Did you know that August is National Wellness Month?
Recently I read this statistical picture of the average person:
Overweight
6 colds per year
Chronic mild depression
Constipation
Lethargy
Dentures by age 45
Chronic illness by age 60 with 6 different daily drugs needed
Death in the 70s from heart disease or cancer
Yikes! That’s a pretty dismal picture right? I don’t think anyone wants to be a statistical average person. August is National Wellness Month and it is a great time to slow down, focus on self-care, and create healthy routines.
Did you know that seven of the top ten causes of death (the things that are lowering our life expectancy) are caused by lifestyle? They are heart disease, cancer, COPD, stroke, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and kidney disease.
Here are four main areas that you can focus on to improve your health and wellness
1. Eat more whole, plant-based foods. The standard American diet is literally killing us. Stop relying on processed food (especially sugar), meat, and dairy products for nourishment – these diets shift our microbiomes away from health and toward disease. Shift toward a diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes (beans, peas, and lentils), whole grains, and nuts & seeds for a host of health benefits, including a longer life.
2. Make exercise a part of your daily routine. Exercise is crucial for every system in your body. Exercise keeps you fit, helps you maintain a healthy weight, and also improves your mental health. Include aerobic exercise as well as resistance training and you will benefit from greater flexibility, strength, and healthy circulation.
3. Learn healthy ways to deal with stress. There are so many things in our lives today that can cause stress. Negative effects of uncontrolled stress include anxiety, depression, impaired immune function, impaired attention, increased inflammation, weight gain, increased blood pressure, and disturbed sleep.
4. Get a good night’s sleep. Sleep is a necessary biological function for almost every living organism. Lack of restorative sleep can lead to poor health, decreased immunity, poor mood, lack of focus & attention, decreased coordination, diabetes, stroke, headaches, and weight gain. A good night’s sleep can restore both your body and your mind. Seven hours of restful sleep seems to be the sweet spot. Beware of sleep medications as they can prevent you from entering the deep, restorative sleep that you need.
Each of these four pillars of health – nutrition, sleep, stress, and sleep – can have a huge impact on your health. Are you eating well? Is exercise a part of your daily routine? How well do you deal with stress? Are you sleeping well? I hope you take the opportunity this month to develop habits that promote your wellness.
Your challenge this week is to evaluate your overall wellness challenges.
What areas do you feel you need to work on?
Post in the comments below and let me know.
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