Listening to Your Body
My journey with natural health began with skin care. In college I developed chronic acne. This was my first clue that I had more happening internally that needed attention. As the saying goes, “Beauty comes from the inside” and I would add to that, as an herbalist, beautiful skin comes from inside as well. The skin is just an outward reflection of what is happening inside of the body.
What I did not know is that this would be just the beginning of understanding how to listen to my body. I was lucky enough that my first clue to compromised health was something I could physically see in the mirror every day, but sometimes the clues may be more subtle.
Our bodies are so good to give us signs that something may not be functioning to its full potential.
Unfortunately we often do not take the time to listen to what our bodies are telling us. Headaches, low energy, achy joints, sleep disturbances, and irritability can all be ways the body is trying to alert us that it is needing some additional care. Many times it seems easier to pop a pill for pain or consume some extra caffeine for energy. I would encourage you, however, to take these symptoms not as a disturbance to be quickly thrown aside, but as a warning sign to slow down and reflect on the root of the matter.
One great way to begin listening to your body is by starting a “Food, Mood, Poop Journal.” By getting in the habit of writing down your state of being, you learn how to identify when something is not right with your body. You may begin to notice recurring issues that you did not realize kept happening. You may also see that you always feel a certain way after eating a specific food.
In your journal, jot down these 3 important things every day:
What did I eat?
How do I feel?
How were my bowel movements?
It may look something like this:
Food
Breakfast: Oatmeal, Honey, Cinnamon, Milk
Lunch: Wheat Bread, Ham, Cheese, Mayonnaise
Snack: Hummus, Wheat Crackers, Cheese
Dinner: Roasted Chicken, Carrots, Cabbage, Roll, Butter
Mood
Tired, Headache, Irritable
Poop
One bowel movement in the morning, Bloating
This tool will help put you on track to listening to your body, and beginning to understand what your body does and does not need to function to its full potential. Keep track of this journal for two weeks and then schedule a consultation to discover how we can optimize your diet!