5 Things You Should Be Doing Now To Lay The Groundwork For Your Future Health

5 Things You Should Be Doing Now To Lay The Groundwork For Your Future Health

Did you know that what you do now, today, in this moment, has an impact on your future health? It can be a positive impact, or a negative one. Wouldn’t you rather it be positive? We’ve put together a list of things you should be doing now in order to set yourself up for future health success.

1. Drink more water. It has been estimated that 75% of American suffer from chronic dehydration. This is particularly alarming when you consider 60% of our bodies are water, including over 90% of our blood over 70% of our brain being comprised of H2O. (Source) A generally recognized recommendation for daily water intake is 50% of your body weight in ounces (ie. if you weigh 120 pounds, you should be drinking around 60 ounces of water). Keep in mind that we do get water from other sources, such as vegetables and fruits; however, we also lose water from dehydrating activity, or diuretics such as caffeine.
2. Read ingredient labels on food products. In the last few decades, convenience has become our #1 priority in the kitchen. Unfortunately, with that convenience, there has also come an onslaught of preservatives and other chemical ingredients in our food. While chemicals do have their place (such as in life-saving medical science), our bodies often do not readily recognize these foreign substances. Instead, the body is wired to resist such foreign invasions with its own warfare. This often leads to inflammation, and can even result in chronic illness. One of the most important things you can do for your future health is to read ingredient labels and put anything with ingredients you do not recognize back on the shelf. Your body wants real food grown from the Earth… nourish it!
3. Pay attention to the products you put on your skin. This goes hand-in-hand with tip #2. We all know your skin is your body’s largest organ. It’s a pretty amazing organ that protects us the best it can, but it also can be a gateway for harmful substances if we’re not careful. Your skin absorbs a lot, all day every day. And if what is being absorbed isn’t something you’d be willing to eat, you need to start looking for new skin products. Check the ingredients on your soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste makeup etc. Does it have a bunch of 14 letter words that you can’t even begin to stumble through? Just remember that a lot of those ingredients are going to end up inside your body, especially if they are being used every day. If you wouldn’t ingest it, put it back. And then find products with great ingredients. My favorite skin care products come from Primal Life Organics and 100 Percent Pure.
4. Get some rest. Approximately 50-70 million Americans suffer from some sort of sleep disorder, and 30% of adults report getting less than 6 hours of sleep per night. (Source) Not getting enough sleep can be linked to tremendous health issues, such as hypertension, depression, obesity and even cancer. Lack of sleep also results in decreased effectiveness in daily tasks such as concentration, memory, and skilled tasks such as driving. (Source) We all know that adults need about 8 hours of sleep per night (and teens need 9-10 hours), but we need to start making it a priority. Without sleep, we are not our best selves. Don’t the people in your life deserve the best version of you?
5. Make your gut happy. Did you know that the health of our gut directly effects the health of our brain (and our immune system, and many other aspects of health)? The enteric nervous system is what experts call our “gut brain,” and there have been studies that show that this system can directly effect our brain chemistry. For example, it has been shown that Irritable Bowel Syndrome can contribute to the development of depression and anxiety– chemical imbalances in the brain. (Source) In 2015, researchers at the University of Virginia discovered a direct link between the brain and the immune system. Given the gut-brain axis already known to exist, they can affirmatively link gut microbes, the brain, and the immune system. Gut microbes have been linked to things like your daily mood and even Autism. (Source) So, how do we make our gut happy? By feeding the bugs! Fermented foods and probiotics can help promote good gut bacteria growth, while things like excessive sugar intake and antibiotics will destroy the good bacteria and leave your body struggling. Eat your yogurt and drink your kombucha, kids!
6. Bonus: Get The Groundwork Guide. If these tips were beneficial to you and you’re ready to take your health in a better direction for life, but you want to know the scientific “hows” and “whys” of the lifestyle changes you should be making, Andrew’s new eBook The Groundwork Guide: A Beginner’s Guide to Basic Human Nutrition and Movement for Every Day Life is a great next step for you. This guide will arm you with the very basics of human health, and help you be able to navigate the often muddy waters and mixed signals we are given every day about our bodies. Perfect for those who want to understand the most foundational levels of nutrition and movement, you can learn more about what is included in this very special manual here. Questions? Email us at nourishwild@gmail.com