Finding The Right Balance For Optimal Health

"To eat or not to eat…that is the question." With so much information out there, what do you need to eat to have optimal immune system/digestive system health and maintain hormonal balance. It's easy to pop a vitamin supplement pill, but nutrients are much easier absorbed when digested naturally. Here are a few suggestions that will help you reach the healthy status you want for your body naturally:

Whole Foods
Do you want to own ½ a car or ½ a house? Probably not. When your goal is optimal health, you don't want to digest ½ grains either. Always go for the whole. Remember "whole" grains are "whole"some. Sure, taking a supplement is always better than nothing at all, but eating whole grain oats and whole grain rice can be a great start on the road to health.

Herbs
If you want to have a better hormonal balance, improve your immune system, and give your body's metabolism a boost, a few good herbs to consider include: bacopa monnieri, Ashwagandha, hops, coleus forskohlii, and sage.

Testing
If you want to know where you stand as far as vitamin and mineral deficiencies, it can be assessed by a simple blood test. If you're experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, achiness, weakness, etc, you should schedule an appointment with your physician to discuss what symptoms you have. They can schedule the necessary testing to determine what your body needs.

Handle Your Stress
Stress can affect every part of your body and every system you have. When you're under stress, your body releases cortisol which inhibits thyroid hormones. This, in turn, can cause problems for your immune and digestive systems. Your thyroid can't operate at its best under continued stressful situations. Your body can't handle great amounts of stress for long periods of time without experience some degree of adrenal exhaustion. One way to help cut physical stress is to eat three balanced meals along with two snacks that are healthy each day. This helps you keep your body in proper balance and maintain optimal health.

Meal Time Is Break Time
Remember the McDonald's commercial that said, "You deserve a break today?" Eating while driving, eating over the kitchen sink or standing at the kitchen counter, eating over your desk slaving over paper work isn't a break. Life can be a hectic thing. Multitasking may be admired by your employer but your body won't admire it. You need a break from stress and mealtime should be just that. It will give your body and mind a break from the hectic pace of life. Sit in a comfortable place when you eat and enjoy each meal in peace. Whether it's alone or laughing and talking with friends in a relaxing environment while you eat, make sure to take that break when you eat. You’ll find your work-day stress is reduced if you do. You will have a nourished body as well as a relaxed one.

Finding the proper balance will take a little trial and error. It’s worth the effort. Once you do you'll look and feel better than ever before.