What Are We Waiting For?
Ways to take care of ourselves now
Those that follow me are aware that I am a board-certified health and wellness coach with an additional certification in functional medicine.
I consider myself The Empowerment Coach. I also consider myself to be a messenger.
I love to keep abreast of the latest information — and in this article, I would like to share some info from a podcast I recently listened to.
This particular podcast, which I linked below, is through Dr Mark Hyman, who I have referenced before. It’s the Broken Brain #171 with host Dhru Purohit and featuring Chris Kresser.
Chris is the founder of Kresser Institute and is known for “his in-depth research uncovering myths and misconceptions in modern medicine and providing natural health solutions with proven results.”
Chris shared that there are some “dramatic results of several studies with the takeaway being that a majority of COVID patients have been found to have vitamin D deficiency. And how those who are vitamin D deficient have higher inflammatory markers and a higher risk of death.”
And that as we move into the winter season, at least in the northern hemisphere, we need to supplement with vitamin D3. The sun helps our bodies produce vitamin D. And of course, we are limited with sun exposure in the colder months.
Did you know that Vitamin D is not a vitamin? It’s actually a hormone regulator. This means that vitamin D controls over 1,000 genes and it plays into so many different aspects of our body, including our immune system.
It is recommended that we get our levels tested. That said, this might be difficult given our circumstances right now. If we test under 40–60 nanograms, this is where supplementation is recommended. Chris guides us to his recommended dosage in the included podcast, whether we have the ability to test right now or not — so I encourage you to listen.
Vitamin D3 supplementation is easily accessible and affordable. And it builds our immune system. Why aren’t we hearing more about this during the global pandemic in the news?
Chris shared his take on why, and I wanted to briefly share it as well. I feel that knowledge is power.
I look to bring to light what others look to keep in the dark…
Chris shared 5 possible reasons why we aren’t hearing about Vitamin D. He discusses it in more detail — and I am giving more of a quick synopsis:
1. The mindset of conventional medicine and the lack of recognition of the role that diet and lifestyle play in our health.
2. Infectious disease physician’s training and approach is more focused on the pathogen and the impact the pathogen has on the host. And not based on the host’s ecosystem and how that affects the progression of infectious disease. When you only have 10 minutes with a patient, there isn’t enough time to focus on the underlying factors that affect the terrain.
3. Chris states this one is ‘speculation’*. If you are an epidemiologist or public health official and your job is to protect people, it could be hard to admit that we had a cheap readily available intervention all this time that could have prevented a lot of deaths.
(*Chris shared that historically there have been people in power who did not admit they were wrong or took too long to admit, to possibly save face or save people from additional pain).
4. The money factor and Vitamin D. If it were marketed as a treatment, there isn’t one company that can make billions, unlike vaccines and antibody therapies and their manufacturers.
5. “Groupthink”. Meaning it’s difficult to go against the grain. We are tribal by nature. There is a desire to fit in and throughout evolution being tribal meant survival, excommunicated meant death.
As Chris spoke of groupthink, it reminded me of a story that Bruce Lipton shared in a webinar. Bruce is a pioneer of epigenetics, the science that our genes are just blueprints and it’s our environment — and our perceived environment that plays a major factor in our health.
Bruce talked about how when he first delved into this discovery (I think it was in the late ’60s or '70s), how he shared his findings at a medical convention. Once he finished — there was complete silence and the doctors walked out without saying so much as a word to him. He felt they thought he was crazy.
And years later, research continues to prove the validity of Bruce’s early finding and confirmed the science of epigenetics.
I want to make clear that I am communicating Chris Kresser’s message and in no way am I medically advising anyone to follow it. I hope by sharing that you will open your mind and your eyes to be an advocate of your own health.
Does this feel right for you?
If so, speak with your healthcare practitioner. And if you need an unconventional approach instead of your conventional doctor, please check out functional medicine doctors from The Institute of Functional Medicine.
I feel we are in a time where we need to seek information and question more. And with so much on the internet, that the information we view must come from reliable sources. Dr Mark Hyman encourages using PubMed.
So many of us now are living in fear. Sitting and waiting — waiting for a vaccine that will save us from this pandemic. Help us to return to normal again.
Are you sharing those same thoughts?
I am asking you to stop waiting — and start taking action to do what you can NOW to help yourself. If you are considered at risk, there is hope.
I’ve written about how this virus has been mentally breaking open many of us — we are growing and evolving.
Now I encourage you to physically break open.
Start taking control of your body and your health and wellness. Stop giving reasons why you can’t and create the wellness you desire.
