Tending the Flames
The following scenario may appear all too familiar: you woke up late due to a night of restless sleep, grabbing a coffee and something with a shelf life longer than you care to acknowledge, made your way through traffic congestion only to arrive at a work station overrun with e-mails, voice mails, and an overflowing “in” box. Your day moves faster than you can stay balanced and remain true to yourself and your highest way of being. Too often we may feel forced to move faster then we would like. We eat less of things we should be eating more of and our daily exercise becomes more about moving from one obligation to another rather than mindfully honoring our bodies. Little by little the aches and pains of inflammation creep in and out of our lives. When we live this way, increasing the pace of our daily lives, conspicuously consuming everything along the way, we are potentially creating a portfolio of devastating health consequences (cancer, heart disease, Alzheimers’ Disease, and immune challenges – to name a few). How do we steer clear from this health accident? Choose to align with spirit, be cool and follow an anti-inflammatory lifestyle.
The body uses inflammation as a sort of protective mechanism. When in balance, the inflammatory process is body wisdom at its best. However, our bodies run into trouble when inflammation becomes part of the normal state. Chronic inflammation is not normal. A consistent state of inflammation can be likened to smoldering embers on a fire. Feed it a little and the flame will rage. Douse it a bit and it goes back to smoldering. To keep your body in a state of balance, here are some lifestyle considerations:
Clean up your diet: It should come of no surprise that some of the top culprits that feed inflammation in the body come from food. The top culprits include saturated and trans fats, fried foods, highly sugared junk foods and refined carbohydrates. Take a tour of your pantry and refrigerator and boldly clean house. Remove any foods that do not truly nourish and sustain your total well-being. Tame the fires with whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy fats and oils from nuts, seeds and fish. The Mediterranean diet is a perfect plan for lowering inflammation and protecting your heart and mind. Add high antioxidant spices like turmeric, curry, rosemary, oregano, thyme, and cinnamon and enjoy pure dark cocoa in moderation to soothe your body and soul.
Sweat your prayers: A mindful balance of cardiovascular strength and flexibility training will help your body balance inflammation in key ways. Exercise reduces stress hormones that can drive inflammation, positively shift hormonal balance, and can help you lose weight/fat. Note: being overweight drives inflammation and inflammatory foods drive obesity – notice the negative cycle there. Reprogram your inner thermostat by beginning your day with exercise.
Life Balance: Allow yourself to take “balance breaks” throughout the day. A simple breathing practice performed for 1 to 2 minutes every hour can be great at cooling the fires that tend to begin to rise as your perform your daily deeds. At night create time to stretch, reflect, and meditate. These practices will help to release any residual angst along with fostering restorative sleep, which is a key anti-inflammatory remedy. Also, look at your habits of addiction. Are you still smoking or drinking alcohol beyond moderation? These two habits can also trigger inflammation and the cascade of health implications that follow. Seek support for ending these addictions.
Clean up your thinking: The mind-thought-body-outcome effect is real and designed to follow your good thinking and positive energy. See where you may be fanning the flames of inflammation by holding on to any past regret, toxic emotions and otherwise stinkin’ thinkin’ that needs to be released so peace and a cooler head and heart can prevail. When you build your life with thoughts of love, kindness, peace and optimism, there is a direct hormonal response that will take your good thoughts and deliver a healthier, less inflammatory-driven response.
You are offered an opportunity to slow down, feed your body and mind empowering foods, release some unwanted pounds and honor your heart with good living and thinking. You are sitting in the drivers seat. Choose the path of least inflammation. This takes courage. Trust and believe that this path will not only support your health and well-being, it will also serve to create a wave of inspiration and encourage a life of greater balance, wisdom and heart all around you.
When we allow our thoughts to get stuck in a negative place, our life outlook can become inflamed to the point where move away from balance and right living. We can choose to use the power of affirmative thought and prayer to promote harmony and peace; trusting and opening to allow the divine to show through. Our bodies enjoy the blessings of greater peace and health when we eat, live, breath, and affirm a positively healthy lifestyle.
June 11, 2010
by Optimum WellnessComments
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