J.42/ Naturopathic Lifestyle Tips
As a Naturopath I like to take things back to basics when it comes to giving out lifestyle advice, sometimes the most simple things are just what someone needs. In Naturopathy we also like to treat people in a holistic way, which means to treat the person as whole and not just look at a single symptom but to look at the bigger picture.
There are some basic principles I was taught at university which I still think completely underpin all of my treatment plans for my clients. They remind me that sometimes yes, we do just need to go back to basics, it’s not always about giving x,y,z products but also making sure someone is living a lifestyle that is allowing for optimal health. Simply giving supplements is not enough to adjust someone’s wellbeing, as the practitioner I work with my client to find the balance of what will work for them, in terms of diet and lifestyle adjustments. Bringing it all back to basics includes sunlight, water, wholesome food, movement and connection to name a few.
Improving your wellbeing sometimes isn’t a quick fix and is it’s also important to remember every one is different and treatment isn’t a one size fits all situation. But I do think most people can benefit from improving certain lifestyle factors and with that you’ll find other areas of your health will also improve. For instance, if you decrease the amount of packaged food you consume that will over all benefit your health in a very positive way, without even targeting anything specific. Simply making small changes to improve your overall health will have a domino effect in your body.
Some general guidelines I like to offer my clients food wise are keeping things as simple and basic as possible, aiming for an 80/20 diet and making your meals as nutrient dense as possible. Aim for fresh and seasonal fruit and vegetables, good quality protein, good fats and complex carbohydrates to be the backbone of your diet. If you’re including some protein with every meal you’ll feel fuller for longer and have more energy. The 80/20 rule is eating as well as you can 80% of the time and 20% you can feel a bit more free in your food choices so you don’t feel restricted at a social event or if you have a particular craving. This allows for being mostly quite healthy with your eating habits but still allowing yourself to live a little and get enjoyment from your favourite foods.
Movement is something else I like my clients to get on board with, I work with each person and find something they think they can do, let’s say they think they can make time for a 15 minute walk three times per week, then that’s what we aim for. There’s no need to reach above what someone is capable of straight away, change happens from repetition, so choosing something that someone can keep up on a regular basis is far better than overcommitting to something they can only do for a week before they fail. Over time we can slowly work our way up and increase the days and time of the certain exercise and over time they’ll enjoy it more and more. With daily movement and time spent outdoors comes more energy, less stress, more time for gratitude, it’s all about taking that first step in the right direction.
Some other things I like to suggest in a lifestyle adjustment are sleep hygiene, reducing excessive technology use, spending time with people you love, filling your day with things you love to do, journaling etc. These allow for you to increase your ‘feel good neurotransmitters’, increasing your serotonin and dopamine will make you feel more satisfied with life, feel happier, less stressed and more grateful. It’s all about finding balance with everything, not over committing but still allowing for small changes to your routine and lifestyle. Without change you can’t improve your health, it’s all about taking that first leap and making it apart of your routine that you can keep up consistently.