You have the power within you. There are many conditions we live with such as Type 2 Diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure that we can control.
If you are in the category that is considered at risk — then take action. And if you tell me that it’s not that easy, I’m going to ask you to not make it so hard.
Many of us fear change — we are being called to change — or live in fear…
Embrace change — take small steps if needed. I’m encouraging you through the use of tough love. I speak from experience, as I made these changes myself.
Research shows what you can do now to take better care of yourself:
Eat whole, real foods - Avoid processed foods, gluten and dairy. Choose organic. Think that this means there is nothing to eat? There is plenty to eat! Too many of us are eating “Frankenfoods.” Eat food from a plant, not made in a plant. Think that all the fun foods are taken out? Food is not fun — food is fuel. What fun are you really having if you don’t feel well after you eat, or you have health issues. We are what we eat — and we are what our food eats…
Move - Stop sitting so much and get up and move around. Take walks outside if possible and inside when it’s not. Set an alarm on your phone or computer that reminds you every hour to get up. Sitting is the new smoking. Feeling too achy to move? The less you move the more you stiffen up. I see this too often — stop planting yourself and get up.
Water intake - Get at least six 8 oz glasses of water each day. Use filtered water, stay away from water bottles that leach BPA. Use glass containers and bring it with you. We are mostly made up of water — we need water, in all seasons. Black coffee and unsweetened tea are made with water, but they are dehydrating. Stay away from soda which is loaded with sugar, chemicals or artificial sweeteners.
Rest - Many of us push ourselves until we burn out. We need to take breaks, we need to stop being so busy. Have others help you when possible. Stop trying to do it all and control everything. Spend time meditating (even for a few minutes), soak in a bath of Epsom salts, take a 15 minute power nap.
Sleep - Are you getting enough sleep? Staying up late, getting up too early? Sleep is extremely important as it gives our bodies a chance to repair itself. It cleanses our brain as well. Set a bedtime routine that will help you. Turn off the devices. Start quieting your mind. We need to value sleep.
Play - We need to bring joy into our lives. It helps us to create, it helps us to relax. When we were younger, we played — now many of us just work. Find what brings you joy and incorporate some of it every day. Notice the results.
Manage Stress - Deep breathe. Meditate, even for a few minutes, workout or do yoga. These are a few tools that can help you when things heat up. Turning to comfort foods or alcohol are truly not the answers and do more damage than good in the long run.
An unhealthy ‘diet’, inactivity, dehydration, overworked, sleep-deprived, stress, lack of joy — all weaken the immune system. Take action to help yourself.
In these times that feel out of our control — I look to help you take some control. The only thing we can control is ourselves.
I want you to tap into your inner power, the power within you. You are capable of doing more than you realize. Open your mind and take action.
When we feel more control and tap into our power it brings in a sense of peace. Something we need right now as there is so much fear out there.
What can you do to take care of yourself today?
You have the opportunity to make this time a time when you move into wellness and well-being. Where you bring better health to your body.
Here is the link for the Broken Brain podcast. And scroll to vaccines for Dr Hyman’s Instagram link. I hope you will stop and listen. Don’t have time? Then listen while you get ready for the day, make dinner, take a walk…
And if you are NEW to me, please let me introduce myself:
Please join me on Facebook, for the NEW Minutes with Michele where I do a Monday evening Live based on my published articles. Replays available.
Also on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, My Website.
And I encourage you to read the work of my fabulous writer friends: Trista Ainsworth, Gurpreet Dhariwal, Amy Marley, Aurora Eliam, CMP, Kathryn A. LeRoy, PhD, Desiree Driesenaar, Selma, Keno Ogbo, Nomanono Isaacs, Dipti Pande, Francine Fallara, Sandra Szubert, Erin King, Karen Madej, Ann K Frailey, Sumera Rizwan, MaryJo Wagner, PhD, Britni Pepper, Chowa Sekai, Ksenia Sein, Alison Tennent, Livia Dabs, Neha Sandhir S, Lanu Pitan, Sherry S, Agnes Louis, Chris Hedges, Paul Myers MBA, P.G. Barnett, Terry Mansfield, Rasheed Hooda, Henery X (long), Timothy Key, Tim Maudlin, Bob Jasper, John Ross, Joe Luca, JeffHerring.com
Always celebrating, Dr Mehmet Yildiz, Founder & Leader of ILLUMINATION
Until next time ~
Sending you light, love — some control.
Be Well,
Disclaimer: Any articles and thoughts/views I share are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Information regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease.
