I've decided that I need to help people change the way they feel about their bodies. Living in a society where biomedicine is the norm, it seems like when people get sick, they decide their bodies have failed them. Biomedicine has changed and evolved by pulling the body apart, looking super closely at its parts and trying to figure out every mechanism by which it works. Because of this we've gained some REALLY great techniques for saving and bettering lives! Look at all that biomedicine is able to do! Transplants, surgeries to repair ALL kinds of things, in vitro fertilization, cloning and SO much more is on the horizon. Science and biomedicine are pretty freakin' cool!
My problem with biomedicine comes when it leads people to think of the body as a bunch of replaceable parts - like your car. Our bodies are not machines that are prone to breaking down. Our bodies want to function properly! They strive to be healthy, even with all of the unhealthy things that are thrown at them!
Our bodies are incredibly stoic, and when they finally cry out for help, it's because the situation has become too much for our bodies to deal with. This is a time when we need to take a look at the lifestyle choices we've made. Do we consume alcohol? Do we consume lots of sugar? Do we smoke? Do we not exercise? Are we living an incredibly stressful life?
I'm not saying not to get biomedical help. Quite the contrary. Once a body has cried out, it's important to do whatever is necessary to reverse the situation. What I'm saying is that we need to be more proactive and preventive about our health, to prevent our bodies from having to cry out in the first place. We also need to change the environment that caused our bodies to cry out, so that it doesn't keep happening.
I want you to start by respecting your body and it's ability to persevere. Give it what it needs to function well. Don't give your body anything that won't allow it to flourish. But most of all, I want you to love your body and everything it does for you!
Photo Courtesy of: Health Right
You are right! Right now, I am experiencing the benefits of treating your body well. I have celiac and recently switched to a GF diet, am starting to exercise, and sleeping well. After 2 months, I feel like a whole new person. My body hit that point where it started telling me something was wrong and it was time for a change. I listened.
ReplyDeleteI am SO glad you made the necessary changes! It can be so difficult to make diet changes, especially when those changes mean losing some of your favorite foods!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it incredible to feel GOOD? Okay, so you were surviving before, but who wants to just survive? :)