The Wellness Lifestyle

The True Meaning of Wellness 

The health of our body and mind is our biggest strength as this affects how we feel, think, how we interact and what we achieve. When there is no harmony between the mind and the body, we can feel unwell and this affects our mental, physical and emotional states too. 

Stephen Richard says, “Before aligning the mind, body and soul…first, one has to straighten their mind out.” He is absolutely correct. Living a bad lifestyle puts the body at risk when it comes to contracting health-related diseases and physical illness. 

Lifestyle

Our lifestyle plays a major role in the appearance of our skins, bodies and overall wellness. Our blood system provides nourishment to our skin and internally, consuming more water, vitamins and minerals are all important to the health of the skin and body. The pollutants we are exposed to daily, from cars, factories and even smoking will affect the surface appearance of our skins and will change the health of the cells making up the body. Hence, what we put into our bodies significantly affects not only our skin but the overall health of the body. Smoking for example, and drinking alcohol will deprive the body of oxygen and will cause a build-up in the arteries, which could cause a blockage or clot, ultimately possibly causing a stroke. Excessive alcohol in fact can affect the heart, as it can increase the blood pressure and could result in a stroke. 

Water

Most people think that embracing a life of wellness means dealing with complicated diets, expensive workout plans and crazy routines. The simplest change however, can make the world of difference in your overall wellness. Take water for example. 75% of the population is dehydrated. Water makes up 60% of the body. A human being can only live up to 3 days without water. 

Water in the diet- caffeine is a natural diuretic, so it rids the body of water. Water is needed by the body to flush out toxins and help maintain good circulation. Some people will say to this, “I hate water, but I consume other liquids!.” When consuming other liquids like teas, coffees, juices or foods with high-water content, the body digests them differently and will use the water in those substances to help the digestion process, rather than distributing them to the vital organs. 

Nutrition 

The nutrients found in the food we eat help to strengthen the proteins that make up our body from the inside. A balanced internal body will present as less inflammation, thus reducing any free radical damage. What you put into your body reflects on the outside. Any disruption in our bodies will reflect on the outside, and we would need to get to the root of the problem, which will help solve our concerns. Stress plays a major role in the body. So when we stress eat, our body does not properly absorb the food. The food will sit in the stomach, causing reflux, and ultimately cause inflammation. Inflammation in the body is a sign of free radical damage. 

Stress

The effect of stress is one of the greatest contributors to aging, acne and inflammatory skin conditions because it interferes in the mind and the body and prevents proper body functioning. This will stop the body and the skin from absorbing all-important nutrients you are feeding it and will cause a disruption resulting in an unbalanced body. 

Exercise 

Movement helps us naturally detoxify our bodies. The body naturally detoxifies itself by sweating, however, regular exercise is a great way to speed up this detoxification process. The movement also encourages the lymphatic system to function faster and will reduce water retention and build on immunity. Exercise can help reduce sweat, but lowers the blood pressure and strengthens the heart muscles. It also releases endorphins leaving us with a general feeling of wellness. 

Sleep

It is recommended to get at least 7 hours but we should aim for 8 to 9 hours. This helps with mental alertness and memory, as well as overall body functioning. A lack of sleep increases the hormone cortisol, which brings about cravings for all types of things, including junk food, as well as builds on the midline of the body. An increased cortisol level will interfere with how well the body works to heal and repair any damaged tissues. A lack of sleep will also overwork the heart, causing more stress. 

Here are a few guidelines to assist with sleeping:

• Shut down all electronics at least one hour before bed 
• Soak in a warm bath, adding some lavender essential oils into the bath while soaking in there, or spray some lavender on the pillow. I write all about essential oils in Chapter 2.  
• Create a sleep blend using essential oils to place in the diffuser. Place the diffuser next to the bed for at least an hour before bed. 
• Be well hydrated before bed. 

Here is a bonus challenge for you: 

Document your daily routines, diets, activity, and relaxation techniques to see where you can better your lifestyle.