My interest in learning about holistic healing, started a long time ago. All throughout my life I have always cared about my health. I decided to be a vegan when I was 8 years old, and I still eat plant based today. I have always thought about my health, but prioritized it to different extents in different times of my life. Prior to finding out I was pregnant, I wasn’t the healthiest I had ever been.
I hadn’t been working out as frequently as I should have been, I was eating out at restaurants a lot, I was drinking too much coffee and not enough water and I was still consuming alcohol socially. When I found out I was pregnant, I made significant changes right away. I did the obvious such as, refraining from alcohol, stopped drinking caffeinated drinks, I started taking prenatal vitamins and I began to make healthier choices with food.
I took care of myself and did all the basics the doctors will tell you to do when you’re pregnant. While I was prioritizing health and putting in effort to make smarter choices, there was a lot I do differently now and will do next time I’m pregnant. Looking back, I didn’t know about the dangers of seed oils, refined sugar, food dyes and the importance of certain foods being organic. I used a generic water filter from the grocery store and didn’t use any air filters. It wasn’t until I got really sick and hospitalized after I gave birth, that I had a newfound appreciation for my health. After that, I was motivated to be healthier than I had ever been.
I had really severe pneumonia two weeks after giving birth that led me to be hospitalized for a few days. I was so sick and was on so many different antibiotics, it took me close to two months to fully recover. Once I finally felt somewhat normal again, I knew I never wanted to feel sick again. While I know that the pneumonia wasn’t necessarily caused by seed oils or sugar, I could have had a stronger immune system if I prioritized my health even more. I really wanted find ways to apply holistic healing to my life.
This led me down a rabbit hole of researching and learning about health and holistic healing. I learned about just how much everything we put in and on our bodies can affect us. There are so many toxins the typical person intakes every single day, that I never thought too much of. Improving your health is a process, but the changes I have made so far have made such a difference in how I feel. I didn’t realize just how unhealthy I felt, until I realized how good I could feel.
To start, I invested in a water filter that actually cleans your water and air filters for mine/my daughter’s bedroom and our living room. I used to struggle with frequent headaches and I would wake up in the mornings with them. After making this change, I noticed much less frequent headaches and I wake up in the morning feeling refreshed.
Then I started to make changes to my diet. When I buy things for home the main things I make sure of are – no seed oils, refined sugars and food dyes. The goal is really to eat mainly whole foods, but when I do buy processed foods that is what I consider.Knowing what you need to buy organic vs non-organic can be overwhelming. I usually go by the clean fifteen and dirty dozen for produce and I buy organic seeds, rice, and oats.
After making these basic changes I noticed so many positive changes in my health. This includes better digestion, less discomfort/bloating after eating, more energy, less brain fog, and fewer headaches.
Movement has also been so beneficial during this process. Working out looked a little different after giving birth (and being so sick initially). My body felt different, I felt weaker in certain areas and there was a lot to work on. With a newborn at home, I didn’t have as much time to devote to working out. I really made sure I didn’t fall into that all or nothing mindset, because it just wouldn’t have worked. I prioritized daily movement such as, 20-30 minute walks, short yoga flows and body weight resistance exercises. Even getting in a few minutes a day did wonders for my physical health and wellbeing.
Overall, the past year has taught me a lot about holistic healing. You don’t need medication or supplement to heal your issues. What you put in your body and your daily habits significantly effect your overall wellbeing. Being intentional with what you consume is so important and can make such a difference. Healing is a process, it doesn’t happen overnight. If you make small changes, they will add up. You may not know how unhealthy you are feeling, until you start to feel great again!