The cost of better health can add up quickly! From appointments and lab work to expensive groceries and supplements, the road to better health can be financially draining. But, don’t worry…
Some of the most powerful healing tools we have are free.
Our bodies evolved to relax and return to balance when we are in sync with nature, our natural environment. Our nervous system calms and allows our healing response to take over. Most everyone has access to nature, making these five healthy lifestyle habits the most accessible and most therapeutic healing tools we have…
1. Get Outside in the Sun!
Sunshine is healing for the body and good for the soul. Getting out into the sun throughout the day gives our body vital information about what hormonal and biological processes should be taking place at any given moment.
Sunlight also provides near infrared light waves, the only light wave the actually feeds and replenishes our mitochondria, our cells’ healing powerhouses.
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Boosts the mood through release of endorphins
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Triggers the release of nitric oxide
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Syncs the internal circadian clock
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Kills bacteria
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Helps our body synthesize vitamin D
2. Go Barefoot
Going barefoot, or “grounding”, is a free and powerful antioxidant! It is is one very easy way to help your body to calm down and cool inflammation. Clint Ober (2018 Take Back Your Health Conference, LA) explains that free radicals (oxidants) act against the body by ripping an electron from one of our cells. That cell then borrows an electron from the neighboring cell, and so on, causing a chain reaction of cellular damage.
When you have a lot of free radicals, you get a lot of damaged cells. This causes an almost unchecked growth of inflammation! You need an influx of antioxidants (molecules with extra electrons) to repair the inflammation. The earth constantly emits hydrogen anions, which are powerful antioxidants. Putting your skin to the earth gives you access to these antioxidants whenever you need them! When you give your body back these free electrons, healing and tissue repair can begin.
3. Experiment with Fasting
Fasting is a great way to help your body “rest and digest“! There are many different ways to experiment with fasting. “Eating windows” can be a great starting point. This is when you decide on a window of time when you do eat, then do not eat outside that window. Beginners might start with a 12-14 hour eating window, like 6 AM to 8 PM, or 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM.
This allows your body time to heal and detox overnight. It also improves your sleep by allowing your body to do the heavy digesting before you’re in deep sleep. Longer periods of fasting, such as a 24 hour or weeklong fast, have additional benefits. But, we do not recommend trying that without consulting your doctor as it can cause greater stress for some people/health conditions.
If you try and find it is not working for you, then eat something! But remember, after any amount of fasting it is best to start with a small meal to ease your body back into it.
Forest bathing is a simple way to encourage healing within your body by relaxing in a wooded setting. Genevieve over at Mama Natural describes it as:
“Forest bathing is taking time to unwind and connect with nature to improve your health. Simply put: Forest bathing is retreating to nature to immerse in the forest atmosphere.”
Different from hiking or exercising, forest bathing is similar to a mindful meditation. Rather than working up a sweat, you walk through the woods, taking time to notice and experience the forest around you with all your senses. You can even lie down or forage for an immersive experience. Not near a forest? Mama Natural suggests finding a tree or a nature park to mimic the experience as closely as possible.
5. Take Time to Breathe
Taking time to breathe is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It can be done anywhere, anytime. Just take a few seconds to quiet your mind and relax any areas of your body that are tense. Then, take slow, focused breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. An easy breathing method to remember is “square breathing”.
Square breathing is when you inhale, hold your breath, exhale, pause, then begin again for a few rounds according to a certain count. For example, you might inhale while counting to six, hold your breath for six seconds, then exhale while counting to six, then pause for four to six seconds before beginning again. The counting helps your mind stay focused on the breathing and your body slow down, especially if you are used to holding tension. Stress is the root cause of many health issues, and focused breathing is a fantastic way to counteract it.
Bonus: Join our Safe Haven Fireside Chats!
Looking for another free and easy way to improve your health and learn more healing tips? Register for our biweekly Safe Haven Fireside Chats! You will always come away with actionable steps you can implement in your life to improve your health. You can sign up for our upcoming Safe Haven here.
Let us know if you try any of these tips!
