Throughout your day, you make decisions that have either a positive or negative influence on your well-being. There are no neutral decisions. Everyone’s journey is different, but there are some steps that seem to be helpful to most people. Here are a few simple tips that may help to move you further along the path to your wellness goals.
Vitamin D3 – More of a hormone than a vitamin that plays a powerful role in the immune system and other bodily functions. A healthy body can manufacture vitamin D after exposure to sunshine, but most people, who have varying (sometimes undetected) levels of inflammation may not properly synthesize vitamin D. Supplementing with 5,000 IU/day is often a good maintenance level.
High Quality Fish Oil – Rich in Omega-3 fats, fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties and is nourishing to the brain. I strongly emphasize “High Quality” here. There are loads of cheap fish oil supplements available on the market that are either chemically extracted or rancid. One way to test if your fish oil has chemical solvent residue is to poke open a capsule and drip some on a piece of Styrofoam. The solvents will eat through the Styrofoam in a matter of minutes to hours. Lemon essential oil that is added to some good quality fish oils may also do this so it’s not a perfect test. Bonfire, Nordic Naturals, and Standard Process are a few brands that I like.
Trace Minerals – The spark-plugs of the electrical conductivity of the body, many people are deficient due to a combination of poor digestion and poor nutrition. Many hormones and neurotransmitters require appropriate levels of trace minerals in order to be made by the body. Beyond major minerals such as calcium and magnesium, one must also consider trace minerals such as zinc, selenium, and iodine – to name just a few. The structure of the mineral also matters as certain forms are poorly absorbed. SpectraMin (by Energetix), Organically Bound Trace Minerals (by Standard Process), and Thyroscin (by Thorne) are popular in my office.
Digestive Support – Digestion is the main way your body gets the tools it needs to build your cells, hormones, and neurotransmitters. The digestive system is also the foundation of the immune system. Optimizing digestion helps you to get the most out of not only your food, but also your nutritional supplements. Working with a wellness professional to determine if simple probiotics are enough or if you might benefit also from digestive enzymes, stomach acid or bile supplementation as well.
Fundamentally, wellness starts with what you put in your mouth so choose natural foods and a diet rich in colorful vegetables while drinking mostly water is also a great start. Remember, wellness isn’t something you have, it’s something you do.
The information presented here is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prescribe for any disease or condition. Please consult your healthcare provider when making wellness choices.