DEAR FRIENDS,
“If you listen to your body when it whispers, you won’t have to hear it scream.” This wise saying is adapted from a Cherokee proverb and is so true!
In our society, we are used to wanting that “quick fix” when we feel uncomfortable - we take the advil or tylenol, we take an antacid, we might eat high sugar foods or refined carbs, or grab a beer or glass of wine to soothe our bodies. The problem with these “band-aids” is that our symptoms will keep happening over and over. We may get that quick relief from aches and pains, heartburn, fatigue, headaches; but we won’t find the reason for our symptoms, and address the real issues.
If we really listen to our bodies, physically and emotionally - and investigate the “whispering-type” symptoms - we can perhaps find that “root cause” of our aches and pains, uncomfortable sensations, fatigue, or mood swings. We can dig a little deeper and repair our bodies in a way that will lead to optimal health, vitality, energy, and joy.
So what does this mean, to “listen to our bodies”?
Let’s say you have a mild headache. This could mean a number of things. You might be dehydrated and need water. Your blood-sugar levels might be out of balance, and you need a snack of protein, complex carbs, and healthy fat. It could be you are deficient in essential fatty acids and you need to add salmon, avocado, walnuts, flaxseed, olive oil, and other healthy fats to your diet. Are you under a lot of stress? Your adrenals might be having a hard time keeping up with hormone production, and you need to practice relaxation techniques, such as meditation or breathing exercises; or having a nice cup of chamomile tea (1).
Maybe you are experiencing heartburn. Many people associate heartburn with too much acid in the stomach. Many times, the true cause of heartburn or acid reflux is too little acid in our stomachs. When our gastric juices are not working properly, our protein digestion is impaired and we don’t absorb the nutrients that we need. When we take antacids to treat heartburn, we raise our gastric pH (reducing acid), allowing pathogens to pass through to other parts of our digestive system, causing microbiome imbalance and bacterial overgrowth. Listen to your body… are you eating foods that are triggering increased abdominal pressure and causing these symptoms? Foods such as chocolate, fried foods, carbonated beverages, alcohol, and coffee can reduce the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter (the valve between the esophagus and the stomach), allowing gastric acid to back up into the esophagus. Obesity, overeating, and smoking can also impair this valve. You can try eliminating these trigger foods, eating slowly, and reducing/stopping smoking. You can help digestion by raising the head of your bed a few inches - gravity will help keep the gastric acid down in the stomach where it belongs. A mild way to help boost your stomach acid is with apple cider vinegar (dilute 1 tsp in a mug of warm water and drink before meals). Bone broth is also an effective way to heal your digestive tract - it is now widely available in grocery stores; and you can make your own easily. If you continue to experience heartburn and reflux, your doctor can evaluate and test your stomach acid. It is important to keep investigating. Low stomach acid can be associated with bigger problems, such as autoimmune disorders, diabetes, celiac disease, eczema and psoriasis, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and more (1,2).
These are just a couple of examples of listening to our bodies - the “whispers” - and responding in ways to avoid the “screaming.”
If you are experiencing chronic symptoms, please see your doctor. If you are interested, a functional medicine practitioner can help identify the “root cause” of symptoms and get you on the path to better health. Click here to find a practitioner in your area.
References:
Weatherby, D. (2002). Signs and symptoms analysis from a functional perspective. Jacksonville, FL: Bear Mountain Publishing.
Pizzorno, J. E., Murray, M. T., & Joiner-Bey, H. (2016). The clinician's handbook of natural medicine. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.