Today I wanna chat about WHY cookie cutter approaches typically don't work, and what to do instead.
And what I mean by cookie cutter approach, is those same old typical "solutions" that are being used for different health conditions, for example:
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Weight loss - eat less, move more.
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Eczema and acne - Use this cream.
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Constipated/Diarrhoea - Laxatives and antidiarrheals.
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Pain - Anti Inflammatory.
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Sick - antibiotic.
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Allergies - Antihistamines.
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Reflux - Antacids.
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Anxiety/low mood - Mood stabilizers, antidepressants, anxiolytics.
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PCOS, missing period, acne, painful periods - The pill.
The list goes on.
The common theme with all of these typical approaches is that they never actually get down to the core of what's actually going on.
Now before you think I'm crazy, I'm not saying medications are wrong or bad, they can be absolutely life saving in some cases.
The problem is, when people continue to live the same lifestyle that got them into the health mess, and rely on the meds to do all the heavy lifting for them. It just doesn't work like that.
There's always a reason why these symptoms are showing up.... and the reductionistic or band aid approach often leaves so many people stuck in toxic cycle of just accumulating more health issues or needing MORE meds to offset the side affects of the other meds or for new health issues that pop up.
And I get why people get stuck in this self blame cycle or give up, because I too was once in that position. I saw doctor after doctor and they all had a very similar answer - just take this pill. I did what they said and I went around and around in circles and got sicker and sicker.
Eventually I just started to think and believe...
This is life, this is just the way I am.
My immune system is weak, I catch everything, if someone is sick near me I'll catch it.
I just have crappy digestion, everything I eat hurts my tummy.
I'm just not a morning person, it's takes me ages to get up and going.
I get stressed out easily, I worry alot, it's just how I am.
Does any of this sound familiar, even just a little bit? These were things I repeated over and over to myself on the daily.
I kept tying to manage, suppress and silence my health issues, and my body just kept getting louder and louder.
The thing is, your body gives you pain, symptoms and issues for a reason, it's tying to tell you that something isn't right. And when you pop a pill to stop or block the symptom, your not actually solving the problem, instead you're just totally blocking yourself off from your bodies feedback.
The only way to truly overcome your health issues is to get down to the ROOT CAUSE. There is no MAGIC PILL.
But know this:
𝐃𝐢𝐬-𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲.⚫️
And that's often the problem, because health issues develop so slowly, it can be hard to pin point the cause.
So just to help you understand how health issues manifest, I'm going to share with you the 6 stages of disease. And this is based on one of the oldest healing systems called Ayurveda.
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𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
This is where your gut becomes compromised, digestion becomes weak and toxins begin to build up in your body.
During this stage you may have digestive symptoms like constipation, bloating, indigestion, gas, loose stools/diarrhoea, heartburn or reflux.
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𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰
Where toxins in the gut become overloaded and move into the lymphatic system and bloodstream.
This is when you may have symptoms such as low energy, eczema, acne, increased pain/inflammation, water retention, weight gain, respiratory issues, chronic cough, increase sweating or urination, flushed skin, rashes, or poor circulation.
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𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
The toxins in the bloodstream look for somewhere to deposit...
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𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Where the toxins settle into one of the bodily tissues (usually the weakest organ).
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𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
This is the stage where an actual clinical diagnosis of a disease happens as tissues and organs of the body, begin to break down and malfunction.
So before this stage, typical tests that your GP do, won't usually pick up on anything being wrong. And this is where conventional medicine can fall short at times because if the tests say everything is fine, even though you feel like shit... the Dr generally says there's nothing wrong with you...
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𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
End-stage of disease where cells don’t act as they should and mutate, this is where things like cancer can happen.
The reason I share this is to point out where this all starts... YOUR GUT, all disease begins in the gut. And this is something that "the father of medicine" Hippocrates said so many years ago.
And just to help you understand HOW particular health alignments link back to gut health, i'll give you some examples:
1. Tiredness - So if your waking up tired, or never feel like you have enough energy, it's a sign that your internal system is bogged down and lacking energy too. This is because digestion takes A LOT of energy and when your digestion isn't firing as it should or is sluggish in some way, you'll often feel zapped of energy after eating or just in general cause your body may not be breaking down and absorbing the essential nutrients from the food your eating.
