The ultimate guide to healthy holistic living
(Awaken) Do you have a passion for healthy living practices? Do you desire to create a positive shift in your life and in our world as a whole?
Guide to healthy holistic living
You are not alone. There are millions of others like you who are passionate about healthy living. By continuously learning, changing our lives, and living holistically, together we are creating a better, healthier, and happier tomorrow.
Here you will learn more about holistic living, holistic medicine, healthy recipes, holistic living practices to prevent and treat health ailments, and the latest health news.
Every piece of new information leads to a new step forward. Every step forwards leads to a ripple effect by creating lasting change. By embracing healthy holistic living, you are creating a healthy body, mind, and spirit for yourself, others, and our world.
Let’s learn, grow, create, and live together holistically!
What is holistic living?
You’ve probably heard the term holistic living, as it’s commonly used among people in the health world. But what does holistic living mean? Is it the same as holistic healing? Let’s clear things up.
While holistic healing can be and is often part of holistic living, holistic living goes way beyond that. Holistic healing is a holistic approach to healing the body, mind, and spirit as a whole, mainly through natural methods. Holistic healing includes all kinds of natural practices, techniques, and modalities, including nutrition, herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, yoga. Holistic healing is used more as a compliment or, in some cases, to completely replace conventional medical approaches to treat and prevent disease.
Holistic living goes a step beyond simply healing. Holistic living is approaching your entire life comprehensively. Even if you are not experiencing pain or disease that you want to heal holistically, or you’ve perhaps already successfully recovered from your health issues through holistic means, holistic living can still take place. Holistic living is a daily lifestyle choice that includes healing others and as well as the planet.
Holistic living involves making conscious choices for a healthier life, a healthier environment, and making an effort to treat ourselves, fellow humans, other living beings, and our entire environment with respect and care.
When you are living holistically, you view everything as one. You are not separate, but part of a whole. The goal is to create harmony, balance, and health in all aspects of life on the physical, mental, and spiritual level. Therefore, the deliberate effort of living wholly and not just as the sum of our parts goes beyond just ourselves.
Living holistically in harmony with Mother Nature is reflected in our thoughts, emotions, and actions. Living holistically involves holistic practices, including approaching health from the perspective of holistic medicine, eating a nutrient-dense diet, growing our own food, exercising, meditating, improving our mindset, practicing gratitude and forgiveness, creating loving relationships, treatings others with respect, using natural products, getting close to nature, and many other invigorating practices. Holistic living is an ongoing journey.
Holistic medicine
Holistic medicine is a unique approach to medicine, health, and treatment that addresses the whole person. Instead of examining and treating illness and disease as an isolated incident, holistic medicine considers many other factors, including physical health of the entire body, mental health, spiritual health, nutrition, exercise, and other lifestyle and environmental factors.
The main goal of holistic medicine is to create a state of optimal health and well-being that is not limited to one’s physical health but instead aims to create health on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level.
When you visit a holistic physician or health practitioner, they will not only look at your actual symptoms but also at as many factors as possible from your diet, lifestyle, and environment, to your emotional and spiritual well-being. Their goal is to find the underlying root cause of your illness to improve your overall well-being, instead of simply treating symptoms with drugs and/or surgery.
Holistic medicine doesn’t reject the medical model but it utilizes it more modestly, as holistic medicine looks at the bigger picture. Modern medical tests are important, and surgeries or medication may be necessary in some cases. However, there is much more to health and healing that testing often can’t quantify. Holistic medicine can use both conventional and complementary approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Dietary and lifestyle recommendations usually play an important role in holistic medicine. Complementary therapies used in holistic medicine may include but are not limited to herbal medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, and chiropractic care. Prevention plays an essential role in holistic medicine.
Moreover, the relationship between physician and patient, as well as creating a well-rounded holistic-minded treatment team is a key part of holistic medicine to achieve the best outcome.
Healthy body
When it comes to health, many of us think of our physical health first. It is true that a healthy body can be an essential foundation for overall health and wellness. Having a healthy body means not only that your body is pain-free, but also that you have a well-functioning, vibrant, energetic, and disease-free body. Creating a healthy body involves a healthy diet, regular exercise, a health-promoting environment, and other holistic factors and practices.
Healthy mind
Believe it or not, your mind can affect your physical and spiritual health. Many think of mental health in terms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. However, mental health is not just about the existence or absence of these disorders. A healthy mind and mental health care more about happiness, overall satisfaction in life, mental energy, positivity, gratitude, forgiveness, hope, perspective, worldview, and so much more. There are many practices you can do to boost your mind’s health, and you can find endless resources on our page.
