Everyone at some point would have underestimated the body’s natural ability to heal itself but that has to change because we now know that eating intelligently can boost our body’s defence- system against sickness and disease. What this simply means is that we can eat to beat disease. I’ve always been fascinated with the body’s incredible ability to perform miracles in regard to its healing mechanism. Let me state for the record, this topic may seem a bit redundant when cross referenced with some of my previous articles however, let me explain, in order for the human body to function at full capacity, exercise, eating habits, rest, sleep, stress management, proper hydration and supplementation has to work synergistically and so there would always be some overlapping and thus the need for seeming repetition which is mainly for emphasis.
Now that we’ve gotten past that, let’s move along. We are socialized to believe that we can only depend on the professionals to take care of us especially when it comes to our health.This myth must be demystified, because your body is a self-healing organism. Research shows, there are 30-40 trillion cells in the human body and every second that we’re alive, these cells work tirelessly to achieve what is referred to as a state of equilibrium. Each and every one of us possesses a body that has an inherent capacity for healing as by nature all the functions, processes and systems of the body work in tandem to maintain a healthy balance. I am sure that each one of us can testify that at some point in our lives we may have gotten a cut or a bruise to a knee or an elbow for example and we certainly didn’t always need professional help in many of those instances for them to heal now did we? As a matter of fact, we have often had the pleasure of watching the body heal itself beautifully many times. With the same token the body’s ability to mirror that same self-healing capacity on the inside is quite probable given the correct treatment. More and more people are coming to cognisance of the fact that many diseases are avoidable whether it is the common cold or a more arduous disease such as cancer. Prevention is within our control! We just have to do the work!
One of the ways in which we aid the body in healing itself is by ensuring that we get sufficient sleep. As adults the optimal recommended sleep is eight (8) hours. This is the time when the body’s energy is not being used as much thus it can adequately repair and regenerate itself. So regardless of how busy you get, please don’t take your sleep for granted because you will weaken your immune system and therefore deny your body its ability to heal and restore itself efficiently.
Another way to ensure that the body’s capacity to heal itself is operating at optimal levels is to maintain a healthy and nutrient-rich diet. So minimize the processed foods, preservatives, artificial flavours, hydrogenated fats and increase the intake of fresh fruits, herbs and vegetables, lean sources of protein, nuts and seeds and drink lots of water. Also don’t forget to take your supplements!
Another critical factor needed to activate the body’s ability to heal itself comes in the form of regular exercise. Please note that the exercise does not always need to be strenuous, it just needs to be an activity that will cause blood circulation to be stimulated throughout the body to assist with oxygenation and purification.
We are all in control of our health and once we do what is required, the need for doctor visits and prescription drugs can be greatly reduced. For more health tips keep reading the Health Plus Magazine in your Trinidad Guardian.