One of the wonderful things about the internet is the ease and speed at which we can research just about any topic. This can be an amazing gift, but sometimes it can feel more like a life sentence. The problem is, there’s a LOT of negative information out there, provided by well-meaning individuals. Don’t get me wrong, I am extremely grateful to everyone who takes the time and makes the effort to share information that is often swept under the rug by organizations who stand to profit from our ignorance. But the thing you need to be extremely careful NOT to do is allow this information to overwhelm and paralyze you. Like it almost did to me.

At one point, my diet was down to a few items: organic fruits and non-starchy vegetables, organic poultry and wild caught fish, healthy grains (like quinoa), legumes and nuts. I thought my diet was at the minimal number of foods I could possibly hope to sustain for any length of time. Then I read an article about the dangers of lectins and anti-nutrients found in all grains, legumes and nuts and I was devastated. I mean, there are only so many ways to prepare the same foods, and my poor husband was still hungry 10 minutes after finishing dinner. Yes we definitely needed to make a change, but at some point you just want to say enough, I can’t do this right, why am I even trying?

Well here’s why: Because the health of you and your loved ones is the top priority in your life.

And here’s how: Top 5 Tips to Help Make Body Wellness Achievable

1. Don’t believe everything you read. Everyone has an opinion (yes even me!), and even when it’s backed by research, you need to question everything. By the way, research is one of those topics that drives me a little crazy. Did you know a reasonably intelligent individual can reach a conclusion that sounds legit even when it’s completely incorrect?  I expect to write a few articles on this topic down the road, but for now trust me when I tell you, when it comes to your body you are the best person to decide what works and what doesn’t, which leads to the next strategy…

2. Listen to your body- usually! If your joints ache every time you stand up, or climb the stairs (like mine did) just make some changes and see if it helps. My solution was to eliminate simple sugars and starches from my diet for 3 days, and it worked like magic. Based on my symptoms I’d suspected I was suffering from a condition known as chronic inflammation, so I searched for information of foods that cause inflammation (yay Google!) and eliminated them from my diet. Your body will let you know if what you’re doing is working, but remember that different fixes have different time tables, so give your body the time it needs to respond.

3. Don’t always listen to your body! The BIG exception to rule #2 is when it comes to food cravings. Strangely enough, our bodies sometimes crave the foods we are sensitive or even allergic to. Plus, oftentimes we misread our cravings. One thing I learned is that I feel like I am craving sugar when I am thirsty.  I think its because my energy level starts to drop when I start to get dehydrated, and sugar gives me an instant energy boost.  Of course if I do eat or drink something sugary that boost is followed by a surge in insulin, and a drop in blood sugar which is a bit of a vicious cycle. Meanwhile, my body is becoming even more dehydrated. All of this could have been avoided with a simple (calorie free) glass of water!

4. Take baby steps. Decide on one or two positive changes you are willing to make, and then make them. When you have successfully mastered that, and are beginning to feel the benefits, you will be inspired to continue to the next small change, and you’ll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle.

5. Remember it’s okay to cheat. The goal of this exercise is to bring your body back in balance. And while healthy living should not be viewed as a temporary fix but rather as a lifestyle change, the ultimate goal here is a healthy body. A healthy body has a strong immune system and can handle a little bit of “bad” foods thrown into the mix.