• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Savory Lotus

simple clean eats + healthy treats

  • About
  • Recipes
  • Healthy Living
  • Resources
  • Safe Skincare
    • BEAUTYCOUNTER
    • PRIMALLY PURE
  • MEAL PLANS

By Katja Heino 2 Comments
Savory Lotus may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this post.

Are We Overcomplicating Our Health?

Screen shot 2013-05-04 at 9.40.20 PM

Today I am sharing with you a guest post from Lori from  Our Heritage of Health. If you haven’t been by her site, head on over and take a look.  Lori shares tons of great, practical healthy living tips, as well as fun old-fashioned notions of all sorts.

Are We Overcomplicating Our Health?

    “The best six doctors anywhere and no one can deny it are sunshine, water, rest, air, exercise, and diet” ~ Wayne Fields

When I came across this quote the other day, I was struck by the simplicity of it. In our modern age, it has become very easy to over-think our health. We have so much information available to us in the form of books, magazine, television, and, of course, the endless online world of the Internet. We can read study after study analyzing a particular food that we either should or shouldn’t be eating, and we can easily become lost in the confusion of conflicting advice about what is best for our health.

Those who lived in past centuries, though, had a much simpler view of health. They didn’t have access to the massive amount of information that we have today.  Most of their knowledge about health was rooted in tradition and common sense advice that was passed down through the generations from the wisdom of those who had lived before them.  They used the six “doctors” mentioned in the quotation above as simple ways to maintain good health.

Sunshine

Sunshine gives us light and warmth and happiness. There’s nothing quite so pleasant as spending time outside on a warm, sunny day. While it’s possible to overdo it and get too much exposure to the sun, the sun isn’t something we need to be afraid of either. Sunshine, in moderation, can allow our bodies to make Vitamin D, it can help to regulate our melatonin levels and circadian rhythms for better sleep, and it can uplift our moods and brighten our spirits.

Water

Water is an essential part of all plant, animal, and human life. We can’t live without it! It doesn’t get much simpler than water, and nothing is as refreshing on a hot summer day as a glass of cool, pure water. And quenching our thirst isn’t the only way that water is beneficial to our health either. Swimming is a relaxing, enjoyable way to get some exercise outdoors, and, in the salt water of the ocean, it’s even a way to absorb some of the beneficial minerals in the water too.

Rest

Rest is one of the most important but often one of the most neglected ways that we can improve our health. Sleep is the time when our bodies are able to repair themselves, and getting enough sleep benefits virtually every one of the body’s systems, and yet it’s so easy to forget the importance of a good night of sleep. It’s easy to fall into the pattern of staying up late in order to be more productive when, in reality, getting enough rest is really the most productive thing we can do for our health!

Air

Air is a necessity for life, of course, but the quality of the air we breathe can make a big impact on our health. There are lots of simple, old-fashioned things we can do to make sure that the air we breathe is fresh and pure – things like spending time outside, opening windows to let in a refreshing breeze, using natural cleaners instead of chemical ones, and keeping plants in our homes to filter toxins and increase oxygen levels.

Exercise

The health benefits of exercise are numerous, but it is often viewed as a drudgery that needs to be endured for the sake of good health. It doesn’t need to be that way, though! Just think back to your childhood and the natural joy you found in playing and running around outside. One of my favorite way to exercise is to take my dog on a long walk around my neighborhood. Walking your dog or playing with your kids outside is a simple and fun way to combine the benefits of exercising, sunshine, and fresh air all at the same time.

Diet

Of all of the aspects of health, diet is probably the one that causes the most confusion and controversy. Our ancestors didn’t spend hours upon hours researching about their food, though, and they didn’t have “nutrition facts” labels to study either. Their focus was on eating real foods that were fresh, grown locally, and organic (because all food was organic before the creation of modern pesticides!) and on preparing nourishing meals themselves in their own kitchens without modern food processing and additives.

These six, simple things don’t require hours of research or any special knowledge. While I believe that it is always good to learn as much as possible about food and nutrition and health, I also realize how easy it is to go too far and overanalyze every little detail about a particular food or aspect of health. Whenever I find myself making health more complicated than it needs to be, I try to take a step back and return to the simplicity of sunshine, water, rest, air, exercise, and diet that kept people healthy for generations before us.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Filed Under: Healthy Living

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Liz says

    May 12, 2013 at 5:23 pm

    A brilliant blog reminding us of the simple needs of life. We should not pollute our minds or bodies if we can help it. By following these rules we will be extending our life expectancy not to mention our quality of life.
    I would have added to refrain from alcohol to the list as this serves no purpose in the body except to pollute it. Check out http://tinyurl.com/cbad7nj for advice on how to get rid of this toxin in your life. I Need to Stop Drinking by Liz Hemingway.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi I’m Katja!

