The Importance of Self-Care in Preventing Chronic Health Problems
Stress is part of life, but before it gets to be too much, it’s time to take care of yourself. Self-care is not selfish.
We all experience stress, it’s hardwired into our DNA; the fight or flight response is within each of us. But when we’ve been cooped up for too long, or events outside of your control way too heavily on your mind, it can all be too much. Mental stress can have serious negative effects on your physical health. That’s why it’s important to take care of yourself, especially if you take care of others or if you’re the type of empath that others lean on, you need to take a break.
To help others you must first help yourself.
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About the Author
Your Body Is a Superorganism Thanks to These Microbes
Dr. Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., a pioneer in the field of epigenetics who worked as a stem-cell biologist has effectively bridged the gap between mind, body, and spirit. Of particular note is his approach to the immune system, a widely appreciated (yet poorly understood) function of the body.
We Are Made of Microorganisms
As humans, we each possess a microbiome, a community of microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses) that inhabit the body. Our bodies are home to about 100 trillion of these microbes, and their role in protecting us from disease cannot be overstated: They are not just necessary, but crucial, to human life on a great many levels.Â
Microbiome research is an emerging field in which researchers investigate how the bacteria that live in and on our bodies affect our health and states of mind. Beneficial microbes in the gut have much to do with how efficiently we can extract calories from different kinds of food, how likely we can escape colon cancer or heart disease, and even how we metabolize different kinds of drugs.Â
And, as Lipton teaches, these microbes regulate a wide array of aspects related to both mind and body—from the removal of toxins to gut feelings, and from sleep patterns to appetite. In fact, because of their role in the production of certain hormones such as serotonin, a deficiency in the microbiome literally affects happiness levels and may contribute to anxiety and depression.
