I am on this journey of becoming a Certified Holistic Health Coach. Because of my passion and intentionality when it comes to self care mind, body and food, I'm always thinking of ways to connect with my audience without coming off as pushy.
However, the more I learn the more disturbing it is yet the more eager I am to help change lives in my community. Am I making sense? I sure hope so.
I'm 101% convinced that if we as individuals do not take control of our eating habits and teach our children to do the same we'll think it's normal to live with chronic diseases. We're already taught ailments are hereditary. But if you look around, habits are hereditary. In some cases genetics load the gun but diet pulls the trigger.
I've been studying the number one killer in the US, killing more than 375,000 Americans a year, also the leading cause of death world wide, taking more than 17.3 million lives annually...heart disease. (The Whole Foods Diet).
Studies are showing that by age ten, nearly all kids are showing fatty streaks on their arteries which is the first sign of arterial damage. The age of ten...WOW.
I work with a nurse who has heart disease. She's aware of my lifestyle and studies. She came to me, not her doctor but me, the young lady working in the registration department about what can she do about her condition other than medication. (As a disclaimer, I am not a physician, I am not coaching just yet, I am not encouraging anyone to not follow their doctors orders.) We talked and I gave a few suggestions but also encouraged her to speak with her doctor first or learn more about plant based nutrition. Not vegan but Plant Based.
I question this journey, I ask myself will people listen when I speak, will people read when I write. But I'm constantly reminded that I'm on the right path. One of the trainers at the gym told me she has extremely painful periods. I took her some Femininity Herbal Tea from my spice line and suggested she drink it right before and during her cycle. She reported back and told me during her period she did not have to take one Ibuprofen when she'd normally take a few daily. A customer told me she couldn't sleep and thought about taking some Benadryl but remembered she purchased the Lazy Days Herbal Tea. She brewed a cup and was fast asleep and slept through the night. Lastly, another customer told me she wasn't feeling 100%. She felt like she was coming down with a cold, and brewed the Lemon & Ginger Herbal Tea and felt better the next day.
Pay attention to the commercials, billboards, posters, fast food restaurants on every corner. How many of these marketing tactics are encouraging healthier choices? But it's our responsibility to read food labels, or simply choose foods with no labels. And the more I think about it many companies are jumping on the "healthy" bandwagon. When the food is still full of chemicals, sodium, sugars, oils and saturated fats. So at this point it's up to us to take full control of our health.
I'm unlearning a lot. I'm making changes daily and teaching my son along the way! As an aspiring Certified Holistic Health Coach I am looking forward to bringing more knowledge to my community. How are you taking control of your health? Let me know in the comments.