Life flourishes when air, water, light, and earth are balanced.

 

Gardening requires time and effort, but the reward is a beautiful, healthy garden, abundant with flowers, fruits, and veggies. Maintaining and nurturing our health also takes time and effort. It may not feel easy, but when you work on balancing the elements of nature within your OWN environment, you will begin to reap the benefits of a bountiful harvest.

Here are some basic gardening principles that you can apply to cultivate the health of your body:

 

1. FERTILIZE:

Just like plants need nourishing fertilizers to thrive, our bodies need high-quality fuel. The paleo diet is a great starting point for building a healthy diet. It’s not about extreme restrictions or eliminating food groups like keto or vegan diets. Instead, it focuses on eating real, whole foods that you can find in nature. 

 

PALEO

      • Focuses on unprocessed, organic foods such as veggies, fruits, and high-quality meats (grass-fed, pastured, organic)
      • Eating ingredients instead of foods with ingredients or at least has ingredients that you could make in your own kitchen

Eating processed foods that contain seed oils like canola, safflower, or sunflower oil, sugars, and artificial/natural flavors is like planting weeds in a garden. These processed foods act as invasive weeds that overtake and suffocate the vitality of the garden. Just as weeds compete with and impede the growth of the tomatoes, kale, and zucchini you’re trying to cultivate, processed foods hinder our health and well-being. They lack the essential nutrients, fiber, and natural goodness that our bodies truly thrive on.  By consuming a paleo diet filled with unprocessed, organic foods, we cultivate a garden of nourishment and vibrant health, allowing our bodies to flourish like a well-tended garden filled with vibrant, nutrient-rich plants.

If you struggle to find healthy recipes, Google ‘Paleo ___’ or ‘Whole30 ____’ (ex: Whole30 lasagna) for whatever you’re craving.

Supplements can also help “fertilize” the body and give it that extra boost when needed. You can’t support your way out of a shit diet though, so it’s important that you minimize processed foods and focus on nutrient-dense choices first before adding in supplements.

 

 

2. WATER:

The health benefits of clean water is SO underrated and are just as important as the food that you eat. And just because you have access to tap water does not mean it’s clean. 

Our bodies are made up of 70% water and depend on it for detoxification, temperature regulation, digestion, and more. When we consume water that is contaminated with pollutants, toxins, or impurities that are commonly found in tap water, it can contribute to various health issues, ranging from digestive problems and skin irritations to more serious conditions over time. 

Choosing natural spring water is always best but it’s not always convenient to have at home.  For water in your home, an under the sink carbon filter like MAX flow by EWS is also a great choice.

You can also try to find Live water or a water store near you that has reverse osmosis water but be sure to add Trace Minerals back in! RO (Reverse Osmosis) strips the water from EVERYTHING, including the beneficial minerals. Drinking pure RO can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalances so it’s very important to add them back in. 

I’m not an expert in water filters, but if you own your home or plan on staying for a while, it could be more cost-effective to invest in a system like MAX flow.

If you buy bottled water, Mountain Valley Spring is one of the best and comes in a glass bottle and not plastic that leaches into your water. 

What about straight tap water? It’s deemed safe by the government, right!? Let’s be real, there are a LOT of things that are deemed safe that really aren’t great for us.

If you’re curious about the contaminants in your city’s water, you can enter your zip code here and find out. For instance, in Costa Mesa, CA, where I am, there are 16 contaminants that exceed health guidelines with the level of arsenic being a staggering 99 times the recommended limit! Yikes!

If you think you’re gucci because you use a Brita or fridge filter, think again! Most of those filters are barely scraping the surface of what needs to be filtered out. They only clear out the basics to make it taste better, but they do not remove heavy metals, chlorine-resistant bacteria and viruses, pesticides, pharmaceutical residues, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hormones, and industrial pollutants that are regularly found in tap water. 

Plus, if you’re one of those who goes months with the “Change Filter” light on, it’s likely that you’re growing mold and other critters. 

To make your garden grow you need not only high quality soil but good quality water as well! 

