MORE THAN 90% OF CHRONIC DISEASE IS LIFESTYLE DRIVEN.
I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THIS STATISTIC WHEN I FIRST HEARD IT! STILL AM!
HEART DISEASE, TYPE II DIABETES, ARTHRITIS, HYPERTENSION, STROKE, ALZHEIMERS, DEMENTIA, OBESITY, CANCER + OTHER ILLNESSES WE ‘VE COME TO ACCEPT AS BYPRODUCTS OF AGING + OUR GENETIC DESTINY, ARE IN FACT DRIVEN BY THE HEALTH HABITS AND BEHAVIORS WE PRACTICE OVER A LIFETIME.
MEANING THAT EVEN IF YOU ARE BORN WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE OR TYPE II DIABETES, IT IS NOT A FOREGONE CONCLUSION THAT YOU WILL DEVELOP IT TOO. YOUR DIET, LIFESTYLE CHOICES, ENVIRONMENT, STRESS MANAGEMENT SKILLS + SLEEP PATTERNS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN HOW YOUR GENES ARE EXPRESSED, LITERALLY DIALING UP OR DIALING DOWN DISEASE IN YOUR BODY.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAVE A BIG SAY IN HOW WE AGE! HOW GREAT IS THAT! WHILE NOT EVERYTHING IS IN OUR CONTROL, WE CAN TAKE POSITIVE STEPS EACH DAY TO PROMOTE VIBRANT HEALTH AND WELLNESS THROUGHOUT OUR LIFETIME.
HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO KEEP YOUR GENES HAPPY AND YOUR BODY HEALTHY:
1. EAT PLANTS: EAT A WHOLE FOOD, PLANT STRONG DIET. THINK RAINBOW WHEN IT COMES TO CHOOSING FRUITS + VEGETABLES TO ENSURE YOU GET THE BROADEST VARIETY OF POWERFUL PLANT PROTECTIVE COMPOUNDS.
GREEN YOUR PLATE: LEAFY GREENS ARE BURSTING WITH VITAMINS, MINERALS + PHYTO-NUTRIENTS THAT KEEP YOUR BODY STRONG, HEALTHY + DISEASE FREE. TRY TO INCLUDE GREENS AT EVERY MEAL, INCLUDING BREAKFAST.
WORK TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE YOUR INTAKE OF SUGAR, PROCESSED FOODS, SATURATED + TRANS-FATS.
2. MOVE OFTEN: REGULAR EXERCISE PROTECTS AGAINST HEART DISEASE, CANCER, DIABETES, OBESITY, DEPRESSION, ARTHRITIS, DEMENTIA + OTHER INFLAMMATORY DISORDERS. FIND AN EXERCISE ROUTINE THAT WORKS FOR YOU AND STICK WITH IT. JUST GET MOVING!
3. SLEEP SMART: YOUR BODY RESTORES, REPAIRS + DETOXES WHEN YOU SLEEP, SO MAKE SLEEP A PRIORITY! SHOOT FOR A MINIMUM OF 7-8 HOURS PER NIGHT + AIM TO BE IN BED BEFORE MIDNIGHT. SLEEP EXPERTS SUGGEST THAT WHEN YOU GO TO SLEEP MAY BE AS IMPORTANT AS HOW MUCH YOU SLEEP BECAUSE OUR SLEEP/WAKE CYCLE DICTATES THAT THE DEEPEST, MOST RESTORATIVE SLEEP OCCURS BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8PM AND MIDNIGHT.
COMMITTING TO AN EARLIER BEDTIME WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR SLEEP, HELP YOU FEEL REFRESHED + ENERGETIC UPON WAKING AND SUPPORT YOUR HEALTH.
STRESS LESS: STRESS TAKES A TOLL ON YOUR HEALTH AND HAPPINESS. BREAK THE CYCLE OF CHRONIC WORRY: SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS. LAUGH. SEE A FILM. ENJOY A RELAXING MEAL. CLOSE YOUR EYES + BREATHE DEEP. TAKE A LONG WALK. ENJOY NATURE. LISTEN TO MUSIC. MAKE SELF-CARE A PRIORITY.
KNOWING THAT YOUR DAILY HABITS AND CHOICES IMPACT YOUR BODY ON A DEEP, CELLULAR LEVEL IS EMPOWERING. HOW WILL YOU USE THAT KNOWLEDGE TODAY?
#THISISGROUNDED: NEW WAYS TO THINK ABOUT DISEASE AND AGING MOVE WELL. THINK WELL. SLEEP WELL. AGE WELL. EAT WELL. BE WELL.