Have You Ever Wondered?
Posted on August 4, 2021 1 Comment
Have You Ever Wondered?
Have you ever noticed when you are dealing with one system’s issues (kidneys, heart, digestive, skin, and others), you experience other symptoms “unrelated to the main issue?” For example, have you ever experienced heartburn during the day along with sleep issues at night? Also, think about a medication your healthcare provider prescribed you. It may have been for one particular problem, but you may have experienced other heart, kidney, and mentally related symptoms.
Every organ in your body is connected via blood vessels, nerves, chemicals (serotonin (mood, digestion, sleep), norepinephrine (mood), adrenalin (flight or fight chemical), GABA (calm chemical), melatonin (sleep-wake cycle), and others. What affects one highway of blood vessels and nerves affects other destinations (cells, organs, and systems). It is no different with your digestive system.
Your digestive health is related to what you do and think. If you are mentally stressed, those same flight or fight chemicals and hormones affect your digestive organs. Over time, the more you overwork your body (too much food, physical activity, or negative thinking and not enough food and physical activity), the more your liver, pancreas, stomach, and others stress out. We are never hurting someone more than ourselves when we don’t take care of ourselves.
There are no quick fixes, including diets, to attain optimal sustainable digestive health. But you can have a healthy relationship with yourself. When you are one with your body (meditation, yoga, or just spending quiet time with yourself), you know what to eat and what to do. You don’t need anyone telling you how to consistently take care of your body or use calculators and programs to tell you how much food to eat. These guides may help for some time, but we don’t need to depend on external devices.
If you are struggling with your digestive health, ask yourself what is the root of your unhealthy behaviors and symptoms? When you uncover the root of your behavior, then you can change from the inside out.
Make your health goals last by looking on the inside for answers.
To Your Best Health!
Timika
P.S. Do you want to know more about weathering through adversities and staying healthy? Then, sign up for my quarterly newsletters and join the community bent on healing from the inside out.
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How Are You Digesting Life?
Posted on August 3, 2021 Leave a Comment
Some say get over your childhood traumatic experiences (sexual abuse, parental neglect, violence, and others) ; whatever happened, happened and move forward. But the tools you were given in childhood is often how you process life until an awakening happens. At some point, you realize that things do not have to be as they are.
Often, our focus is on adults and their behaviors, but nothing occurs overnight. Over the years, good fruit (praise, affirmations, spiritual relationship with our Creator) compete with weeds (doubt, name-calling, abusive language, etc.) sewn. We reap both helpful fruit and unhealthy produce. But nothing happens overnight; change is possible.
How Can You Better Digest Your Past? Here are three ways to help you face your past.
- Meet yourself where you are. Your emotions and feelings are real. They are the inner workings of how you processed life. There is no need for feeling guilty about your anger and fear. Often, as you know, what you resist, will continue to show itself.
- Bring consciousness to what you are going through. Talk about it. Write about it. Share your emotions and feelings with someone who wants to listen and help. Seek emotional support from a qualified professional if you feel the need to and continue until you get what you need.
- Whatever pain you are experiencing does not have to be. You can chew your life experiences in small bites (steps) at a time so you can increase the absorption of your healthy nutrition (praise, being, spiritual awareness).
You are the Co-creator of your life. Create the life you want by being present with who you are. Accept all of your truths. And, every nourishment you take in affects every aspect of your life (emotional, financial, mental, physical, social, spiritual, etc.)
So, what’s really going on with your digestive issues (heartburn, indigestion, irritability, etc.)?
Make this moment and this lifetime great!
Timika
Wrap up First Week on Digestive Health – Create A Generational Love Cycle With Timika S Chambers
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Steps You Can Take To Improve Your Digestive Health
Posted on August 2, 2021 Leave a Comment
Off and on, over the years, I’ve had a few instances of abdominal discomfort. Usually, it was lying down after eating, eating something spicy, or other indigestion problems. I never attributed stomach issues to my childhood sexual abuse experience. I didn’t even know digestive issues were a potential consequence of childhood trauma.
But, in 2020, my stomach swelled as if I was at least three months pregnant and beyond a comfortable level. Later, a blood test revealed positive Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria associated with gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), stomach cancer, and other issues. I admit I was under a lot of stress, but the stress was self-induced. For most of my life, I had taken a spiritual approach to life experiences, seeing life experiences as something to learn from.
