Directing Your Health Into the Future

100 years ago acute infectious diseases were the biggest health threat people faced. Fast forward to the present day and health issues have turned on their head, with the prevention and control of chronic illnesses being a key problem.

Naturopaths have a unique role, which GPs tend not to fill because of limited time in appointments and generally not approaching illness prevention from a lifestyle standpoint.

An example of this is chronic pain, which now affects a large proportion of the adult population, and for many this means pharmaceutical pain management. It’s now believed that the prescription opioid epidemic is the leading cause of death among adults under 50 years old living in the America. A Naturopathic approach to chronic pain is very different and drug free.

You have to be the biggest upholder of your own health if you want to live the best and healthiest life.

Good health and prevention of serious illness is not just a case of hoping that you don’t become the next statistic. It starts with you, your lifestyle and your home. What you eat and drink can play a very important role and is an integral part of the jigsaw of good health. How much sleep you have, stress management, exercise, these are all things that contribute to the tapestry of good health.

The American Cancer Society states: “More than half of all cancer deaths could be prevented by making healthy choices like not smoking, staying at a healthy weight, eating right, keeping active, and getting recommended screening tests.” Eating right and giving your body the nutritional tools and equipment it needs is vital for good health.

CORNERSTONES OF A HEALTHY DIET

What you eat and drink plays a vital role in your health and that of your family. Here are some simple guidelines to kickstart your health through diet. If you can follow these I think you will enjoy the experience and get a lot out of it.

Doing this now can mean you have a happier, healthier life in the future.

FRESH & WHOLEFOODS

Cooking from scratch with fresh and wholefoods and avoiding processed and convenience foods is a really important step. By doing this you can avoid additives, preservatives, cheap oils and sugars, and many potential hazards. You know exactly what is in your meal.

HERBS & SPICES

Cook with fresh herbs and spices regularly. Things like rosemary, parsley, turmeric, chilies all have powerful properties that are pro-health and well-being. What’s more they add vibrance and flavour to your cooking.

FATS

Include plenty of healthy fats in your diet. Fats need to be taken in a balanced ratio. These days people tend to have far too much Omega 6 from rapeseed/canola/sunflower/vegetable oils, and not enough Omega 3 and Omega 9. Fat plays an important part in having a healthy nervous and circulatory system.

PROTEIN

Protein forms the building blocks of life, but don’t over do it. Too much protein, like anything else, can have an adverse affect.

ORGANIC

If you can manage to get organic food into your diet so much the better. Unfortunately, farming practices and processes involved in processed foods are increasingly troublesome. An example of this is farmed fish.

If you would like to work out how you can implement a healthy, lifestyle plan and get your health on track, get in touch so I can help you with that.