What is your understanding of health and disease? There are so many factors in play that contribute to illness. When I was in Coaching school at The National Institute of Whole Health (NIWH), I learned a lot about evidence-based ways to prevent disease. In addition, I learned how to make sustainable lifestyle changes to improve the well-being and quality of life.
What is Functional Medicine?
One of the most interesting courses I took during my time at NIWH was Functional Medicine. This course was presented by the New York Times -bestselling author, lecturer, and practicing physician Mark A. Hyman, M.D. Dr. Hyman is a leader in the emerging field of functional medicine.
Functional medicine is an approach to health care and healing that looks at the whole person and seeks to find the cause and effect of the disease.
Dr. Hyman is one of my favorite doctors to follow for current and helpful guidance on recovering from disease and chronic conditions. In this NIWH course, he taught the 7 Roots of Illness. Below are the first 3. Stay tuned for the other 4 in my blog next week!
The Roots of Illness
Environmental Inputs– diet, lifestyle, toxins, stress, physical and emotional trauma.
The health of our “soil”, our inner terrain, has everything to do with how we react to stressors in the environment and whether or not we break down or fight off disease. The quality of our diet is key in avoiding chronic disease. It is best to focus on eating whole foods instead of the traditional American diet of high carb, sugar, and processed foods.
Our environment and relationships can cause significant stress on our minds and bodies as well as financial worries, family, and work issues. For instance, exposure to toxins like mold, heavy metals, pesticides, and other industrial chemicals are also factors. Any type of trauma that we endure in life will affect our health in a negative way. Even exercise can be stressful if it is too intense and can eventually wear out our bodies.
Inflammatory Process
Our immune systems are constantly under attack. We all have some inflammation in our bodies already and our lifestyle choices can make it worse. Silent inflammation does not cause symptoms and is like a fire that is out of control in our body. For instance, poor diet, toxins, allergens, and medications like NSAIDs, aspirin, and steroids are linked to increased inflammation.
Biological Equilibrium – Hormones and Neurotransmitters
If hormones are out of harmony it will affect the rest of your body. There is a connection between the endocrine system, immune system, neurological system, and digestive system through these chemical communicators. The hormones like insulin, cortisol, adrenalin, and thyroid control many of our body’s messages and keep us in balance.
The neurotransmitters like serotonin that balances mood and dopamine that deals with attention help to maintain homeostasis. For example, too much insulin by sugar consumption causes many detrimental effects on the body such as affecting metabolism. Stored belly fat, high blood pressure, increased cancer cells, increased cravings, and appetite are factors.
Hyman, M. (2032) Functional Medicine NIWH media course. The Seven Roots of Illness. Retrieved from http://www.classroom.wholepersonhealthcare.org
Avoid Chronic Illness
Keep these in mind when thinking about your own wellness and know that there are many factors that affect health and the disease process. Above all, if you are ever in need of some extra coaching I am just a phone call away! Stay tuned for the next 4 roots of illness in the next blog post.
xoxo
Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage Stress, Chronic Pain, and Anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.
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