Guest post by Catherine Garant
Sometimes it takes a major life-changing event to wake us up to the fact that something needs to change, needs to improve. It could be a significant relationship ending, a sudden job loss, a newly discovered serious health issue, or simply being stressed out to our breaking point.
The difference between surviving and thriving is our choice. Our choice is what we do about it. It is taking ownership of our part in what has just happened. Self-awareness is always Step # 1. We intentionally need to do better, once we know better.
In my case, I was stressed to the max! Actively being ‘overly responsible’ for everyone in my life, working a straight commission job that could easily bleed into seven days a week, recently burying my father after a long journey from a major stroke, and relocating my own matrimonial home back into my childhood neighbourhood. Then immediately taking on the huge task of moving my mother out of her family home of 32 years into a full-time nursing care facility, due to her progressing Alzheimer’s disease, then emptying and selling my childhood home.
I was taking care of everyone but me. I was so busy and so stressed, I didn’t even realize that I was three months pregnant. I had a miscarriage and my world crashed. That ‘event’ was the start of my healing journey – physically.
With the help of a dedicated naturopathic doctor, I immediately began my illumination and education regarding what I was putting into my body. I slowly removed the malnourishment of fast foods, white sugar, white flour, coffee, Coca-Cola, and junk snack foods. I also gradually reduced unnecessary pharmaceutical drugs, cigarettes, and recreational drugs.It is astonishing the damage we do to ourselves on a regular basis.
I learned to add a variety of fresh whole nutritious foods to my diet and to drink lots of alkaline water, 100% fruit juices (not from concentrate) and herbal teas. When we treat food like good medicine for our bodies, symptoms like: diarrhea, constipation, headaches, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, bloating and flatulence can be eliminated.
I will admit, it did take time, educational effort and a strong desire, to slowly change my old unhealthy eating habits. This is not a diet, it is a lifestyle choice. Eventually, my ‘new health guiding principle’ became…if there was no real nutritional value in it…it was not passing my lips. I realized, I did have the power, the choice to decide what entered into my system!
I decided to make healthy choices everyday going forward. Try adding one new nutritious food item into your diet, while at the same time intentionally eliminating an old unhealthy choice. Do your best, especially at home. With time your efforts truly do make a positive difference.
At seventy years of age, I am continuing to receive compliments about how healthy I look and how much energy and vitality I still possess. Dr. Visser recently did an analysis of all my laboratory blood results. His concluding comment to me was “People would be jealous of your numbers.” His words put a smile on my face.
My miscarriage was a blessing in disguise. Looking back, I am grateful I chose to do what was necessary to change and improve my eating habits. The results have been genuinely rewarding! If I can do it, so can you.
Catherine Garant