Healthy spirit
A healthy spirit refers to the personal matter of values and beliefs that provide purpose in our lives. This does not mean spirituality is about religion or structured faith. You don’t have to be religious or believe in God to be spiritually healthy. A healthy spirit is about finding the connection to something greater than you, finding meaning in someone besides yourself, finding purpose, and having passion. For some, it may be going to church, for others, it may be a deep connection to nature. It can be a mixture of many things. Spiritual health is personal and unique to you and it can be an essential part of the healthy and holistic approach.
Exercise
Exercise is important for your holistic well-being. It pumps your heart and lungs, gives you energy, gets you physically and mentally strong, provides you a gateway to better health, and improves mood. Find what exercise works for you. It can be as simple as going for a hike or riding your bike, or as serious as marathon training or CrossFit. Feel free to mix it up to avoid boredom and challenge your body in different ways, or cultivate a routine you can scale.
Weight loss
Loving your body at any size is essential for your mental health and confidence. However, carrying extra weight, especially around your midsection can lead to chronic health conditions and low energy. A healthy weight is specific to the individual. So, when taking care of yourself through nutrient-dense food, proper exercise, and other holistic health practices, your body can find its set-point where it is the most likely to be disease-free with optimal functioning.
Common health ailments
Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior that is serious enough to interfere with daily life. It is marked by progressive mental deterioration that can happen from middle to old age, due to generalized degeneration of the brain.
Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases are a group of conditions in which your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body. Common autoimmune conditions include Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Celiac disease, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Graves’ Disease, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, and Type 1 Diabetes.
Cancer
Cancer refers to a collection of related diseases where some of the body’s cells begin to divide abnormally without stopping and end up spreading to the surrounding tissues. There are many forms of cancer and it can start anywhere in the body. Most cancers are solid tumors, however, blood cancers, such as leukemia, do not form a solid tumor. The progression, treatment, and outcome of cancer depends on the type of cancer, and how far it has spread once found. Therefore, early detection is important.
Chronic illness
Chronic illness refers to any health condition that persists over a long period of time. Treatment and outcome depend on the illness itself. Unfortunately, many people suffer from chronic pain while still seeking a proper diagnosis.
Depression & anxiety
Depression and anxiety are common mental health disorders. Both display in several forms with varying levels of severity. Both depression and anxiety are treatable through therapy, lifestyle and dietary changes, and sometimes with the use of medication.
Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the pancreas produces little to no insulin. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how the body processes blood sugar (glucose). Currently, diabetes is categorized as a metabolic disorder, but some evidence suggests that it may also be an autoimmune condition. Prediabetes happens when one’s blood sugar is high, but not high enough to be classified as Type 2 diabetes. Those with prediabetes are at risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a specific form of high blood sugar affecting pregnant women that typically goes away soon after birth. However, half of all women who had gestational diabetes develop Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s response to injury or any foreign invader. There are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic.
Acute inflammation is a good thing. When you have an injury or get a cold, acute inflammation tries to protect your body and promote healing through redness, pain, swelling, and sometimes discharge. It is short-term, lasting for a few hours, days, weeks, or perhaps months, depending on how long the injury or illness takes to heal.
Chronic inflammation, however, is a problem. When you are not treating your body well, eating too much unhealthy junk food, experiencing a lot of stress, are exposed to pollutants, etc., your body is receiving a constant stream of harmful substances. It is, therefore, working to protect you through inflammation. However, while something like a cut on your finger heals quickly with the help of acute inflammation, multiple doses of junk food, stress, and toxic substances is not something acute inflammation can handle. To protect you, inflammation can then turn chronic, and this can become dangerous to your health. Chronic inflammation is the root cause of most pain and disease.
Liver disease
There are many kinds of liver disease. Liver disease is caused by viruses, drugs, poisons, or too much alcohol, cancer, or inherited diseases, such as hemochromatosis and Wilson disease.
Thyroid health
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your body that produces the thyroid hormone, which is responsible for the regulation of body temperature, metabolism and heart rate, and many other important functions in the body. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone, whereas hyperthyroidism is caused by the overproduction of a hormone by the thyroid.
Hashimoto’s disease and Graves’ disease are two common autoimmune conditions that affect the thyroid glands. Goiter is the enlargement of the thyroid. Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid. Thyroid cancer is a form of cancer that affects the thyroid specifically.
Ulcer
An ulcer is a sore that develops on the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine, usually caused by bacteria or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Important aspects of healthy living
Cancer prevention
Doing everything you can to prevent cancer is important. This can include eating a nutrient-dense diet, limiting refined sugar and processed food, exercising, reducing stress, spending time in nature, and living a natural, holistic life. Watching your body’s signals is also essential for early detection. If cancer hits, early detection is crucial for the best chance of recovery.
