Creating Optimal Wellness
by Jennifer McCowan

Poor gut health is the root of many dis-eases in our body, leading to poor hair health. By focusing on the gut, we can often get to the root of many of our health issues. Utilizing proper nutrition is the most common way to a healthy body, and healthy hair is often a result. Being deficient in a vitamin or mineral is critical to body and hair health; essential organs will receive them long before your hair does, so it is very important to follow a meal plan that is specific to your body. Most of us have underlying food or food additive intolerances.

Some foods can cost the body more energy to digest than it gets energy from, potentially causing inflammation throughout and possibly leading to leaky gut. Leaky gut (gut dysbiosis) is when there is a dumping of toxins into the bloodstream, which then can lead to hormonal imbalances that can also cause hair loss.

Although blueberries are healthy, they may not be healthy for you depending on your body chemistry. My daughter is intolerant to lettuce and my son is intolerant to blackberries, and everyone knows that salad and berries are healthy, right? Or are they? By pinpointing the foods that work best in your body and the combination in which they are consumed, you can maintain optimal health and well-being.

Food intolerances are completely different from food allergies, and it is crucial we understand the difference. Allergies can cause immediate and very obvious and sometimes lethal effects; food intolerances can work considerably slower and in subtle, indirect ways. When we eat foods that our body thrives from, the gut and body do not have to work so hard, and the body can begin to work more efficiently. By consuming foods that are specific for our body type, we can minimize inflammation and dis-ease in the body and increase optimal well-being.

Now that we understand food intolerance and which foods work best for us going into our bodies, it is also important to know which foods get waste out of our bodies, and essentially assist in the elimination of impurities, toxins, heavy metals, and general waste. Did you know that your fatty tissue can store mercury toxins from teeth fillings and slowly leak it into the body, contributing to hair loss? It is essential that we get rid of unwanted items in order to create an optimal wellness plan.

Eating foods that contain high amounts of antioxidants, omegas, and high concentrations of vitamins and minerals are best, as well as purchasing organic in order to cut down on the exposure to toxins and sprays that companies add to fields of fruits and vegetables. Cutting out everyday chemicals is an easy way to start helping your body work better.

Removing foods and food additives that are not optimal for you is an excellent way to keep your immune system healthy, so it can combat the upcoming cold and flu season, and helps ensure that your body is in optimal shape to combat the COVID virus.

With our modern and convenient diet, our meals are often quick and high heat processed, which forms high levels of AGEs (Advanced Glycation End products). High levels of these may increase the onset of blocked arteries, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and kidney disease due to oxidative stress and inflammation. To avoid excessive levels, turn the heat down, cook slowly (in moist heat when possible), and add a marinade containing citrus or vinegar to your food prior to cooking for a protective effect. Consuming high amounts of carbohydrate-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can also help to decrease your exposure to AGEs.

The genes within our bodies are exposed to outside factors daily, and our bodies have learned to adapt as best they can. Therefore, understanding how our environment affects our genetic expression is key to optimal health.

To learn more about how to optimize your wellness plan, contact Hope Hair Recovery at 306-373-HOPE (4673). Also see the display ad on page 21 of the 26.2 November/December issue of the WHOLifE Journal.