We’re on article #21 in the Body Aligned™ Collective series! So I wanted to take a moment and go through a brief summary of what we’ve covered in the second half of our time together. Because reminders are always helpful and we all need them and because I’d love to hear your thoughts…
Every article is linked to its full text so if you either missed it or want to re-read it, it’s here for you.
Article 11 - A summary of what we covered in the first half of this series. You can find the article here in case you missed it.
Article 12 - This was all about gratitude, especially how to better practice it. I shared that instead of thinking about being grateful, you can drop into it and feel it in your heart. That’s where the amazing chemistry of the feel good hormones can benefit your health on all levels. When you train yourself to look for things and beings that help you shift into this mindset, you’re in essence always looking for what makes your day and life better and even magical. Practicing gratitude is also about taking action and taking good care of what you already have.
Article 13 - This article was dedicated to Naturopathic Medicine. I shared one of my favorite philosophies of naturopathic medicine with you, which is referred to as The Healing Power of Nature or Vis Medicatrix Naturae. And since your body IS nature… your body CAN heal itself! Again, your body can heal itself AND your job is to create the right environment for it. And Naturopathic Medicine provides you with the roadmap for creating that right environment.
Article 14 - This piece was about the (potential) gut and hormonal downsides of eating too many nuts and seeds. I shared that If you constantly crave nuts and nut butters and can’t get enough of them, you might be DEFICIENT in NUTRIENTS & frankly CALORIES! Yes, nuts and seeds can be good, but they are not for everyone and certainly not in huge quantities. And, not when you’re eating rancid and/or moldy nuts and seeds. And, perhaps not when you’re trying to get your GI health back on track. Excess nut and seed consumption can exacerbate gut inflammation, autoimmune symptoms, weight gain, allergies and fatigue. So, moderation is definitely key in this case! Think of them as condiments and not the main course.
Article 15 - This week we focused on sleep! I shared that If you’re starting from zero with your health or wanting to get back on track, prioritize two things: keeping your blood sugar levels balanced and sleeping. A couple of the lifestyle strategies I talked about to help you sleep better and deeper are… Paying attention to how much coffee you drink and WHEN you drink your last cup. And realizing that alcohol is NOT a friend of your hormones and you need your hormones for sound sleep (amongst other things)! Alcohol is also NOT a friend of your waistline! Although alcohol might help you fall asleep more quickly, it can negatively impact your sleep quality, leading to fragmented and less restful sleep. You can find the rest of the recommendations here.
Article 16 - This piece was all about what it means to be physically and emotionally healthy! I shared that being healthy means having BALANCED vital signs, stable blood sugar levels, a breathing pattern and heart rate that do not indicate you’re in a constant state of stress, a healthy appetite, a healthy libido, a healthy menstrual cycle with regular bleeds, at least one healthy bowel movement per day without needing coffee or laxatives and more. You can use this as a framework and you can keep coming back to it, and every time you can simply pick 1 or at the most 2 things that are the needle-movers for you, and begin to address those. Here’s the entire framework that I shared with you.
Article 17 - This piece was on the conditions to bring about peace. If we want peace we need to start by cultivating it inside ourselves - in a very real and committed way. It starts with us and within us and then moves outwards, not the other way around. We need to remember what we’ve forgotten as a species and that is everything from our bodies, our world and the cosmos operate based on the premise of collaboration and cooperation! We need to remember the sacredness of life, in all of its forms!!
Article 18 - This article was about bone broth and how that may not be the best supplemental source of protein for some of you! Especially if you struggle with chronic gut issues such as bloating as well as other symptoms like headaches, skin issues, anxiety and/or brain fog. A couple of the potential reasons for this are Histamine sensitivity or histamine intolerance (which are *not* one and the same) and impaired digestion (due to low stomach acid or digestive enzymes). For the full discussion on other reasons as well as a better alternative to your bone broth protein powder please read here.
Article 19 - This week’s article focused on the fact that your health symptoms may be the side effect of the medication(s) you’re on! Not all side effects show up the day after you start taking your meds. Meaning, especially for medications that you’re supposed to be on long term, the symptoms can come about insidiously. It could take weeks or months for you to start experiencing and noticing these side effects. And sometimes it’s the increase in the dose of the medication you’ve been taking for a while that can cause problems. Here’s a list of some of the common or some other less talked about symptoms you may be experiencing as a result of your medications. I also shared several good questions to ask your doctor when they’re about to prescribe meds for you.
Article 20 - This week we focused on Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and other conditions that can mimic PCOS symptoms such as hypothyroidism, non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH), hyperprolactinemia, androgen secreting tumors, Cushing’s syndrome and more. During this article, I focused on the potential similarities between PCOS and hypothyroidism and what to look for when trying to distinguish between these conditions. Lastly, it’s worth noting that, if you suspect that you’re dealing with PCOS-type symptoms, it’s important to work with a doctor who is going to properly investigate the root cause(s) of your symptoms and address them holistically.