Imagine a giraffe asking another giraffe if it needs to eat plants or meat. Or a tiger asking another tiger if it needs to sleep eighteen hours per day or four hours per day. Or a dog asking another dog if it should get up and go for walks or just lay around all day long. Does is seem odd to you that the human species is the only species that is confused about how we are supposed to live? Does it seem odd that we are the only species that doesn’t know what we are supposed to eat, how much we are supposed to move, or even how much sleep we need?
Think about a plant… we know it needs water, sunlight, and nutrient-rich soil. If a plant is wilting, we address these basic needs. We give it more or less water, more or less sunlight, and ensure that its soil has nutrients and is not polluted or toxic. Tweak these things, and… viola! The wilting plant springs back to life, standing taller, with more vibrant color, and looking healthier. We don’t accept that wilting is the plant’s new normal, we don’t paint the browning leaves green, and we don’t blame the plant’s genes.
As humans, we are wilting. Sickness is rampant. Allergies, asthma, autism, cancers, auto-immune conditions, Multiple Sclerosis, lupus, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, ADHD, mental health issues, and so, so many more conditions are on the rise. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. This next generation is the first in history that is expected to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.
So, what are we doing about it? Here’s what we are not doing about it… addressing the cause. Like painting a brown, dying leaf green, we are treating symptoms with medication. We are even starting to accept our wilting as the new normal. It is not normal… and the answers are not so hard to find.
Here is a great place to start… giving the body what it needs and getting rid of what is bad for it. Sound too simple? It is that simple. Create sufficiency where there is deficiency, and create purity where there is toxicity, and just like a wilting plant springing back to life, we too will see our health restored and sickness go by the wayside.
Humans require a certain amount of nutrients with which it can properly run the body. We need a certain amount of movement each day that our cells require to function properly. We are pack animals, so we need human connection and interaction. Getting enough sleep… good quality, deep sleep, is essential. We are good at managing stress, but too much will lead to cellular dysfunction. So, managing our stress is a must. And synthetic chemicals are foreign to the human body, so limiting our exposure to these is critical.
Let’s start with what we do know. We need to move our bodies. Walking 7-10 miles per day (or something comparable) is a really good metric. We need to eat whole, real foods. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grass-fed meats, and nuts and seeds, and minimize highly-processed, boxed food that has a bunch of ingredients that you cannot pronounce. Ensure your bedroom is set up for optimal sleep, with it being between 65-67 degrees and completely dark. Avoid electronics for two hours prior to bedtime. Organize your work schedule so that you are not completely overburdened. Set aside time to be with loving, caring, fun friends, and make time to do things that excite you and fill you up.
These are simple steps, but that is the point of this article… to remind you that it doesn’t have to be so complicated. You MUST start with the basics. Most people are lacking these simple fundamentals. The moment we start to provide the body with its essential needs, and start to minimize its exposure to the things that are bad for it, we begin the journey back to health.
And here’s the coolest part… the plant’s restored health happens when you give it what it needs, without you having to understand all the science that goes on (chlorophyll, photosynthesis, etc.) All you have to do is give it what it needs, and it does the rest. That is exactly how the human body works… you give it what it needs, and it does the rest. You don’t have to understand human physiology, know the chemical reactions that take place, or need a medical degree for it to work.
If you are sick, run down, and are dealing with health issues, start with those basics. They are often underappreciated and overlooked. They are simple, but incredibly powerful. Start there!
