means, if it works for you and helps you, go for it. If you discover over time you need to reassess, we hope you do so.
Our relationship with food has become so twisted in recent years. We all need to begin to think of food as a positive. Perhaps we can think of it as a life-giving energy source or simply the means in which we can live our best lives. Watch how your health changes when you begin making fully conscious choices about how you fuel your body, mind, and spirit. Hippocrates did say “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” after all.
The Foundations of Health
In the coming weeks, we will continue to cover the 5Rs in more detail. And we will discover how to build a solid foundation in which to grow. This foundation is built upon nutrition plus five other components; hydration, movement, sleep, elimination, and emotional wellness. “You cannot build your health on quicksand. Eventually, it will sink regardless of how many supplements you take. The foundation is the most important part, giving support to the entire structure”, says Dr. Stroup.
Let Zock Family Chiropractic Help You Begin Resetting Your Health!
Chiropractic care is focused on allowing our spine and nerves to work to their potential. This results in not only allowing our organs to function but for them to function to their best ability. Dr. Zock would love to discuss your concerns in regard to resetting your health. Her vast knowledge of natural supplementation and body processes make her a great guide in helping you make the best choices for your body. Make an appointment in Cranberry today to schedule an introductory chiropractic treatment session. We can discuss your pains and needs as part of my initial chiropractic workup for you as a new patient to our practice!
* This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please contact a medical professional for advice.