Do you dream of a day when you wake up in the morning feeling refreshed after a great night’s sleep, excited about your day and the opportunities it holds? Do you long for days without pain or just to feel well once again? Maybe you’re hooked on pain meds, anything just to get you through the day.
Health challenges are part of life these days, and although our bodies are incredibly resilient and have the most amazing ability to heal from within, there are times when they become completely overwhelmed. How do we get through times like this? Is it simply just putting one foot in front of the other and keeping on going? Yes, sometimes it is just like that.
However, feeling unwell can be a huge burden. Along with the physical discomfort, there is often an emotional toll from being tired, sick, and in pain. At times like these it’s all too easy to focus on the negatives, and we need the support of others to help us make sense of our lives. Reading about or watching the stories of others who have overcome similar health challenges can be very inspiring. They fill up your courage, strength and persistence tanks.
Great sportsmen and women, people who have overcome great obstacles in life generally tend to nurture their inner life as well as their physical life. This month I want to share some stories of people who have overcome their health issues and have re-discovered their joie de vivre (inner joy) once again.
Dr Terry Wahls was diagnosed with a crippling case of Multiple Sclerosis, and even after 7 years of the best treatment modern medicine had to offer, her condition continued to worsen. She was limited to a reclining wheelchair and a zero gravity chair as she was unable to hold her torso up. She made a decision to change her life, and take her health into her own hands. She began to research how nutrition could be used to rebuild her nervous system using large quantities of extremely nutrient dense foods and removing foods that create inflammation. She was able to fully recover using a nutritional protocol. To hear more of her story: https://bit.ly/1WpSKfI or visit www.terrywahls.com
Dr Isabella Wentz had the symptoms of thyroid disease for 10 years but all her thyroid tests came back ‘normal’. Struggling with chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, hair loss and gut problems made her really miserable. What she didn’t realise was that the chronic stress in her life, her processed foods diet and the antacids she regularly took were making her condition worse. She was eventually diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune condition. ‘I didn’t know then that by changing my diet, removing common food sensitivities, solving my gut issues – all that I could do without a prescription or significant expense – I would have felt so much better’. To learn more: https://bit.ly/2OdU1Wq or visit www.thyroidpharmacist.com
Kris Carr has been living with cancer for over a decade, having been diagnosed in 2003 with a rare and incurable (albeit slow growing) stage IV cancer. Although she still has cancer, she is healthy and runs a mission based business that serves her community. The cancer has taught her about taking care of herself and living life to the fullest. She learnt that a nutrient dense plant based diet rules; that a standard western diet destroys everything and that stress sucks the life force out of you. Joy and laughter are medicine for the soul and getting out into nature brings happiness. She works alongside her oncologist using an integrated and balanced approach to her healing. For more info: www.kriscarr.com
What can we learn from these inspiring stories?
1. Change your diet, change your life
2. Reduce stress
3. Get out into nature
4. Take care of yourself
5. Show up every day
6. Encourage yourself with the courage of others
7. Reduce pro-inflammatory foods
8. Heal your gut
9. One step at a time
Disclaimer: the information contained in this article is not intended as medical advice, but rather a sharing of knowledge and information based on research and experience. It is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare professional. Always consult with your healthcare team before embarking on any treatment. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice or discontinue medical treatment because of information in this article.
