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It’s Wellness Wednesdays! We’ll talk about how to maximize your healing with 8 simples steps. Visiting the doctor is always a good idea when you’re sick or injured. But think about how many injuries, colds, and other ailments you’ve recovered from without intervention throughout your lifetime. The human body has a remarkable ability to heal itself.
Who can say what limits exist on your body’s capacity to heal itself? Under ideal conditions, many scientists believe that the body would never get sick and could heal from anything if it did. Avoid selling yourself short. There have been documented cases of people recovering from conditions that were considered terminal.
Be proactive by taking these steps to boost your body’s ability to self-heal:
1. Believe in your body’s ability to heal.
Numerous scientific studies have shown the body can heal itself in many circumstances. We’ve all had cuts, bruises, colds, and numerous other ailments that our bodies have managed to heal.
- There’s evidence that many, more serious conditions can also be at least partially healed by our bodies.
2. Get plenty of rest.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to be in bed 18 hours a day, but always attempt to get enough sleep. It’s recommended that every adult get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep per night. Get even more sleep if you can.
3. Eat nutritiously.
Studies have shown that people who enjoy long and healthy lives tend to eat relatively few calories. These people eat nutrition-dense foods.
- Provide your body with the minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients it needs to function optimally.
4. Drink water.
Practically every function your body performs requires water. Be certain you’re hydrating your body. A good rule of thumb is to drink enough water to have a minimum of three clear urinations per day. There is little value in drinking more.
- Avoid getting carried away with your water intake. However, as a general rule, if you’re thirsty, drink.
- Keep in mind that drinking too much water can be just as dangerous as not drinking enough.
5. Remove the stress from your life.
Studies have shown that stress reduces the body’s self-healing mechanisms. As much as possible, reduce the stress in your life. There may be nothing that has a greater positive impact on your ability to heal than relaxation.
6. Have a mental picture of yourself in perfect health.
Your body is already trying to heal itself. Include your mind in the process. The pictures we hold in our minds tend to become reality sooner or later.
- Have a vision for your future that includes perfect health. Return to that mental picture regularly throughout the day.
7. Spend time with friends and family.
People that are alone tend to have poorer health than those that spend time with loved ones on a regular basis. Get together with friends and family. If you’re lacking people in your life, the good news is that the world is practically overrun with them.
- Get a hobby or join an activity that involves others. If you’re really sick, there’s probably even a support group for folks with your health challenge.
8. Remember to continue seeing your doctor.
Giving your body the best chance to heal itself is just one part of the puzzle. Avoid turning your back on modern medicine.
- Take full advantage of every opportunity to get better.
- Your physician should be one of the tools you use to heal yourself.
If you’re facing a physical challenge, it’s important to use every tool that’s available to you. Refrain from ignoring your physician, but also keep in mind your body’s own ability to heal. If you take excellent care of your body and mind, your health is much more likely to serve you well. Think about implementing these steps even when you’re feeling great!
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I really wanted to talk about this topic today because your natural health and wellness is important. You can adopt healthy lifestyle practices that improve your health, your environment, and enrich your life, which can in turn improve the lives of those close to you. You have the power to break the cycle of poor health, including chronic disease, so that you can leave a legacy of health to your loved ones.
I use functional medicine and lifestyle medicine as the first line of treatment, before medications, to treat lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Lifestyle-related chronic diseases include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and some cancers, just to name a few. Lifestyle practices, such as eating a whole-food plant-based diet and regular physical activity, can help you lose weight, reverse some chronic diseases (if you suffer from them), and can even help you with detoxification. In certain cases, these approaches may even outperform pharmaceutical therapy.
But I always tell my patients that conventional medications may be appropriate at this time to prevent catastrophic illness, but over time, you can work to make the necessary lifestyle changes to possibly reduce and/or eliminate medications. Please remember to always consult your physician for your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any decisions whatsoever.
Is Dietary Supplementation Right For You?
For some people, vitamin and mineral supplements offer important health benefits. Supplements are designed to fight deficiencies found in our diet and complement the food we eat regularly. Supplements are basically “helping hands” to our daily food.
If you suspect that you aren’t getting the nutrients you need, consider shifting your focus from supplements to eating better.
But it is very important to note that we are not eating the same foods we ate years ago because the soils have been depleted of critical nutrients through current industrial farming practices. And because the soil is not as good as it used to be, the food supply (grown from the depleted soil) is not as good as it used to be. For example, you are not getting the same levels of magnesium as you would have gotten 30 or even 50 years ago.
Second, much of the food has been genetically altered, which can impact the inherent and unique nutritional composition that each food possess. For example, ancient einkorn wheat has less gluten, more protein, more Vitamin A, and more beta carotene, than modern genetically modified wheat.
Third, the toxic load in the environment today is much higher than 100 years ago. We can see this with global warming, toxic landfills, polluted oceans and waterways, etc. Toxicity levels interfere with nutrient assimilation and absorption not just into the foods, but into our bodies as well.
So… if you are unable to eat better, the supplements in my MaxHealth Essentials Bundle may provide the extra boost you need.
These are my favorite Wellness and Immune-Boosting Supplements to use! This MaxHealth Essentials Bundle will ensure you have the intake of the important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to decrease inflammation and boost your innate wellness day and night. Taken together, it’s a solid plan for increasing your body’s natural resiliency.
For best results make sure you use the supplements with dietary changes including a whole food plant-based diet, regular exercise (at least 2-3x per week), regular sleep (8 hours per night), and intermittent fasting (at least 1-3x per week).
Weight Monitoring
Since weight management is very important in combatting chronic diseases, I recommend that you be mindful of your weight and its fluctuations, and that you monitor your weight AT LEAST on a weekly basis. I recommend a scale that includes a body composition monitor (*this scale cannot be used with a pacemaker or other implanted devices).
Physical Activity
Physical activity (or exercise) can improve your health and reduce the risk of developing several chronic diseases like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, just to name a few. Physical activity can improve your mood, boost your immune system, help you maintain a healthy weight, and is a great way to detox your body!
I often recommend yoga and resistance training for physical activity, but as you are aware, there are plenty of forms of “movement” that you can do! But for the basics, especially if you’re just getting started, yoga and resistance training are where I would start.
Yoga
Yoga can be a great way to improve your strength and flexibility, manage your stress, improve your heart health, and lose weight! I recommend using a grounded yoga mat to connect yourself with the earth and reduce inflammation.
Resistance Training
Resistance training is the mainstay for overall health. It not only has beneficial effects on reducing body fat, it also increases muscle size and strength. Check out some basic dumbbells/free weights that I recommend to everyone.
Another alternative for dumbbells/free weights are resistance bands. They are great for physical therapy, yoga, strength training, and excellent for traveling.
Remember, living a healthy lifestyle including eating a whole foods plant-based diet, regular physical activity, and reducing stress are the best ways to maintain a healthy weight. Let me know what you think in the comment section below.
Dr. Nicolle Martin
Dr. Nicolle is double board-certified in Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine. As one of the nation’s most acclaimed primary care and public health physicians, she is a nationally recognized author, speaker, researcher, consultant and media personality. She is the Founder and Chief Medical Advisor of DrNicolleMD.com, where she discusses actionable ideas and real-world strategies to help people take control of their health using integrative therapies and lifestyle change.
Dr. Nicolle also shares her knowledge via her popular social media accounts “Maximize Health” to help people pursue a healthier life. Her motto is simple: Minimize Medications, Maximize Health. With her credentials and warm “bedside manner,” it’s no wonder that the doctor is renowned as “America’s Favorite Family Physician.”
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Last updated on September 30th, 2021 at 03:26 am
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