Being Healthy Takes Guts

Everything is stacked against us. But do not fret.

Pesticides. Microplastics. EMFs. Heavy metals (and not the fun, rebellious, rocker-type!). Glyphosate. Blue light. Poisonous rhetoric. Depleted soil. Lies. Netflix and slouchy couches. Concrete wastelands. All center aisles of the grocery store. Pharma. The $cience. Division. Parasites, viruses, mold. Culture wars. Comfort (yes, comfort). Apathy. Isolation. Deceptive AI. Geo-engineering. Floods and hurricanes. Food deserts. And most devastatingly of all, detachment from Nature, Source, and God. 

Reconnection is where the healing lies.

Being healthy truly takes guts. These days, one must set forth with the courage of a warrior, the stealth of a ninja, the surrender of a dying elder, and the curiosity of a toddler. Altering your journey of healing requires the ultimate fortitude: guts. 

Not surprisingly, the gut is the best place to begin. A milieu of creatures that are “non-self,” our intestines are both the interface and turnstile to the outside world. As with a nation’s borders, our intestinal lining must be unified and aligned, fortified with discerning agents, permeable only to that which serves our entire body’s highest goals of nourishment, strength, sustenance, and energy. A healthy barrier integrates the building blocks of growth, change and repair. Lined with neurotransmitters, endocrine and emotional receptors, immunoglobulins, and a mycelium-like network of vessels, nerves, and lymphatics, the gut is truly our epicenter of being. Some reference it as the second brain. I dare to call it our source of consciousness. Life itself.

The state of our nation’s health is dire. Despite billions of dollars being allotted toward research, big pharma, cancer innovations, invasive medical interventions, big agriculture, and endless antibiotics, antiseptics, antivirals, anti….everything, we have seen decades of disastrous decline in well-being and quality of life. Although medical interventions are absolutely essential for trauma and certain injuries, much of the industry is failing not only its patients, but its well-trained and compassionately minded practitioners. It is a sad story of demise that begins and, dare I say, ends with food.

One thing I hear frequently from new patients is how grateful they are for being heard and validated, often for the first time in their medical journey. This is not a shortcoming of caring physicians in general, but a flaw of the entire system. Top-down practice ironically starts with the bottom line. One would hope that the ultimate goal of healthcare is optimal patient health and improved quality of life. Perhaps “sickcare” is a more apt description. Unfortunately, the paradigm within which we are currently enslaved focuses not on quality but on quantity. Time restraints are commonplace, keeping patient encounters in assembly line fashion. It is unfathomable how a thorough medical intake and physical exam could be done in 30 minutes or less. Or how a complex treatment plan involving nutrition, lifestyle, labs, exercise regimens, stress-relieving techniques, supplements/herbs/medications, and sleep habits might be discussed in such a short session. It is egregious to consider that insurance agencies establish medical protocols without ever meeting the human beings who must ultimately follow them. That is, if those patients hope to be reimbursed for said protocols. Again, not the practitioner’s doing. Top down systems pay no mind to the lives below.

What is most concerning and has reached an urgent tipping point is the health of our children. Here in the United States, children are now afflicted with diseases that used to only strike with age. Or so many thought. Age related diseases are generally metabolic in origin. As Naturopaths, we have understood and embraced the importance of lifestyle, nutrition, movement, nature, the microbiome, restful sleep, light/circadian rhythm, hydrotherapy, breathing, hydration, minimizing toxic exposures, supportive relationships, purpose, balanced emotional response, and spiritual connection as the key factors to vitality and longevity. Society begs for a resurgence of these practices. Our children are presenting with diseases of metabolic health including non-insulin dependent diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, mental health issues, fatty liver disease, hormone imbalance, skin issues, chronic pain, obesity, among many other concerning ailments. The majority of these conditions did not exist in youngsters only 50 years ago. I have been alive for about as many years and have seen firsthand the shift of morbidity. First, it hit middle age, then, young adults and now, at a blindingly rapid pace, it is afflicting our CHILDREN. These are diseases of lifestyle, not medication deficiency. Our kids do not need ozempic, metformin and statins. They need real, unpoisoned food, clean water, exercise, sleep, daylight, fresh air, sunshine, the outdoors, hugs, and engaging learning environments. We may be witnessing for the first time generations that will not outlive their parents’ lifespan.

Although the solutions to this daunting epidemic may feel impossible, there is much hope. A surge of awareness and awakening is coming over the masses. People are tired of feeling unwell. They are ready to feel empowered and take action. Many yearn for a better understanding of their body’s inner workings and what lies in the way of reaching their optimal health goals. Motivation is trickling in. The medical industrial complex is gasping its final breaths as a new compendium of healthcare is born. The truth of corruption that keeps people sick whilst funneling billions of hard earned dollars to a select few is coming to light, and to an abrupt end. Society is hungry for wisdom and is weary of being sick and tired. Do you feel the shift? It is happening.

My wish for you is to be ahead of this curve. Break the trail that leads to a new way of living. Tread through unknown forests and discover (or rediscover) healing practices that are timeless and accessible. Sort through the static and find what works for you. Remember that you are of wise and Divine design. Healing is inherent, disease is the alarm bell ringing out to let you know it’s time to make some big changes. Do not wait until they are unbearable to hear. Optimize your nourishment. Move your body, preferably outdoors every darn day. Remind yourself how to breathe. Prioritize sleep. Face the sun, often. Hydrate. Get uncomfortable. Use temperature and water to challenge your body. Laugh and stay lighthearted. Forgive. Find your passion and practice it relentlessly. Love others, and yourself. Be hungry at night. Eat well in the morning and then move your body. Stay strong and nimble. Stimulate your mind. Connect with loved ones and hug them often. Get outside more. Be grateful for anything and everything. Learn the hard lessons. Fix your gut. Listen to your gut. Honor your body and your blessed life. Surrender to God. He’s counting on you.