Most illness and disease are caused by imbalances in the body. A wellness approach takes into consideration factors that may contribute to the development of illness before complete health is lost. These may include stress, environment, level of fitness, nutritional status, digestive function, immune function, and hormonal balance. High levels of prolonged stress, lack of sleep, and poor eating habits along with poor nutrition have been linked to illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, heart disease, and cancer.
Everyday obstacles create different amounts of stress and can manifest differently depending on the individual. Short-term stress can make one feel “wired” or “tired.” Prolonged stress can take its toll on the body hormonally causing one to feel “burned out” with an overall lack of wellbeing. Developing healthy coping skills to manage the stress is essential to good health and longevity.
Sleep is necessary for survival. Too little sleep can lead to decreased physical performance, impaired memory, and has detrimental affects on the immune system. Sleep is associated with the release of growth hormones and many of the body’s cells increase production and repair during sleep; we truly need our beauty sleep.
As a society we are obsessed with health and weight loss but as a nation we are faced with an incomparable epidemic of obesity. We want only the best; however we settle for and even wholeheartedly enjoy junk food. Today most nutritional benefits are processed, cooked, or fried out of the foods we are eating. We need to become more suspicious of our foods and learn more about what they contain. Fresh whole foods are the most powerful medicine to protect health and prevent illness.
A wellness approach can positively impact one’s physical condition. Therapeutic lifestyle changes and nutritional supplements can be a fundamental treatment for a wide variety of common conditions such as fatigue, high cholesterol, obesity, high blood pressure, hormone imbalance, and many others. It is imperative to identify behaviors that negatively impact health, and recognize how it may open the door to illness. The connection between lifestyles and overall wellbeing requires taking a proactive attitude towards health.
For more information, please call Caring for You Health Center, Inc. at 661 284-2400.