Healthy Bite 005 - Frankie Say Relax!

Super Simple Healthy Podcast

Welcome to the Super Simple Healthy Podcast! This is Christina Moyes. Frankie Say Relax! Do you ever feel like you’re constantly on the go with no time for yourself? Today I’ll be talking about the importance of self-care and how to squeeze it in no matter how hectic your day may be. Frankie Say Relax! So why is self-care so important? And how can you possibly squeeze it in with everything you have to do in one day? When I first became a mom, we were living in a townhouse in New Jersey and I remember talking to my neighbor over the fence in our backyard. She was from India and she said something to me that stuck: “American moms try to do everything on their own. Back in India we have not only our entire family taking care of our children, but others in the community as well. You take on too much.” And the more I thought about it, the more I realized it’s true. I don’t think it’s always been this way. I have heard stories of how grandparents used to live with the family. Or how aunts and uncles and cousins were all within close proximity. But a lot of families are spread far and wide these days and people are all doing their own thing. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but we need to be aware that it has an impact on our health when we try to “do it all”. And if we’re going to live this new model, steps need to be taken to tip the scales back in balance. Why? Genetics plays a part in our health, but does not determine the way the whole story goes. Food and lifestyle habits have an impact on whether or not those genes will be expressed. It may have been Deepak Choprah who said “If food is what loads the gun, stress pulls the trigger.” Stress can be a useful thing. Like in the caveman days, when confronting a saber tooth tiger, stress triggers what’s known as the “Fight or Flight Response”, where a chemical reaction occurs in the body activating cortisol and adrenaline and other stress hormones to send energy to the arms and legs in order to make a quick getaway or to fight. Since this is the natural reaction in the body, all other systems get placed on “low priority” so to speak – including the digestive system. Once the perceived danger is over, the body should return to a state of “Rest and Digest”. In today’s world however, the body doesn’t recognize the difference between an attack from a saber tooth tiger, vs running the kids to soccer practice or missing a deadline at work or having an argument. So many people find themselves unknowingly in a state of chronic stress, keeping cortisol levels high and the digestive system on low. And since 70% of the immune system is located in the gut, you can imagine this can cause problems. So what’s a girl or guy to do?? One of the easiest ways to come into the state of Rest and Digest is simply to BREEEATHE… Just like taking a sigh of relief. Consciously take a deep breathe in, making sure not to tense up any other area of your body, hold it for at least 5 seconds and release slowly for 7 seconds. Do this 3 times before each meal and it will place your body in a better state of relaxation and aid in your digestive health. Of course if you remember to, you can practice this any time of day and especially during stressful situations. Unless you’re facing a saber tooth. Until next time: Keep it Simple. Be Healthy. https://supersimplehealthy.com