 

3. SUNSHINE:

Just like plants, our bodies also require the nourishing energy of the sun to flourish. Sunlight is a vital source of Vitamin D, which supports strong bones, flexible muscles, and a robust immune system. In today’s world, we tend to spend more time indoors, missing out on the rejuvenating rays of sunshine. It’s important to make an effort to step outside, even if it’s just for a few minutes in the morning and throughout the day. This simple act can invigorate you, regulate your circadian rhythm, and provide a refreshing start to your day. 

Whenever possible, take breaks during your workday to walk outside, and make time on weekends to go for hikes or relax in a park. Connecting with nature helps regulate our nervous system, grounding us and providing a respite from the stresses of life, shifting us away from the fight-or-flight response.

 

 

4. WEEDING

Weeding your garden is vital to keeping the soil clean and disease free.

Our body also needs cleansing. The easiest way to cleanse our bodies is sweating through exercise and/or an infrared sauna. Exercise helps circulate the blood, pumping it through the built-in filters of the liver and kidney, and helps to reduce inflammation. 

Although I’m a big fan of living a healthy lifestyle all the time so you don’t need to cleanse, a 30-day elimination diet can be incredibly helpful to do seasonal. It helps you reset if you’re in a funk, have persistent symptoms, or want to make some changes. 

You can even do a week or 14-day reset if you’re not in too bad of shape. This would look something like following a strict Paleo or Whole30 style diet, exercising, or meditating. This will help to weed out anything that may be exacerbating your symptoms and allow your body to heal. Instead of it being focused on dealing with the inflammatory substances you put in your body.

I also recommend doing seasonal parasite cleansing. Cellcore has an amazing protocol that resets the body at a foundational level. You start with the Jumpstart Kit for a month to open up detox pathways and improve mitochondrial function. This is so when you start the Para Kit the following month, you will be able to detox/remove them from your body AND you’ll have enough energy to do so. If you’re interested in this, send me an email here.

 

5. SYNERGISTIC BUGS

Have you ever released ladybugs or praying mantises in your garden to help with aphids or white flies? That’s kind of how probiotics work in your gut. Your gut needs a diverse team of friendly bacteria to keep the not-so-friendly ones in check and produce important feel-good neurotransmitters like GABA, serotonin, and dopamine.

Here’s the thing though… parasite, bacterial or fungal overgrowths almost always occur because… THE ENVIRONMENT ALLOWS THEM TO.

But here’s the catch: Parasites, bacterial or fungal overgrowths usually happen because… the environment allows them to. Just like overwatering your garden attracts more unwanted pests, certain factors in your body can create an environment where harmful bacteria thrive. Think sugar, stress, and alcohol, which lower the acidity in your stomach and give a free pass to bacteria like H. pylori to throw a wild party in your belly. Stomach acid plays a crucial role in killing off and preventing bacterial growth. So, when you have a low concentration of stomach acid due to the factors mentioned above or take antacids like Zantac, Prilosec, or Alka-Seltzer to temporarily alleviate heartburn instead of addressing the root problem, it’s like you’re sponsoring their shindig with a buffet of sugary delights!

When our internal environment is out of balance, it allows for disease to occur. So first things first, we wanna focus on restoring that balance.

BUT by incorporating probiotics, ladybugs, and praying mantises you help to create a more harmonious environment for your plants and your gut.

 

Embracing the concept of treating our bodies like gardens can have a profound impact on our overall health and happiness. Just as a garden thrives with care and attention, our bodies flourish when we prioritize nourishment, mindfulness, and holistic approaches.

If you’re ready to embark on a journey towards your most vibrant health ever, I invite you to work with me! Whether you’re seeking support with gut health, pain management, anxiety, or other concerns, I offer convenient telehealth consultations that allow us to connect no matter where you are. Together, we can delve into the root causes of your health issues and cultivate a thriving internal garden.

You can also stay connected and inspired by following me on Instagram @florafauna.wellness , where I share daily health tips and insights. It’s a supportive community where we can learn and grow together on our wellness journey.

To get started or learn more about working together, simply schedule your Initial Consult appointment. Telehealth options make it easy for anyone, even those outside of Orange County, to access my services. If you have any quick questions or need further information, feel free to reach out to me via email at hello@florafaunawellness.com.

Remember, your body is like a garden ready to bloom with vitality. Let’s nurture it and embark on a path towards optimal health and well-being together.