Holistic health is about caring for the whole person — providing for your physical, mental, spiritual, and social needs. It’s rooted in the understanding that all these aspects affect your overall health, and being unwell in one aspect affects you in others
I sometimes forget that practicing holistic health is second nature for me. I wanted to just give you some information as to what the heck practicing holistic health in your life means and maybe why it could be the path that may work best for you.
Health can be measured in many ways and is often broken down into a variety of numbers and diagnoses that don’t often provide the best picture of what a truly healthy body and mind look like.
You can get a lot of information from a lab, but you must look at the person.
While modern-day western medicine has brought many wonderful and life-saving advancements, one of the downfalls of western medicine is the often take a cookie cutter approach to health, which looks at the body in sections of individual symptoms and pieces rather than the whole system it really is.
Therefore, holistic health is so important because to truly achieve optimal wellness in the physical, mental, and spiritual sense we must be viewing and supporting the body as the incredible system it is.
I like to think of it like a wheel with many spokes. If one of the spokes is bent or broken, you can’t ride the bike. So, your spokes could represent metal and emotional, physical activity, diet, relationships, work, sleep and so on.
WHAT IS HOLISTIC HEALTH?
WHAT IS HOLISTIC HEALTH?
Holistic health or holistic healing is often defined as a form of healing that looks at the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. This kind of holistic healing often involves multiple complimentary medicines and alternative healthcare practices that can overlap with modern-day western medicine but will go even further into the singular treatment of symptoms to support more than just the body.
Some alternative healthcare practices in the realm of holistic health are:
- chiropractic
- herbalism
- massage
- energy work (reiki)
- therapy
- yoga/meditation
- acupuncture
- physical therapy
- general western medicine
- nutrition
- personal training
When all of these complimentary therapies come together for holistic healing, a person is much more likely to experience wellness on a deeper level that allows for optimal health.
It is not just a band-aid the symptom approach. I find the root cause of what is causing the symptom or symptoms and work to fix that area. For example, Let’s say you have a horrible skin rash. Do you look at the gut, liver, and food? Or should we just take some steroid cream and call it a day? You want to find out what is causing it, so you don’t have to take anything. Nobody wants to spend their entire life on steroid cream.
Holistic Health saved my life!!
THE IMPORTANCE OF HOLISTIC HEALTH
While people are living longer today, they also are experiencing chronically high levels of stress and fatigue, are consuming nutrient-depleted foods, and are exposed to hundreds of potentially harmful chemically through our air, water, cleaning, and personal care products daily. So, to say that holistic health is important would be an understatement.
For many people living with chronic disease and undiagnosable symptoms, the modern-day healthcare industry has failed them. They feel lost and alone which then can cause emotional issues. It doesn’t mean modern day healthcare is horrible but sometimes taking a few different approaches can be the best thing for the client. At this point it is time that a more holistic, whole-body solution became a standard part of the way we treat and support the health of the billions of people living on this planet.
Holistic health also considers the many external and environmental factors which could be supporting or impacting our overall health and wellness, and with climate change impacting our surrounding environments more and more each day, it is important that we have a systematic way of addressing health in the future.
THE 5 ASPECTS OF HOLISTIC HEALTH: PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, SPIRITUAL, AND MENTAL
All these 5 aspects of holistic health are what enables a person to truly live each day as optimal as they can. Allowing them to be at their happiest and if one area is compromised, most likely other areas will be as well.
PHYSICAL
Our physical health is what most people think about when they think of health. This is mostly because it is the physical body that often shows us physical signs and symptoms of either optimal or sub-optimal health. These physical signs and symptoms are also easier to track and measure, versus other non-physical signs and symptoms that most people are not that in tune with until they are sick or in pain.
Here are few key practices that everyone can benefit from and can make a huge difference in your overall well-being:
- Sleep for 8 hours each night. This will allow your body to truly rest and repair from the day.
- Eat a nutrient-dense diet that is high in plant-based foods and organic/pastured animal products.
- Maintain a balanced blood sugar by eating meals and snacks that contain fat, carbohydrates, and protein avoiding a carb heavy low-fat diet.
- Move your body for 30 minutes each day. While every person’s exercise routine will be different, everyone can benefit from at least 30 minutes of movement each day.
- Limit processed foods and hydrogenated oils which are highly inflammatory and can increase the risk of chronic disease.
- Do not smoke and avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
EMOTIONAL
While often overlooked or people put blinders on is our emotional— believe me emotional health will impact your physical health.
Ways you can support your emotional health:
- Seek out therapy when needed.
- Practice mindfulness and stress reduction habits that can help you better manage life’s daily stressors. I love my Heartmath
- Keep a journal to record your thoughts and feelings, gratitude lists etc…
SOCIAL our TRIBE
Research has shown that the happiest people on earth have deep connections with their friends, family, and community. This is often why religion relates to happiness as it can provide a deep sense of community and support, no matter what faith a person chooses.
Ways that you can support your social health:
- Make time for in-person connection. NOT ZOOM or text
- Get involved in your local community. (church, local volunteer organizations, clubs, or programs at your kids’ school)
- Set boundaries with people in your life that may increase stress or bring about toxic energy. Also do not be afraid to walk away from energy vampires.