2. Skin issues - Now in naturopathy it's often said that the skin is a reflection of your internal ecosystem or your gut, as your gut and your skin play similar roles. Both defend your body against pathogens, and both are covered in beneficial bacteria when in a healthy state. Your gut’s job is to keep toxins, infections, and inflammation at bay, and your skin is the major detoxifier that helps eliminate the substances and waste from digestion etc. This is some of the reason why skin issues such as acne, eczema, psoriasis and rashes are all signs of a disturbed or inflamed gut.
3. Brain fog, poor mental function or mood disorders - Your gut and brain are connected by a nerve, call the Vagus nerve. This is how poor gut health can lead to mental health issues like anxiety and depression... AND how mental health issues can lead to IBS and other digestive issues. They are CONNECTED. Your gut really literally is your second brain, so make sure you're not treating it like a dump.
4. Weight gain or struggling to lose weight. Your gut bacteria play an important role in maintaining a healthy weight and how much energy (calories) your body absorbs from the food you eat.
5. Sugar cravings - If you have an imbalance of bacteria or overgrowth of something like candida, it can cause you to crave sugar and dense starchy foods.
6. Insomnia/sleep issues - The majority of your bodies serotonin is produced in your gut. If your gut is disturbed, sluggish or has a bacterial imbalance going on, it could be affecting your bodies ability to sleep.
7. Joint pain and inflammation - An imbalance of bacteria and inflamed gut lining can be associated with an increase in pain conditions.
8. Autoimmune conditions - So there is a huge umbrella of autoimmune conditions including Hashimoto's, endometriosis, rheumatoid arthritis, coeliac, inflammatory bowel disease, plus so many more. The reason these are linked to gut health is because 70-80% of your immune system is within your gut (just like I was explaining in last weeks episode) Also, a condition called leaky gut can lead to an increased risk of developing an autoimmune condition. Though after rebalancing and restoring your gut health and gut lining, often autoimmune symptoms actually decrease dramatically. - Go into remission.
9. Food intolerances/sensitivities - can be caused by an imbalance of bacteria an inflamed or leaky gut lining. This is why when internal balance is restored many people find they are able to tolerate more foods again. I know this was true for me.
10. Nutrient deficiencies - You may have heard health gurus say, or quote something along the lines of “you are what you eat”, though this is a misconception. The truth is, you are what you absorb. If your digestive system is sluggish, or inefficient at breaking down food for any number of reasons, your body won't be able to properly absorb the nutrition from the food you eat. This is why some people who are eating "healthy" can still become deficient in certain nutrients.
And I know these all seem like unrelated issues, but the root of these problems all lie within the gut, because your gut is literally the epicentre of your health. If it's not happy nothing works properly. FACT.
So these were just a few examples, to help you understand why gut health and digestion are so important to your overall health.
So if you find yourself in stages 1 or 2 with things like;
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Digestive issues like constipation, bloating, indigestion, gas, loose stools/diarrhoea, heartburn or reflux.
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Low energy
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Skin issues like eczema, acne, rashes or psoriasis
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Chronic pain or inflammation
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Water retention
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Trouble maintaining a healthy weigth
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Sinus issues, hayfever
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Respiratory issues or a chronic cough
It's so so important to tune in and pay attention, because this is how your body is communicating with you. So please LISTEN.
Now that you know that suppressing your bodies symptoms aren't actually solving your problems, it's time to stop that and instead get down to the root cause.
Now if you want support in resetting your digestive system and fixing you gut health I created a step by step Digestion Reset program, which is being release on September 7th.
The doors will only be open for a short period of time and I'm only taking on a limited number of people. So if your even just a little bit interested make sure you jump on the waitlist ill pop the link in the show notes, and you will be the first to know when you can jump in.
I'm so excited to share this with you, as healing my gut was such a game changer in my life.
I'm now able to eat without pain and bloating.
I have more energy.
I don't get sick anymore.
I don't crave foods all the time or turn into a hangry bitch if I don't have food every few hours.
And my mood is sooo much more stable.
It's been so transformative for me, and I trust I will be for you too.
If you have any questions about the upcoming program or wondering if its a good fit for you, give me a message and I'll be more that happy to chat with you.
Much LOVE,
Laura