Season Changes & Your Health
Autumn in California is such a mixed bag. On one hand you have some of the hottest temperatures of the year. On the other hand, you have the brisk cool mornings, the shortening days, and the light shifting in such a way that heralds seasons changes.
Wherever you are, Autumn generally signals pretty big changes to your lifestyle. Whether you have kids or not, there's a sense of settling in, and buckling up for the next 9 months or so.
All of the shifting gears of a new school year and the impending holiday season, offers an opportunity to really be mindful of your immune system and your health.
In meditation, I got it very clearly that I was to begin boosting my immune system even more so, now. I wanted to share with you a few ways that you might find helpful. I will probably cover this in a several newsletters because there's so much to talk about.
- Sleep
This will forever be the most important thing you can do for your body's health in general. And it's one of the least observed healing opportunities that Americans subscribe to.
There are amazing amounts of research available talking about how important sleep is and how un-rested Americans are.
Did you know that even partial sleep deprivation over one night increases insulin resistance? Students who forgo sleep to study for exams, will show blood chemicals of that of a pre-diabetic? Did you know that driving tired is equivalent of driving drunk? Imagine how it impairs your immune system?
I don’t know about you, but in my family, there is this strange badge of honor thing happening around how little sleep you can function on. It does seem to be “The American Way”. Don’t be a wimp and advocate for yourself by setting boundaries and getting the rest you need. And yet, disease onset of all kinds continues to climb. Hmmm, I wonder why? (And, I know it is a very complex issue, not to be embarked upon here).
- Hydration
Again, this is such a simple healing opportunity, and yet one that time and time again is overlooked.
My students and clients have often told me that they don't drink enough water because they don't want to have to use/find the bathroom. I get it. But I've got to tell you the upside of being properly hydrated far outweigh the inconvenience of relieving your bladder. Plus, your bladder gets in training. If you have the intention of building it just like a muscle, it will become able to hold more and go longer! :-)
Do you know that often times we mistake thirst for feeling hungry? Did you know that many times headaches are from dehydration? Did you know that we risk kidney disease by not drinking enough water? Did you know that constipation is a side effect of dehydration? Did you know that hydration helps flush toxins? And, important with our shifting climates, we are more likely to suffer heat stroke. Hydration is absolutely imperative to maintain healthy immune system as seasons change.
- Stress
This is such a huge topic that I think I will embark on this in the its own article. I cannot begin to emphasize how much prolonged stress impacts your health. Breathe deeply into your solar plexus. Stay present where are you in this moment in time on the physical plane? Reiki, yoga, exercise, meditation. We will cover this at length in the next issue as I am the queen of stress!
- Exercise
Now I know that this word can strike terror in the hearts of many. Exercise can mean just adding a few more steps per day. People think exercise means gym time and huge commitments. It doesn’t have to. Studies show that even just a little bit more each day has HUGE health impacts. Don't make it be so insurmountable that you don't even consider a small upward shift in your daily movement. Spoiler alert... even the mildest exercise can help with stress!
There are so many other things to consider. Increasing your fresh foods, adding leafy greens to…everything. Supplementing with immune builders. Moderation in all things, except smoking. Don’t smoke. Please. I watched my mother die of lung cancer. I don’t want that to happen to you. Smokers don’t think it will, but cancer is pretty equal opportunity. And…mind your thoughts, words and actions. These co-create your world. Make it an incredible one!
My love to you,
Kelle
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