And this is how we do healthy in our family. Just REAL food. Simple. Easy. Gluten free. More about Savory Lotus

Follow Me on Instagram

❤️ happy friday • fridays are my hospital da ❤️ happy friday • fridays are my hospital day • i’ve been an RN for almost 17 years + still work very part time in Women’s Services with birthing mamas + their families • being an RN + also being a real food advocate, detox educator, and wellness warrior doesn’t always align • i work in a system that doesn’t look for root causes of illness • preventative practices and nutrition are rarely prioritized • my patient population has gotten sicker and sicker with women in their 20’s now having high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, thyroid issues, + more • how did we get here? 🤷‍♀️• how has medicine gotten so far away from real health? • why do people like me have to pay so much $$ out of pocket for integrative/functional medicine docs bc they are the ones looking at root cause + drainage/elimination? • i get so many messages every week from people who wish they could afford to get well 😕• or folks who say that their regular doc has no idea how to help them • if this is you, i get it • i’ve been there • we have gotten so far away from the basics • i wish i knew back when i first got sick all about drainage + elimination • i would have prioritized hydration 💧💧+ pooping 💩💩• I would have loved up my liver • i would have supported my lymph • i would have been in my sauna every day 💦💦• i would have dealt with my dental issues 😁 • i would have eliminated parasites 🪱🪱+ heavy metals in a good way • but now i know + my body is healing • and i’m here to share with anyone interested • healing is possible • we just have to take the first baby step • little by little • knowledge is power 💪 • let’s keep learning together ❤️❤️
🍋 🍋 LEMON POPPY SEED DONUTS • when life gi 🍋 🍋 LEMON POPPY SEED DONUTS • when life gives you a bag of lemons, you make the best of it • even though we prioritize healthy eating, there’s room for treats like these • we call it balance 😉 • baking is one of my favorite things to do with my little one👩‍🍳 • we’ve had a year solid of being home, distance learning, + missing being out in the world • baking is one of those small pockets of JOY that brightens our daily life ☀️☀️

🍋 🍋 light and fluffy (gluten and grain free) donuts dipped them in a sweet lemony glaze • the bright lemon flavor kinda adds a bit of sunshine to the day 🍋☀️🍋

🍋 🍋 recipe link in bio (and i linked the donut pan that i use in the post): https://www.savorylotus.com/lemon-poppy-seed-donuts-gluten-free-and-grain-free/
sauerkraut • love it? hate it? • it’s one of sauerkraut • love it? hate it? • it’s one of the easier + most cost effective ways to support your gut • i make it every couple of months • its easy once you understand the basics of fermentation • i have a step by step tutorial if you’re ready to dive in ✨✨

link to tutorial in bio : https://www.savorylotus.com/easy-sauerkraut-recipe/

what you’ll need:
cabbage
salt
1/2 gallon wide mouth mason jar (or you can use 2 wide mouth quart sized jars)
air-tight fermentation lid
🥕🌿🍠 veggie game strong today • crucifer 🥕🌿🍠 veggie game strong today • cruciferous vegetable = superfoods • this + sweet potato rounds + a big cup of bone broth is what’s up for dinner 

collard green
green cabbage
purple cabbage 
carrot 
tons of fresh ginger 

👉 and, yes, not everyone tolerates cruciferous vegetables • i didn’t used too • i’ve done a lot of work on my gut + digestion • and i still prefer them cooked as they are easier to digest • eat slowly • give thanks (gratitude has a positive effect on the nervous system) • chew well (so your body can release all the enzymes needed to digest your food) ❤️• it’s so so important to eat in a relaxed environment so the body can rest + digest • eating while in “hurry” mode leads to indigestion and poor absorption
Load More... Follow Me!

Follow Me on Pinterest

Don't Miss These!

  • One Bowl Banana Bread (gluten free + grain free)
  • dry heels, cracked heels, how to heal, DIY Easy Home Remedy for Dry Cracked Heels
  • Simple Coconut Flour Cake (gluten free, grain free, nut free, paleo) | savorylotus.com Simple Coconut Flour Cake (gluten and grain free, paleo)
  • Everyday Gluten Free Bread (dairy free + egg free)

Clean Swaps

Clean Swaps

My Cookbook!

My Cookbook!

Footer

Get More Recipes on Pinterest

Visit Savory Lotus' profile on Pinterest.

Get More Recipes on Facebook

The Savory Lotus on Facebook

Stay Connected

Copyright © 2021 Savory Lotus    ·    Affiliate Disclosure     Disclaimer     Privacy Policy     Terms of Service