10 Health Lessons My Body Taught Me

It matters what we put inside of our bodies (Image courtesy of worldofmiri.com)

Once I learned how to listen

I always knew my body needed energy to run and this was provided by food. That part was easy. I could feel my energy levels, aka blood sugars, drop when I did not eat. I worked best while grazing which meant a continuous input of energy.

What I never knew was how complex this marvelous machinery of a human body really is and that providing it with kilo joules in any form was not enough.

My body performs an array of tasks without being asked to, like pumping blood through my veins, growing my hair or fingernails, and renewing cells. In addition to this, it performs extraordinary tasks, like fighting infections or mending bones in a broken limp.

My body feels like a massive construction site.

There is always something going on. Just like on a construction site, my body needs the right building blocks.

Those mainly come from what I eat. Growing up, I heard about the importance of vitamin C, but that hardly scratches the surface.

We require many more vitamins, minerals, amino acids, proteins... All of them are needed somewhere in the process to keep the machine running. Those vital building blocks are extracted from the food by my gut which is why I call my intestines my most important organ.

So much for the ideal state: I feed my body the food it needs. The vital nutrients are extracted in the right amount. My body can do whatever it needs to and will thrive.

But, as with every complex process, a lot can go wrong.

This is what I’ve learned:

1.     I offer my body a broad selection of nutrients

No kind of food carries every nutrient. If I lived on a diet of pasta only, I’d miss out on some essential building blocks. My diet needs to be diverse and balanced so my body can get access to all the nutrients it needs. For me, this means plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts, pulses, and grains.

2.    The quality of my food is important

Certain foods do not add value because they have been deprived of all nutrients through the process of preparation.  For example, I do not eat muffins from the supermarket shelf because they make me feel tired and sick afterwards.

3.    I avoid the foods that cause me pain

For me, this is milk/cream and gluten. Having these foods is hard on my intestines and can keep them from working properly. This leads to a lack of new building blocks which can lead to a break-down of vital body functions. I realized this was not worth it. I made the shift to alternatives like coconut cream and sorghum or buckwheat flour.

4.    Food intolerances can be so strong they keep children from growing

Some people cannot digest certain kinds of food, e.g. people that are celiac. If they consume gluten, the intestines can’t work properly. The nutrients cannot reach their destination to fulfill their essential tasks. I’ve seen children that simply did not grow because of this.

5.    Some people cannot absorb well from a certain food source

For me, this is about iron. I cannot absorb iron from meat, only from plant-based sources. For some people, it is the other way around. I learned how vital it is to look at everyone’s unique needs. ‘One size fits all’ does not cut it.

6.    How to tolerate a type of food can change over time

I used to drink two glasses of milk daily when I was a child. Today, I get tummy cramps from a tiny scoop of dairy ice-cream. We change, our bodies change. Our diets need to be adjustable. What worked yesterday does not automatically work today, or the other way around. Be open to your body’s reactions.

7.     Certain situations increase the need for specific nutrients

This is true for me when coming down with a cold, feeling traumatized, or when stressed, which most of us are a lot! In those times, my body does not only need the basics to keep going, but more of certain elements. If those aren’t provided, it will take them from within, thus potentially interrupting my daily body maintenance work. For me, , one indicator is increased hair loss.

 8.    I make sure to stay well hydrated

I drink at least four liters ( = seventeen cups) of liquid per day, mainly water and herbal teas (no sugar). If I don’t, I get a headache and my brain stops working. Enough water is vital to keep my intestines working at optimum. Let’s say, I do regret if skimping on it!

9.    I respect the need of my body to rest

I did not use to do this. I had a coffee or chocolate instead.  I have learned that a power nap or a quick meditation works so much better. Every system needs time for service. So does my body. In those rest moments, I provide it with a chance to recharge and repair.

10. I listen to my body because it knows best what I need

It took me some time to relearn listening to my body. We can all do this. Have you ever observed that some young children automatically steer clear of food that is not good for them? They intrinsically know. The good news is we can all do this. The wisdom is within every one of us. My greatest helper on this journey has been my kinesiologist. She has tools to tune into my body, so we could find out what kinds of food worked for me and which ones didn’t. This was a great starting point on the journey back to listening to my body. 

Do you know what your body needs?

Remember, it is unique for each one of us. What about listening and finding out?