How To: Create A Healthy Balanced Lifestyle

How To: Create A Healthy Balanced Lifestyle

Creating Health with Balance

For most people wanting better health, the first thing we tend to think about is changing our diet.  After all, if we consider the common phrase of “we are what we eat” as defining health – simply improving food choices should ultimately improve our health.

But what if the path to improving health isn’t just what we eat? 

When I first heard of Holistic Nutrition, I was keen to learn all about healthier ways of eating aside from eliminating the Standard American Diet (SAD) of processed food. 

But despite eating a pretty healthy diet of whole foods with minimal processing, I was confused why my health still wasn’t optimal. 

“If I’m eating better, why aren’t I feeling better?”

What I discovered would change my health, and my family’s health forever.  

I quickly came to understand that improving health, and creating sustainable health wasn’t just about what I ate. Holistic Health is a whole person approach; uncovering and understanding root cause drivers to poor health and disease.  It’s a balance of food choices, stress inputs, toxins, poor relationships, sleep and so much more.  What I personally experienced and know to be true for most people, it that that Food and Lifestyle are related and interconnected. And they all need to be in balance.

For example, in the context of nutrient deficiencies, on the surface it would appear that simply not eating nutritious food would create the deficiency.  And while that’s a factor, eating under stress can also create the deficiency.

Stress can cause imbalances in the body on many levels.  A stressful diet, stressful environment, stressful thoughts, and stressful toxins can wreak havoc to our health.  

A personal example of interconnected and balanced health can be seen 4 years ago when I began to take control of my health.  At the time, everything I was doing was focused decreasing relentless inflammation and addressing fatigue from active RA. Inflamed joints were painful: also affecting my mobility. I also had major issues with Quality of NO Life; trying to stay awake more than a few hours. 

At first I made changes to my diet, knowing it was a cornerstone of health. It was a great starting point to reduce inflammation triggered by food sensitivities.  But I quickly realized I couldn’t stop there.  I had to incorporate a balanced lifestyle as well.

I made significant changes to my stress levels in how I perceive and managed stress. This combination of diet and stress management furthered my progress in reducing inflammation and created noticeable improvements. 

Lastly, I took a look at the chemicals and toxins in my home and around me. As I began to remove synthetic fragrances in personal care, cleaning products, air fresheners – avoiding places with high exposures, I began to experience even greater improvement.

With stress, diet and toxins addressed as inputs I could better control, I continued to incorporate lifestyle adjustments.  I added in regular movement and addressed my sleep patterns. 

What I quickly realized personally, and now advocate to others with certainty, is that health is created with a balanced approach to nutrition, mindset, AND lifestyle!  All facets of wellbeing need to be considered for true health to exist.  What’s most exciting  is knowing we are all empowered, and personally accountable for our everyday health decisions.  

Health and wellness starts with openness, which creates awareness. 

Direction drives action, and those actions generate results.  

There is no magic pill to heal anything, but there is magic in change, openness, a plan, consistency and patience – in balance. 

Krista Rowan, RHN (Registered Holistic Nutritionist), CNP

If you enjoyed this post, check out these other articles on Balance:

4 Ways to Improve Health with Self Care

10 Tips to Stay Balanced in your Eating – Gut Health

Healthy Tan in the Summertime Sun