We have been taught to believe that pain and discomfort are just a normal part of aging. Disease is to be expected as we get older, right? Wrong! While pain, discomfort, and disease are common, they are not normal. Normal cellular function is the definition of health. While abnormal cellular function is the definition of discomfort and disease.

Did you know that your body has incredible regenerative abilities? Surgeons have long known your liver can completely grow back within 2 months if 80% of it is removed. The heart can renew itself every 15 years, bones every 2 years, lungs and skin every 2 to 4 weeks, and intestines can replace all their cells in just 3 days. Nerves can regenerate at a speed of an inch a month, and the brain can generate new cells at a rate of 1500 per day. Throughout your lifetime, you could potentially grow 6 new bodies!

Aging happens when your body loses its ability to replace sick and dying cells with healthy, vibrant new cells. However, you can encourage new growth by simply changing your diet and lifestyle: the foods you eat, exercise, mindset, sleep, and rest.

Your current biological age is just a number. What you choose to eat and how you choose to live determine how old or young you look and feel. Every day, you make choices that affect your body's health and longevity. I’m sure you’ve been told if you want to feel better cut out stress. What does that mean? Let’s break it down.

A patient’s chronic condition stems from one or a combination of three stressors: traumas, toxins, and thoughts. These stressors lead to chronic inflammation in or around the brain and spinal cord– the central nervous system. When left unaddressed, this inflammation causes cellular breakdown, leading to the degeneration and functional changes that result in discomfort. Ultimately, this process can lead to the development of diseases. Stress, stemming from traumas, toxins, and thoughts can catalyze physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual dysfunction. Keep this in mind the next time someone suggests you need to cut out stress.

When you begin to notice something isn’t quite right, that is the time to address the change in function. Don’t just live with it and chock it up to "getting older." That is like turning off the smoke detector when it sounds an alarm, and then going about your day while your house goes up in flames.

Holistic physicians look at the patient as a whole being not just individual systems. They spend a significant amount of time with their patients discussing positive changes to their diet and lifestyle that go well beyond pain and symptom management.

When your labs return with borderline results, it's important to address the underlying processes that may be pushing the numbers toward an abnormal range. Holistic physicans help patients do this. Addressing new symptoms and maintaining normal function is an ongoing process. Regular maintenance care is crucial for living a long, healthy, and vibrant life.

Wouldn't you prefer making diet and lifestyle changes to promote cellular regrowth, so you can start feeling better right away or better yet– so you can grow a new body and live the vibrant healthy life you desire and deserve?

Here are some simple daily steps you can take to begin to cultivate a healthier lifestyle

1. Drink at least 64 ounces of filtered water.
2. Get at least 15 minutes of sunshine (without sunscreen).
3. Incorporate 30 minutes of brisk walking.
4. Practice meditation and visualization to promote a healthy mindset.
5. Engage in spiritual habits such as prayer, reading, and worship.
6. Journal your thoughts, goals, and ideas.
7. Create a checklist of things to accomplish, both at work and at home to stay mentally focused.
8. Ensure that your daily diet consists of 80% vegetable fiber, 10% healthy fats, and 10% lean protein.
9. Avoid processed foods, fast foods, junk food, simple carbs, and refined sugar.
10. Take high-quality vitamins and minerals as recommended by your holistic health practitioner.
11. Surround yourself with a supportive social network.
12. Limit social media to positive interactions.
13. Avoid screen time at least one hour before bedtime.
14. Incorporate routine maintenance healthcare that supports a holistic approach to healing, such as chiropractic care, functional medicine, naturopathy, acupuncture, herbs, massage, and yoga.

Sources:

• https://book.bionumbers.org
• https://www.questdiagnostics.com
• https://www.frontiersin.org
• https://www.niehs.nih.gov
• https://www.disabled-world.com

Disclaimer: The content of this article, such as graphics, images, text and all other materials, is provided for reference and educational purposes only. The content is not meant to be complete or exhaustive or to apply to any specific individual's medical condition. This article is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide specific medical advice, and it should not be used to make a diagnosis or to replace or overrule a qualified healthcare provider's judgment. The reader should not rely on this content for emergency medical treatment. The content in this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult with a qualified and licensed physician or other healthcare provider for guidance.