But, when my career did a 360 in part because of our move to Oregon, I took a more victim approach to life. After my abuse experience, I let anger (at my father’s interference with my mother becoming a nurse), a broken compass to my life’s work, and the unconscious need to redeem myself lead me down the nursing path. And, ever since my Saint Louis apartment days, I wanted time to figure out what I really wanted to do.
As you know, nothing we do is in vain, and I learned so much about the human body, and I have several years of teaching nursing subjects, including pharmacology, under my belt. In other words, nursing ended up being a stepping stone to my life’s work. I loved teaching about the different body systems, including the digestive system and Helicobacter pylori aka. H. pylori to my nursing students. Many of my students had never heard of H. pylori before and were excited they knew something many others did not. Even some were tested and felt better because they knew what caused their stomach discomfort was.
When I started having stomach issues in 2020, I knew stress and H. pylori were the causes. But, spiritually, I felt attacked in different directions instead of learning from life, taking time to rest, and allowing circumstances and people to be as they are.
Common symptoms of H. pylori infection include bloating, nausea, and stomach pain. And, if you were to research many digestive issues (diabetes, GERD, IBS, stomach cancer, and others), stress is a common factor. Our body is paying the price for our fast-paced lifestyle.
I couldn’t finish the medication regime because of an allergic reaction to some of the medications. Usually, the treatment for H.pylori treatment is. But, I could control my stress, and eventually, that is what I did.
Two Bible verses came to me during 2020 during my stressful state…One was you do not have because you do not ask. I asked God for healing. Second, I visualized being able to enjoy food again. I avoided spicy foods. I accepted my circumstances and did the best I could with what I had. And, I remembered many of the teachings I had as a child, including being more present with nature.
A major part of my stress was not digesting my life as it was. For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to enjoy life and believed there was a life flow. And, I am on the path to enjoying each day for what it is. Therefore, my digestive system is no longer out of order. I accept my life and where I am today.
This month, August 2021, I will focus on digestive health. Of course, I am adding a spiritual twist to digestive health because we are more than our bodies. However, our body deserves the best treatment possible to do the work we came to do and so we can have life more abundantly.
Here are some thoughts to consider going forward.
- Know that your digestive system, like your entire body, is wise and works together for your good, no matter your experiences.
- Your digestive system will show you what foods and life experiences fuel it or lessen its effectiveness.
- Your digestive system relies on certain chemicals (neurotransmitters, vitamins, minerals, and other biochemicals to work efficiently and effectively.
- Your digestive system works together with all of your other systems.
- We have the support we need to live life more abundantly (John 10:10).
So, how can you improve your digestion health?
- Pay attention to your digestive symptoms. For example, what brings you bloating, excessive gas, stomach cramps, indigestion, and an overall unwell feeling. Some people have digestive symptoms when they are in contact with other people.
- Eat your last meal two-three hours before you go to bed. Digestion can take three hours, so laying down after eating can interfere with the absorption of nutrients your body needs.
- Drink plenty of water. Speak with your healthcare provider about how much water you should be drinking. Many experts now say drink 1/2 your body weight.
- Know that eating huge meals at one time can strain your digestive system. Your body has to deal with the overload of nutrients, including sugar from carbs and fruits.
- Try Hara Hachi bu. No. It’s not another dance routine. It’s a Japanese term for eating when you are 80% full. Many of us grew up under the rule of cleaning our plate before dessert, other activities, or just because our parents said so. We don’t have to clean our plates or overload our system. We know overeating can cause other health issues, including overweight, obesity, diabetes, and others. We can change our internal programming to reflect what we now know.
- Know that much of the stress we have is self-induced. One critical step in managing stress is controlling the stories we tell ourselves about our lives and the people in them.
- Journal your symptoms and discuss them with your healthcare provider. And always feel comfortable seeking a second opinion.
- Be active. Your stomach cells and the overall digestive system requires oxygen and rich blood.
Okay, all. I’ll share more information on digestive health throughout the week. Until then, make the best of each moment and your lifetime. Be still and know you don’t always have to be busy. Enjoy the gift of life as it is.
P.S. Do you want to know more about weathering through adversities and staying healthy? Then, sign up for my quarterly newsletters and join the community bent on healing from the inside out, reuniting with our purpose, and achieving and sustaining our best health possible.
