We live in a fast-paced world where everything has to happen quickly. If this web page took longer than a few seconds to load, your coffee order took a few minutes longer to make or you have to wait for a meeting to start, you likely start feeling anxious and uncomfortable, longing for a fast resolution to the lull in your life. These hurried feelings have even extended to the way we expect to experience health care. Once you make an appointment, you want to be seen as soon as possible and have your interaction last as little time as possible right?
Maybe not, but hurry has become the hallmark of healthcare in America. In a recent survey, six percent of all doctors spend less than nine minutes with their patients. 21 percent spend between nine and 12 minutes with patients, 29 percent spend between 13 and 16 minutes. In other words, more than half of all patient consultations in this country are less than 16 minutes long. It is no wonder doctors have become obsessed with the symptom or disease a patient is experiencing and the fastest way to treat it, rather than looking at the person in front of them as a whole and the symptom as an indicator of an underlying imbalance in their overall health. It is also no wonder that as a nation we are sicker than ever, with a higher reliance on harmful medication than ever.
The Five R’s
In our office, we use a unique, proprietary process called the Five R’s. This approach defines each stage of the wellness process and can help you know what to expect.
Toxins
You are toxic. You live in an environment that has toxins in the air, toxins in the water supply, toxins in your cosmetics and even in your food. In fact, in many cases, the food you eat is toxic to your system (more on that later). You are unwittingly exposed to more toxins than you can imagine. As the toxins increase, and they do, they begin to do exactly what you would expect a toxin to do, damage the body. Even if you attempt to eat organic foods, clean with organic products and use natural cosmetics and toiletries, you are still being exposed to toxins on a daily basis. This toxicity level must be addressed before you can go any further in your wellness journey.
Relationships
You are ready to make a change. You have embraced the commitment. Nothing is going to stop you this time because you have your mind locked into what you want to accomplish. Nothing is going to deter your progress . . . except for the relationship you have with a family member that is not supportive of you making changes to your lifestyle. Here you are, ready to move forward and now a family member is sabotaging your efforts telling you that you cannot do it. Fortunately, you are stronger than this. You are the master of your own fate. It may mean departing from the relationship or limiting contact, but rotten relationships, just like rotten trash, have to go!
Allergies / Sensitivities
Classic allergy symptoms like a runny nose, itchy eyes or congestion are most common with changes of the seasons. However, thinking of allergies in terms of pollens and grasses is a narrow way of looking at what could potentially be causing your health problems. Food sensitivities, allergies to molds, chemicals and food additives that we often consider safe may be triggers for reactions causing your symptoms. You may find that you have a food sensitivity to something you consume regularly. In this case, your immune system has a reaction to this otherwise harmless ingredient, causing unwanted symptoms. Unless you remove these “safe” items or triggers from your environment, you cannot expect much change in your health.
Stress
I can practically hear you saying right now, “I live under constant stress. It’s just a way of life.” What you now define as normal stress is taking a toll on your body whether you realize it or not. Chances are, you already know stress is taking its toll as you look at your calendar every day wondering how to pack in one more thing on your “to do” list. You recognize stress for the thief that it is as your muscles tense, your headaches and your jittery feelings persist long after that first cup of coffee. I have news for you. The amount of stress that you are under every day is not normal, even though it may be your norm. Not only is it aging you faster, weakening your immune system and stealing your energy it is actually hindering your ability to get things done. Once you can examine your life for the stressful triggers and learn to combat these by mindfulness, meditation, appropriate habits, and other stress management techniques, you can begin to
Harmful Bugs (Infections)
Your body is home to trillions of bacteria. In many cases, these microscopic organisms keep you healthy, especially those found in your sinuses, stomach and intestines. However, when harmful bugs begin to outnumber the helpful bacteria, they do not cause an all-out infection, but rather linger without any obvious symptoms on the surface. But their impact is like that of a smoldering fire, constantly burning. Since your gut plays a major role not only in digestion, but in your immune system as well, you may begin to notice that you are sick more often are sicker longer, experience more digestive problems, and have more joint pain or muscle aches than you did before. Once you begin to kill the harmful bugs and replace them with helpful bacteria you will begin to see an improvement in your overall health.
What Does Your Body Need?
Food
Everyone knows that you need a certain number of calories in order to stay alive. Yet few people realize that the quality of those calories can determine your overall health. There is no replacement for nutrient dense, high fiber, unrefined, non-processed, non-GMO, chemical free food. You cannot replenish your body when you are consuming foods that are robbing you of the vital nutrients you need. It all begins with food.
Nutrients
Vitamin and minerals are how most people think of nutrients. While these are an essential part of overall nutrition, there are many other categories. Antioxidants, amino acids and fats consumed in the correct amount and in the optimal combination can help your body meet the demands you place on it. Increased demand without adequate supply equals deficit or in functional medicine terms, a deficiency. Nutrient deficiencies left unchecked can lead to disease.
Hormones
Many people only consider hormones as they relate to the reproductive system. Women experience pre-menstrual syndrome because of hormonal imbalances. In men, hormonal imbalances can lead to low sperm count and low motility as well as low sex drive. While these are important functions of the hormones in your body, these chemical messengers communicate with your brain, muscles and digestive system as well as your reproductive system. Why are imbalances hormones so common now? Stress. Too many people are living in a constant physical state of “fight or flight” triggered by chronic stress. As a result, stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline and epinephrine flow through your body almost constantly. This can lead to fatigue, weight gain, muscle aches, and worsening of reproductive symptoms like PMS or low sex drive.
Neurotransmitters
The nerves that run throughout your body and control everything from movement to mood do not connect directly with one another. Instead, they rely on chemicals called neurotransmitters to carry signals from one nerve to another. When you experience prolonged stress or have a nutritional or hormonal imbalance, your body’s neurotransmitters can become imbalanced. This can lead to anxiety, depression or other mood disorders. In order to reclaim your ability to think, feel and interact the way you want, you must address the neurotransmitter levels and function in your body.
Sleep
Do you remember the last time you woke up in the morning, on time and feeling refreshed? Sleep is vital to your body’s ability to heal itself. Yet most of us walk around chronically sleep deprived. In fact, 35 percent of all adults report getting less than seven hours of sleep at night. Even more dangerous are the 100,000 deaths in hospitals each year due to medical errors caused by sleep deprivation. Given the stressful lives we lead compounded by demands from work and family, it is tempting to cut into your shut-eye in an effort to be more productive. What you may not realize is that you will be more productive when you get adequate sleep each night.
Water
Water is the single most important element to your health. Up to 60 percent of your body is made up of water. This simple compound is responsible for normal blood flow, saliva production, digestion, brain function, breathing, joint lubrication, and flushing waste from your body. Everything you do from digesting food to thinking clearly depends on your ability to consume enough water during the course of the day. Most adult men need around 3 liters of water per day and females need 2.2 liters, with some water coming from the foods they eat. However, most people walk around chronically dehydrated, setting themselves up for toxicity.