If you had told me 10 years ago that I would study to become a Holistic Nutritionist, I would have stared at you blankly and said … “a what?”
Yup, I would have said that for sure!
However, when I look back at how I have tried to live my life, it was and still is in complete alignment with living holistically or at least my interpretation of living holistically. Each of us will have his or her own definition and versions, but the overall concept is the same.
According to dictionary.com, the philosophic meaning of “holistic” is “characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole.”
Similarly, the medical meaning of holistic is “characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms of a disease.”
In both meanings, there is a reference to the “whole”.
To me, living more holistically means living in a way that encourages the connection of mind, body, and spirit, which in turn improves your overall wellness. So, not just the sum of the parts, but the whole being.
Let’s look at some of the benefits of living a more holistic life.
BENEFITS OF LIVING MORE HOLISTICALLY
Preventative medicine – Holistic living is a way to manage your health and decrease the need for conventional medicine. Prevention, rather than intervention. This is not a pass to avoid seeing your medical practitioner. You should still see your doctor regularly. Rather, approaching ailments in a holistic manner can open the door to the question, “why is this happening”. We are not simply fixing the problem, but figuring out why the problem happened in the first place, so it does not happen again.
Less chemicals, additives, and artificial ingredients –Natural living means you have less toxins, chemicals, and additives in your food, cleaning supplies, and personal care products.
You can save money – When you reduce your waste and live more holistically you no longer need those expensive, toxic specialty products!
Overall wellness and health – This lifestyle is not about perfection, but rather a way to live a healthier life and work on overall wellness for your mind and body.
SO HOW DO YOU GET THERE FROM HERE?
So, where do you begin?
Firstly, it helps to know what you need to change. Holistic and natural are very broad terms that might mean different things to different people and well they should. To avoid becoming overwhelmed, it helps to understand some simple ways to make changes.
CONSIDER YOUR CURRENT LIFESTYLE
Take a few days to journal what you tend to do from morning to evening, such as your habits, the food you eat, the products you use (personal, cleaning, etc.).
Do the foods you eat contain a lot of unnecessary ingredients (i.e. are they processed)?
Do you take a lot of over-the-counter medications?
This is all important information to figure out how to live more holistically by making small changes.
SMALL STEPS = BIG IMPROVEMENTS
You don’t need to instantly change every single element of your life, replace all cleaning products, switch to all-natural skincare products, and never eat a processed food ever again. This is not sustainable.
Choose one small thing to change at a time, then when you get used to that part, you can change the next thing and so on. Remember, this is YOUR life and you get to choose HOW you want to live it holistically.
GETTING STARTED
If you are new to the holistic way of living, and aren’t quite sure how to start, these next simple steps will help you with some easy holistic habits to add into your life.
IT ALL STARTS WITH WATER
Over half of your body is made up of water, so drink a lot of water throughout the day to function smoothly.
Water helps you stay hydrated, gives you natural energy, is amazing for your skin, and can keep you from snacking too much.
Almost any issue you face externally or internally can at least be somewhat improved by drinking more water.
Don’t forget to add some lemon for detoxing!
Don’t like plain water? Check out this post that has some ideas on how to put a little zing in your H20!
USE NATURAL PRODUCTS
Begin buying more natural products with clean ingredients.
This includes your cleaning, skincare, and beauty products, and so much more.
Over-the-counter natural options are available for just about everything you use in your life, from kitchen cleaners and air fresheners to moisturizers and shampoo.
Don’t try to replace everything at once, but rather, when you run out of something make your replacement purchase a more natural option.
FEED YOUR BODY CLEAN INGREDIENTS
Switch to a cleaner diet made up mostly of whole foods and unprocessed meals that you cook in your home.
Avoid eating too many processed and prepackaged foods and frozen dinners. Your diet will be healthier, you will save money, and you’ll feel better in the long run. Win-win-win!
Until next time!
Yours in health and wellness,
Francine Alleyne (RHNP™)
Holistic Nutritionist, Registered Holistic Nutrition Practitioner™
Email: fran@francinealleyne.com
Website: http://www.midlifehealthy.com
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Instagram: @wellness.with.fran
DISCLAIMER: Please consult your healthcare practitioner if you are experiencing any symptoms. I am not a doctor. This post and anything else you find on my website is intended for informational, educational and self-empowerment purposes ONLY and is not intended to treat or diagnose any condition or disease.