Week 17 — The road to a healthier body, mind, and spirit tracks longer than I wish it did. Can anyone relate to my impatient desire to push hard for a week or two, arriving at a toned, peace-filled, joyful me?
But then I remember a tale from my childhood, you know the one — The Tortoise and the Hare. Too often, I’m like the hurried bunny, pushing hard for short spurts, until all too soon I allow distractions, boredom, and foolish arrogance to detour me from my intended destination. This little story quickly spurs me to take the wiser route — moving at a slower pace, as I follow the example of the turtle.
Accepting myself for who I am today, makes all the difference, and allows me to keep moving forward. One steady step at a time. I am determined to cross the finish line, maybe not as fast as I prefer, but knowing if I don’t give up, cross it I will.
In the past few years, as age and time have changed my physiology, I’ve done a lot of medical research. One of the common threads to unhealthy symptoms such as obesity, heart disease, arthritis, thyroid issues, Alzheimer’s, stroke, and more can be connected to inflammation. And the food and drink we ingest can affect how much inflammation our body sustains.
Natural food remedies, less expensive than lengthy medical treatments, and lacking uncomfortable side-effects, sure make sense. If you know what they are. Here’s a list of some of my favorite pressure reducing foods:
- Cinnamon
- Curry
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Tumeric
- Hot Peppers
- Sweet Potatoes
- Cherries
- Blueberries
- Cranberries
- Blackberries
- Watermelon
- Cucumbers
- Kelp (I put mine in Smoothies)
- Cold Water Fish
- Raw organic coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Local Honey (In moderate amounts)
And while you’re ingesting healthier fare, don’t forget the water. It flushes out toxins, and also helps reduce inflammation.
These are food and drinks I’m incorporating into my life for a healthier me. I’m not a doctor, so please make sure you consult with your medical professional before starting any new plan. But as an everyday, middle-aged woman, I can simply tell you this is one of the ways I’m moving forward on my own race to fitness. If I’m going to follow the example of the tortoise, and cross the finish line eventually, I need all the strength and sustenance I can get — hopefully without a swelled head.
Do you consider how what you eat and drink affects every part of your body?
Anita Fresh Faith
Ecclesiastes 3:13 (NIV)
That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
Anita Agers-Brooks is a Business and Inspirational Coach, Certified Personality Trainer, Productivity Expert, Certified Training Facilitator, Communications Specialist, and national speaker. Anita is also the author of, First Hired, Last Fired — How to Become Irreplaceable in Any Job Market. Now available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, Lifeway, Christianbook.com, plus many fine stores, Christian and otherwise.
She’s a partner in The Zenith Zone, a business coaching firm. Member of the Christian Writer’s Guild, Toastmasters, and a client of WordServe Literary Group. A graduate of CLASSeminars for Leaders, Speakers, and Authors, a co-founder of The StoryWriting Studio, and speaker on circuit for Stonecroft International Ministries. Anita co-hosts a weekly podcast, Engaging Life and Leadership with Darren Dake, available on iTunes, Stitcher, and other podcast platforms.
Anita is passionate about business with integrity, healthy relationships, and issues of identity. She travels the country teaching others from her personal experiences and research. She believes it’s never too late for a fresh start with fresh faith.
Her favorite past time is lounging by a river or lake in Missouri, laughing with with her husband of thirty years, Ricky.
Follow her FreshFaith blog anitabrooks.com. You may contact her via website anitabrooks.com/contact/ or email anita@anitabrooks.com.
Leave a Reply