I am in Norway, the land of beautiful people and beautiful vistas.
I’m struck with how progressive Norway is in terms of technology, social
programs, the environment, and food. Those who know me, know that I love food,
especially when it is fresh, local and organically grown. Norway has an
abundance of all three.
Baked Cod, Grand Hotel Cafe
Roasted Cauliflower with Watercress Sprouts
Lofoten, Norway
Our friends whom we are staying with, used to be our
neighbors in Virginia. They (along with their friends who came to visit the
U.S.) all suffered from digestive dis-ease while living in the United States.
Fortunately for Bjorn, he took my advice to purchase some
supplements on his last visit with us, and I’m happy to report that his
digestion is now back to normal in Norway.
This reinforces my concern about how we have adulterated our
food. We are the only country that allowed Genetically Modified Food (GMO’s,
inserting the DNA of bacteria into the DNA of plants) as well as thousands of
chemicals and pesticides into our food supply. Our wheat is also hybridized to
include 50% gluten versus 4% gluten of previous generations. Plus, our flours
are bromated. Bromine is a halide chemical that competes with iodine, essential
for a healthy thyroid and regulation of metabolism.
I see very little obesity here and I think it is more than just
clean food. Norwegians typically take 4 weeks of vacation in the summers and
many have been able to afford homes in the country where families go often to hike or cross country ski. The cities are also surrounded by forests, with strict rules about preserving them for present
and future generation recreational use.
Public transportation is robust and bike shares and electric
cars are encouraged to keep pollution at a minimum.
There is also zero tolerance for drinking and driving and our
Norwegian friends do not drink alcohol during the week.
Our daily choices are so important for both longevity and
quality of life. Our bodies are designed to heal, repair and protect us from
our abuses. As I pointed out in my book, Savvy
Secrets: Eat, Think and Thrive, the body is designed to eliminate even mercury,
the most toxic element through the digestive tract, if it is intact. Unfortunately, intestinal permeability is becoming
epidemic in the United States leading to everything from food sensitivities,
psoriasis, depression, anxiety, autoimmune dis-ease and cancers.
Major causes of intestinal permeability include external
stress and internal hidden stressors such as nutritional insufficiency, GMO’s, chemical
laden processed foods devoid of nutrients, antibiotics, steroids, over the
counter drugs like aspirin, Motrin and other NSAIDs, and even birth control
pills.
The good news is that if we make good choices 80-90% of the
time, we can afford to indulge 10-20% without sacrificing health. The problem
is that just because we can, doesn’t mean we should. Just because we can drink
wine every night and have dessert with every meal, doesn’t mean we should. Not
if we want to live a long healthy and happy life.
Instead, we develop these rituals, these daily habits that
will determine whether we experience ease or dis-ease in the body. We live into
our habits. Habits easily become addictive.
What we resist persists. It's taken me a long time to get this. I've noticed the one thing that we most love may be the very thing that keeps us stuck. Remember that diversity in the diet is the number one anti-aging as well as cancer prevention strategy.
Our body is designed to be self-healing and self-repairing.
It is designed to protect us and will do so up to a point. You may not notice
the subtle changes occurring that warn you, like creeping levels of glucose in the
blood or slow steady weight gain. Personally, I remember the shock I felt
looking at myself in the mirror of a dressing room several years ago when my
scale tipped to 160, 35 pounds above my current weight.
What daily choices do I now make 80% of the time? Here are some essential to my wellbeing:
- I drink a glass of clean water upon wakening, followed
by my yoga practice and Dinacharya, my self-care routine that includes a
shower with coconut or olive oil.
- I’ve replaced daily coffee with green tea and
herbal teas; essential to heal adrenal fatigue.
- I’ve added more fish, green leafy, cruciferous,
and sea vegetables to my diet and reduced intake of caffeine and alcohol.
- I do my own functional diagnostic testing like measuring micro-nutrient status every 6-12
months and supplement as necessary.
- I practice taking frequent breaks between work to be focused and fully present.
- I go to sleep by 10pm and end my day reading, writing and take note of all
that I am grateful for.
- I practice creating self compassion, self-love and forgiveness by deleting the need to beat myself up and the ANTs, automatic negative thoughts that arise.
What kind of daily choices do you make to create wellbeing? What habits no longer serve you?
With Love & Gratitude,
Carpe Diem!
Lisa
About
Lisa Jackson, RN, CHC, RYT-500, FDN-P
Lisa
is an author, inspirational speaker and a coach with a mission to inspire,
educate, and empower, clients towards optimal wellbeing.
She
is the former Executive Director of the Integrative Wellness Program for the
Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
Lisa
is part of the New Self Health Movement and the Wellness Inspired Network. When
she is not coaching, speaking or writing, you can find her practicing yoga and
joyfully sharing Carpe Diem Dance.
