As an expert in Functional Medicine, I am passionate about helping people live longer, healthier lives. Functional Medicine is a medical discipline that focuses on the root cause of disease, rather than just treating the symptoms. Through a holistic approach, Functional Medicine seeks to optimize a person’s health on all levels, from the physical to the emotional to the spiritual.
One of the main objectives of Functional Medicine is healthy longevity. Healthy longevity is the state of living a long and full life, free of chronic disease. There are many things we can do to increase our chances of achieving healthy longevity, and here are 10 tips from Functional Medicine that can help:
1. Stress Management: Stress is one of the main causes of chronic diseases. When we are stressed, our body releases hormones that can damage our cells and tissues. Stress management is essential to keep us healthy and long-lived.
There are many ways to manage stress, such as meditation, yoga, exercise, deep breathing and spending time in nature. Finding what works best for you is key.
2. Finding Oneself in Community: Human beings are social beings. We need to feel connected to others to be healthy. People who have strong social ties have a lower risk of chronic disease and live longer.
There are many ways to connect with the community, such as joining a club or group, participating in volunteer activities, or simply spending time with friends and family.
3. Digestive Rest: Our digestive system is responsible for the absorption of nutrients, which are essential for health. When our digestive system is overloaded, it cannot function properly.
To give our digestive system a rest, it is important to eat small, frequent meals, avoid processed and sugar-rich foods, and get enough sleep.
4. Take advantage of sunlight in the morning and avoid artificial light in the evening: Sunlight is essential for health. It helps regulate the circadian rhythm, which is our body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.
During the morning, sunlight helps our body produce melatonin, a hormone that helps us sleep. At night, artificial light can interfere with melatonin production, which can make it difficult to sleep.
To take advantage of sunlight, try to spend time outdoors in the mornings. Avoid artificial light at night, such as screens on electronic devices.
5. Grounding (contact with nature): Contact with nature has many health benefits, including reducing stress, improving sleep and reducing inflammation.
Grounding is a practice of touching the ground barefoot. Grounding is believed to help our bodies release toxins and improve cellular function.
To get in touch with nature, spend time outdoors, walk barefoot in the grass or sand, or spend time in a park.
6. Healthy Diet: A healthy diet is essential for overall health. The diet should focus on whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and lean proteins.
Processed foods rich in sugars, saturated fats and trans fats should be avoided or limited.
7. Regular Exercise: Regular exercise is another important part of healthy living. Exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, strengthen muscles and bones, and improve cardiovascular health.
It is recommended that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week.
8. Get Enough Sleep: Sleep is essential for cell repair and growth. Adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
If you have trouble sleeping, there are many things you can do to improve your sleep hygiene, such as establishing a regular sleep routine, creating a relaxing sleep environment and avoiding electronic screens before bedtime.
9. Avoid Tobacco and Alcohol Use: Tobacco and alcohol are two of the main risk factors for chronic diseases. Quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption can have a significant impact on health and longevity.
10. Take Care of Your Mental Health: Mental health is as important as physical health. People with mental health problems have a higher risk of chronic diseases and die earlier than people who do not have health problems.
Functional Medicine continues to grow today for the results it offers in its comprehensive treatment, in Functional Wellness Network we know its capacity for action and its results and, therefore, we are constantly documenting cases and innovative processes in Functional Medicine. Functional Wellness Network is a network of health professionals who provide advisory services to medical centers.
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Dr. Kent Nelson
Functional Wellness Network
www.functionalwellnessnetwork.com
