It's time to re-frame health and healing. We have all been taught that health is the absence of a disease or syndrome (syndrome actually just means a collection of symptoms for which the cause is unknown). We're given diagnoses that reflect symptoms or diseased tissue, not an explanation as to what caused the health condition in the first place. Bronchitis, for example, is inflammation of the bronchial tubes. But what causes it?
Or consider the many technical names given to illnesses. Why does this matter? It matters because technical-sounding names distract us from the fact that we still don't know what caused our particular health problems...or better yet, how we might heal from the conditions. They simply leave us feeling scared and uncertain as to how to address the health issues we're facing. So, instead of thinking about your disease name, please think about how miraculous your body is: how many viruses has your immune system overcome in your lifetime? Probably many. How many wounds has your body healed during your life. Probably many.
Even without your conscious thought, your body kept breathing and your heart kept beating while you read this passage. Millions of cells were made and millions of others were destroyed. Your body has the innate wisdom to heal; it simply needs the tools to do so.
So, what are the tools to heal your body at the cellular level? Well there are many but today let's discuss nutrients. Yes, nutrients. That's why I laugh when people say nutrition is not that important. Vitamins, by definition, are specific nutrients that your body CANNOT life without. In other words, you would certainly die without adequate nutrition. Your cells need vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, fatty acids, natural sugars, phytonutrients, and other compounds, which are the foundations of food to survive.
Every second your body is making new cells to replace dying or dead cells. So that means that if you give your body the building blocks for health, your body will create healthy cells that replace the worn out or diseased ones. It happens every second of every day. Where can you find the majority of these healing cell-building compounds? Fruits and vegetables. So, begin by giving your body the building blocks it needs to repair cells, which in turn repair tissues, organs, and organ systems.
Start eating more fruits and vegetables. Yes, it sounds simple but as thousands of studies are showing: the miracle healing substances we have been waiting for have been right in front of our faces...or should have been in the form of more fruits and vegetables on our plates. Will you be healed from a single serving of fruits and vegetables? No, but they will help you heal over days, weeks, and months. Would you prefer a magic pill that took no effort on your part and healed everything that ailed you overnight? Probably. But, as much as we would like to hand over our health to a physician so we do not have to make any effort, WE are the masters of our health. WE make choices every day that assure our suffering or our healing. Today, the choice is yours.
Stay posted for more upcoming blogs as I will share specific information about which foods and herbs can help speed healing or alleviate pain, or help restore your health, but in the meantime opt for more fruits and vegetables (and choose organic, wherever possible). Be sure to check out my new book, THE CULTURED COOK: Delicious Fermented Foods with Probiotics to Knock Out Inflammation, Boost Gut Health, Lose Weight & Extend Your Life. This full-color book is jam-packed with delicious recipes on how to make fermented foods, ranging from vegan cheeses and cheesecakes to kimchi and saurkraut.
Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM, RNCP is an international best-selling and 20-time published book author whose works include: Be Your Own Herbalist: Essential Herbs for Health, Beauty & Cooking and The Cultured Cook: Delicious Fermented Foods with Probiotics to Knock Out Inflammation, Boost Gut Health, Lose Weight & Extend Your Life.
Copyright Michelle Schoffro Cook. All rights reserved. No use of this article, in whole or in part, may be used without the prior written permission of the author. This article is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult your physician for any health issues you may be facing.
