Mind-Body Longevity
We’ve been chatting a lot about ‘longevity’. We’ve broken down what longevity is. We’ve given you tools to stop dieting and start living with a balanced diet, and the effects of good gut health on aging. And finally we discussed stress and how that affects our longevity.
And although we have been chatting a lot about longevity , we have yet to scratch the surface. And perhaps we only know a fraction of what’s to come. With that said, we want to discuss one of the most important factors that won’t just affect your daily life, but your overall health and wellness. Let’s chat about the mythical mind-body connection.
We all have the capacity to understand the language of the body- usually signaled through cues or symptoms. This language is commonly referred to as bio (living)feedback. This language is an essential component of understanding your body.
These cues can look like a number of things. Fatigue, unhealthy hair/skin/nails, headaches, high blood pressure, anxiety/depression, swelling, weight gain, etc. can all be ways that your body is trying to signal that something is off. Listening when your body is signalling is the first very important step on your path to longevity.
Now that you are listening, here’s how to start answering when your body calls.
When one of the above symptoms (or perhaps an unmentioned one) occurs there are two main places we suggest examining.
Sleep
We suggest starting by taking a good hard look at the beginning of the healing process, Sleep. During your sleep your body goes through a couple of processes to get you ready for the next day. During sleep the pituitary gland releases growth hormone which aids in repair. Giving your sympathetic nervous system a break and a chance to de-stress. While you’re sleeping, your immune system releases a type of small proteins called cytokines. If you’re sick or injured, these cytokines help your body fight inflammation, infection and trauma. Chances are prioritizing quality sleep can help your body tremendously. Starting with seven to nine hours of sleep being the optimal.
Nutrition
If sleep isn’t the issue (which it rarely is not- or at the very least isn’t affected by whatever it is ailing you) then we dive into nutrition. We’ve already touched on the gut-brain connection and signalling through the gut-brain axis here. One of the many reasons we focus so heavily on gut health and healing is specifically for the communication between the literal mind and body to take place smoothly. Following a low-inflammatory diet that cuts sugar and focuses on gut repair is a great place to start.
If you want to know more we have a handful of personalized programs in place to help you on your way. Click the button bellow to schedule your complimentary Functional Nutrition Consult.