SPIRITUAL
Spiritual wellness does not necessarily mean that you need to become religious, although the two often have overlapping practices and principles. Spiritual health takes a deeper dive into your soul.
Ways you can support your spiritual health:
- Spend time in nature
- Spend a few minutes each day meditating
- If you are religious, take the time to practice your faith
MENTAL
The last aspect of holistic health is our mental health, which often overlaps with both our emotional and physical health. The big distinction between our mental and emotional health is that while our emotional health refers mostly to our daily mood and emotions, our mental health refers to our cognitive abilities that affect how our brain functions.
Ways that you can support your mental health:
- Always keep your mind active by seeking out learning opportunities and problem-solving practices that challenge your brain.
- Consume nutrient-dense foods that are high in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids that will help reduce overall inflammation and support cognitive function.
- Avoid excessive drinking, smoking, and consuming recreational drugs.
- Improve gut health with gut-healing foods like bone broth and prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods. Since the brain is directly connected to the gut a healthy gut is essential for a healthy mind.
Sick and Tired of Feeling Sick and Tired?
TO BOOK YOUR FREE 45 MINUTE DISCOVERY CALL TO SEE IF THIS IS A TEST THAT WOULD HELP YOU. I WILL HELP GO OVER THE BEST PLAN TAILORED JUST FOR YOU TO OPTIMIZE YOUR HEALTH.
Schedule a complimentary 45-minute consultation with Samantha to talk about your health journey and discover your best YOU!
#healthyliving #holisticnutrition #integrativehealth #nutrition #naturopathicmedicine #functionalmedicinenutritionist #holistichealth #functionalmedicinemn #healthcoach #functionalnutrition #healthylifestyle #healthy #healthyfood #guthealth #functionalmedicinenp #wellness #functionalmedicineindia #naturalmedicine #functionalmedicinedoctor #functionalmedicinecoaching #functionalmedicineindonesia #functionalmedicinesf #functionalmedicinenyc #naturopathicdoctor #health #functionalmedicinemd #integrativemedicine #functionalmedicinehealthcoaching #functionalmedicinecoachingacademy #functionalmedicinefoods #healthy #healthyeating #food #healthyfoodsshare #healthyfoodie #healthylifestyle #healthyrecipes #healthyfoodsharing #healthyliving #healthyfoods_0kkal #health #healthyfoodstudio #indianhealthyfoods #healthyfoodstores #healthyfoodsinlagos #healthyfoodsemarang #foodie #healthyjunkfoods #healthyrecipe #vegan #mndxhealthyfoods #nutrition #foodporn #healthyfoodsydney #healthyfood #healthyfoodideas #foodstagram #healthyfoodshare #instafood #healthyfoodstagram #chronicpain #fibromyalgia #mentalhealth #healthylifestyle #glutenfree #autoimmuneawareness #autoimmunearthritis #autoimmunerkrankung #autoimmunestrong #autoimmunedisease #autoimmunewarriors #selfcare #autoimmunediseases #health #spoonielife #autoimmunepaleo #autoimmunediseasewarrior #butyoudontlooksick #invisibleillness #wellness #chronicillness #autoimmunediseaseawareness #autoimmunepaleocookbook #autoimmuneprotocol #autoimmunewarrior #chronicallyill #chronicfatigue #spoonie #autoimmunewellness #lupus #functionaldiagnosticnuyrition #functionaldiagnosticenutrition #functionaldiagnosticnutritionpractioner #functionaldiagnosticnutritionist #functionaldiagnosticnutrtition #functionaldiagnosticnutritiom #functionaldiagnostics #functionaldiagnosticnurtritionpractitioner #functionaldiagnosticmedicine #functionaldiagnostichealthcoach #functionaldiagnosticnutriton #functionaldiagnosticnutrtion #functionaldiagnosticnutritionpractitione #functionaldiagnosticcorrection3d #functionaldiagnosticnutrtionist #functionaldiagnosticnutritionptactitioner #functionaldiagnosticpractitioner #functionaldiagnosticnutritioncoach #functionaldiagnosticnutrition #functionaldiagnosticnutritionpractitioner #functionaldiagnostictesting #functionaldiagnosticnutritiondelete #functionaldiagnosticnutritionpractititioner #functionaldiagnostictests #functionaldiagnosticpractioner #functionaldiagnosticnutition #functionaldiagnostic_correction3d #functionaldiagnosticnitrition #functionaldiagnostic #functionaldiagnosticnutritiompractitioner #candidafree #candidafood #candidataoficial #candidatoaprefeito #candidastevensgallery #candidahofer #candidatos2020 #candidacleanse #candidates2020 #candidatoavereador #candidaferreira #candidasa #candidafriendly #candidati #candidaalbicans #cândida #candidatura #candidadetox #candidats #candidadiet #candidaovergrowth #cándidamontilla #candidadoyle #candidasabali #candidasabeach #candidata #précandidato #cándida #candidate #candidaautoral
