10 crazy ideas for better living ..

Here's a post for those who are using the New Year as a launching point for -

A New Way of Doing Things (lol)

It's especially for those who have

Tried Everything 

yet can't seem to shed weight or stop snoring or get it up or get things right in the bathroom. Actually, no matter what annoying/scary/disgusting little health issue is driving you to change things up, these are some thoughts that you might just want to consider.

You know what they say, trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity (and it doesn't work, either). Why not try something crazy instead?




1) STOP ALL SUPPLEMENTS, VITAMINS AND "HERBAL REMEDIES"

Yep, all of them. For 6 weeks, at least (3 months is even better). Keep notes on how you feel as time without them goes on. What's better? What's not?

If you feel no different, why go back to taking them? No, really, why? Anything we take should make some kind of difference to how we feel. If not, don't waste your money. Do you feel better without? Then that's a clue too. Something's been disagreeing with you. It's either the wrong supplement for your situation or it's got fillers in it that are messing with you.

And remember - Just because it says "natural" on the label doesn't mean it's safe, especially for long term use.

Also, as you reintroduce anything, do so with ONE thing at a DAMN TIME so you can tell which thing is doing what to your body. Look for interactions.

2) ASK YOUR PHYSICIAN ABOUT A MEDICATION HOLIDAY

First, take a list of all your meds AND supplements to your pharmacist and ask them to check it for possible interactions that might be the cause of some of your health maladies. You'd be surprised how much pharmacists know about prescription drugs, supplements and herbs and how they can interact with each other - more than most MD's, more than most herbalists and definitely more than you or I do. Take that information to your GP and/or specialists and see if you can pare down to the absolute necessities. Sometimes you just need a break, and most physicians are at least willing to discuss this, so it's worth a shot. And sometimes it turns out the meds are no longer needed. Wouldn't that be nice?

Oh, by the way, if your "Naturopath" hasn't asked you what meds you're taking and spoken to you about interactions with the supplements or herbs they've got you on, then you're going to the wrong fucking Naturopath. All health care providers need that information, and they ought to be asking you about it. If they're not, they're not as on the ball as they should be, which means you're not as safe in their hands as you could be. So, educate yourself, then educate them.

1) and 2) YOUR LIVER WILL THANK YOU

All those drugs and vitamins and herbs go through the liver, and it's already got lots to do, so the more we throw at it, the more burdened it is. Even just periodic breaks are a really good idea. And since the liver is the boss (essentially) of the body, giving it a break often improves other issues, like weight loss, and we all know how excess weight can be a burden on everything else, right? Right.

And no, "liver cleanses" do not constitute giving that poor organ a break.

3) IF YOU DRINK ALCOHOL, CUT IT OUT .. COMPLETELY.

Even if it's that one "healthy" glass of red wine a day, giving it up for say, 3 months can really make a difference. Don't believe me? Do we have to pry that daily glass of something out of your cold dead hands because "they say" it's good for you, or it "helps you relax"?

You might want to ask yourself why you're so resistant to cutting it out of your routine.

Of course you're not a full blown alcoholic, not you! But you might just be leaning on it just a little more than is wise. Besides, if that weight seem to be stuck, it'll start to drop off like magic if you just. stop. drinking. Your sex life will improve too. Lots of other things can help you relax (like sex, or a warm bath), and you can get that magic resveratrol from a couple of squares of dark, delicious chocolate or a handful of blueberries or pistachios.

The harder it is to give something up, the more clear it is that we probably ought to.

Just sayin'.

4) IF YOU DON'T DRINK ALCOHOL, CONSIDER STARTING

Yeah, I know I'm contradicting myself .. but sometimes what we need most is a change.

I wasn't a drinker most of my life, then took up that daily glass of red wine and it did me some good. I gained some weight, which at the time I needed. But several years on, I "suddenly" had 25 extra pounds! So I dropped the wine habit (and most of those extra pounds just melted off) and that did me some good, too.

Currently I don't even like the smell of wine, but I know that some day it will appeal to me again. Whether we do something or whether we don't the important thing to know is why. And whether we do better with or without is something we can't know until we try it out.

