Nurture Your Health as You Would Your Plants
After attending a plant night social at a local succulent nursery, I learned the importance of how to nurture your indoor plants by being thoughtful of where they live in your house. Where is their main light source, do they live in a north facing window? How much to water them, do you allow them to completely dry out? Whether they require a draining or non-draining pot? Like plants we as humans also require deep inquiries as to how to nurture our unique human qualities that lead to planting the seeds of living our best life.
Based on our unique DNA we have specific dietary requirements that feed our cells what they desire for optimal health. Genetic testing, to find out our food sensitivities, is now a very cost effective way to give us insight into why our systems may not be operating at peak performance. Through food sensitivity testing you can find out if that whole grain bread is actually the best food to give you the ability to thrive not just survive. Food sensitivities create inflammation in our system, just like giving your plant too much water. Finding out what foods are ideal for your individual genetics is the key to exploring which dietary lifestyle is best for you. It varies in humans just as it does in plants. Also, just like plants, we need to check the soil before watering. If you have a cactus it needs to be completely dry before adding water. As humans, we also run on fuel uniquely. Some require 6 small meals a day, while others need to go “dry” and intermittent fast. Get to know how to fuel your body appropriately. A higher carbohydrate diet usually prefers small meals throughout the day, while a higher healthy fat diet doesn’t require eating as often, as your body is capable of using stored body fat for fuel.
Sunlight for plants is akin to getting enough Vitamin D in humans. Vitamin D is actually a steroidal hormone that when low can lead to a vast array of health issues both physically and mentally. Get as much information at your next doctor’s appointment as you can by asking to get your Vitamin D levels tested, along with your full blood panel. Arm yourself with your unique blood values so can feed your body its optimal diet. Do you need to supplement? What supplements should you take? Both these questions can be answered by a simple blood test. The cost of the test is well worth every penny in the long run. Better to know that you could have taken a simple supplement to enhance the over health of your system than to not know and potentially risk illness. Along with plants, we humans demand the need of going into nature and feeling the sun on our skin. Go outside and feed not only your Vitamin D, but also your mental health. Nature has the ability to calm the central nervous system and decrease stress and inflammation.
Lastly, some plants live best in a pot that allows water to drain from the roots while others are able to live without being in a pot at all. If we liken this to humans, our roots need to be protected by providing the basic needs of good health. Some individuals require a high amount of detailed care in order to find health; while others are able to “get away” with eating whatever they like due to a good genetic profile and a healthy resilient gut. It is important to find out which human you are. Get tested, have the science to back up your chosen lifestyle and cultivate an environment where you grow.