Do It Yourself (DIY)
You don’t have to rely on stores to provide everything you need, you can do it yourself! You can make your own cleaning products, body care products, grow your own food, and so much more.
Essential oils
Essential oils are a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing beneficial aroma compounds from plants. There are many kinds that you can use for their various health benefits. You can make your own essential oils, as well as use essential oils in many of your DIY projects when it comes to body and homecare.
Environment
When living holistically, you can’t forget about the environment. The Earth is our home and we have to take care of it. Reduce, reuse, recycle, compost, garden, and raise awareness to keep our space flourishing.
Growing food & gardening
Growing your own food and gardening can be important parts of holistic living. Gardening is therapeutic to the soul and a productive way to move your body. When growing your own food, you can make sure you know exactly what’s going on your plate and also feed your family at lower costs. If you don’t have a garden, you may be able to rent a small community plot, volunteer at a local CSA, or simply grow some herbs inside your home.
Healthy home
A healthy home is an essential part of holistic living. It involves nutritious food, living plants, a calming space, loving relationships, toxin-free natural products, and anything else you may want or need for a happy and healthy body, mind, and spirit for you and your family.
Healthy kids
Raising kids is a big responsibility, but also a privilege; it’s so much fun to see them grow. Teach your kids holistic living practices by example. Get them involved in cooking, gardening, exercise, and other at-home activities. Teach them the importance of nourishing food, self-care, and caring for our planet. Remember, healthy kids create a healthy new generation of adults that can change the world for the better.
Healthy pet
Your furry friends are your family members. Treat them well. Feed them nutrient-dense food that is right for their body. Make sure they get plenty of exercise, playtime, and love. Visit a holistic vet for check-ups and treatments.
Healthy travel
Travel is so much fun! However, it can be stressful and it often involves more junk food and indulgences than your at-home routine. It doesn’t have to be that way, though! You can incorporate your healthy living practices while traveling whether it’s for pleasure or work.
Holistic wealth
Your financial health is part of your holistic life. Holistic wealth management is a new concept that refers to the industry shift from a product-centric to a client-centric approach to managing assets. It often involves comprehensive financial planning that includes your entire household’s assets, liabilities, and goals. Furthermore, your personal holistic wealth may also involve nifty tricks to save money, such as growing your food, making things instead of buying them, and embracing a more minimalist lifestyle by letting go of unnecessary belongings and expenses, and perhaps exploring alternative lifestyle ideas.
Toxic substances & alternatives
Toxic chemicals in your home and body care products can harm your health and lead to disease. Thankfully, there are some amazing natural and safe alternatives on the market and many products you can make yourself that instead of doing harm, promote your health and well-being.
Healthy recipes
Good nutrition is one important and non-negotiable factor for good health. Eating healthy also means eating delicious food when using some of fantastic, healthy recipes!
Healthy food
What is healthy food? It’s food that is nutrient-dense and filled with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Good food promotes health and combats disease. A healthy diet involves lots of plants, including greens, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds. If you eat animal products, organic, free-range, cage-free, and wild-caught meat, fish, and eggs are the healthiest options.
Remember, everyone’s body is different. Food sensitivities, allergies, and certain diseases may influence what is healthy for you. Ethical choices and your personal preferences may also affect your choices. Thankfully, there are plenty of healthy food options. Just remember to ditch processed junk foods.
Healthy breakfast recipes
There are so many healthy breakfast options out there. They may involve fruit bowls, green smoothies, homemade granola, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, or gluten-free pancakes.
Healthy lunch recipes
There are endless lunch options out there as well. Some ideas may involve soups, salads, vegetable wraps, and vegetarian sandwiches.
Healthy dinner recipes
Dinner may have the highest number of options including raw lasagnas, baked vegetables, gluten-free pasta dishes, and even healthy pizza with cauliflower crust.
Healthy snacks
If you love snacks, the good news is that you can still snack while eating healthy. Veggie sticks with hummus, green juices and smoothies, nuts, seeds, dates, and whole fruit are some fantastic options.
Health news
Science can save lives and prove the health benefits of many fantastic foods and healing modalities. Thankfully, there are new research and news articles popping up daily to educate, inform, and inspire you, and most importantly better your life and health.
Conclusion
Holistic living is a beautiful journey. It is a way of life that includes holistic medicine, holistic healing, whole-food nutrition, healthy recipes, healthy relationships, and taking care of our environment. Holistic living is all about creating a healthy body, mind, and spirit for ourselves, our families and friends, our fellow humans, and other creatures while creating a healthy world together.
Join our healthy holistic living mission. Let’s learn, grow, create, and live together holistically!
Source: Awaken
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