5) IF YOU'RE A SMOKER AND AREN'T READY TO QUIT ..

then don't try. No, really, if you're not ready it will just stress you out, make you feel like a failure and add to your burden of self-loathing. That's not a good thing. Neither is taking a drug to help you quit, those things have plenty o' nasty side effects. Instead, until you're ready to quit, switch to an organic brand of tobacco and hand roll your ciggies. Believe me, you'll smoke less and at least you won't be sucking back all those pesticides.

Speaking of smoking, now that cannabis is legal or becoming so in so many places, please, please, if you imbibe, go organic. Cannabis growers use some really nasty shit on their plants.


6) STOP USING ESSENTIAL OILS (OR PRODUCTS CONTAINING THEM)

Essential oils are more effective at killing microbes than most drugs are, and they're indiscriminate, killing good guys and bad alike, just like drugs. Whether you're bathing in them, "scenting" the air with them in a diffuser or - God forbid! - taking them internally, you're damaging your microbiome. Not just the gut but the sinuses, the lungs and essentially (pun intended) every part of our bodies has its own unique microbial population. If you value your microbes,  and especially if you (believe you) have candida or are suffering from allergy symptoms, kick the damn essential oil habit. Your best defence against harmful microbes of any kind is a strong, healthy internal eco-system.

7) MAKE YOUR HOUSEWORK HARDER

Stop using all those time saving, convenient appliances and you'll start getting some extra value out of the work you do. Learn to use a whisk instead of a blender, chop and dice your vegetables with a knife instead of a vitamix, hand wash your dishes, sweep your rugs daily instead of vacuuming once a week. Why? Because every little thing we do works off calories, tones muscles and helps with dexterity and balance. Our bodies didn't evolve to work out at the gym; lifting weights just makes you good at lifting weights. You want a work out? Get down on your hands and knees and wash your floors by hand! (Wash with one hand, dry with the other as you go, old cleaning lady trick. Works both sides of your body and your floors will look great.) Activities should be varied, and nothing is more varied than housework done the old fashioned way. As we age, the most important thing is to be able to look after ourselves and stay in our own homes. Appliances use electricity we have to pay for; using our bodies instead of those appliances pays us by keeping us more capable as we age. This is nothing to sneeze at folks.

8) IF YOU CAN'T SLEEP IT PROBABLY MEANS YOU'RE NOT TIRED

People sleep when they're tired, it's a fact. If you can't sleep, it means you haven't done enough that day (and likely haven't had enough fresh air, either). Wear yourself out, you'll sleep! And do something meaningful, too. Like housework. Or taking the dog for another walk.

Of course, get the TV out of your bedroom and leave your goddamn phone in another room. As my friend Anne, a Medicine Woman, used to say, "bedrooms are for sleeping and making whoopee, that's it." Anything else is a distraction. So yeah, sleep hygiene matters. But how you spent your day matters just as much.

Oh yeah, and turn off the WiFi an hour before bed. Just try it, you'll see.

9) KEEP THOSE LAST 10 "EXTRA" POUNDS

Those last 10 pounds don't want to budge? Then maybe don't fight it. There will come a day you'll need that extra weight; food poisoning, a bad flu, maybe something more serious, can knock the wind out of you and take flesh off your bones. If you have it to spare you'll fare better, if you don't, especially if you're over 50 and have other health problems, you might not have the strength to bounce back. Believe it or not, it can be harder to gain weight than to lose it, especially after a fairly serious illness.

Being healthy is the goal, there's no need to be vain. You can look great in a bigger jeans size if you know how to dress.

10) SMILE

Smile at your barista, at the bus driver, at the people in the elevator at work. Smile at your spouse, smile at your children. Smile at the grocery store cashier and ask her how she's doing as if you actually care. Be that sunny, positive person. Make eye contact with strangers and say 'good morning'. It's just the right thing to do.

No one really knows how much better life could be if we all smiled at each other as a matter of habit. Why don't we all just try it and see how it turns out?