Health Empowerment in Autoimmune Disease

Don’t you wish that being healthy was easy? You could do all the things you love without it impacting how you feel. What if I told you that you could? All you needed to change was your perspective? I may be oversimplifying things I realise, although I believe in the power of your mind to help improve health, and in this article, I will share why.

Knowledge is power

We live in a world of information overload, especially regarding health. I know it can be frustrating with the many opinions and contrasting advice from health experts, which can make you feel like giving up on your health entirely. 

The truth is your health is different to mine, as we have different genetics, environments and upbrings, and as a result, a one size fits all approach doesn’t work when it comes to health. That’s why the best thing you can do is learn about yourself and explore what foods and lifestyles are best for you. 

You probably already know eating a wholefood diet with plenty of healthy fats, good quality protein, and an abundance of vegetables is good for you. However, do you know the specific foods that trigger a reaction for you, or whether you may be more susceptible to certain nutritional deficiencies? 

Having adverse events in your life may have rewired your response to stress so that you have less tolerance for it than others. There are lots more you can learn about yourself as well. When you start to listen to your body, you will find it gives you signs when things are amiss.  

With this knowledge, you will start to understand where you need support nutritionally and from a lifestyle perspective. This understanding of yourself will help you feel empowered to start making positive decisions for your health.

Manifestations of your Mindset

Intriguingly, how you think about yourself and your state of mind, beliefs, and attitude can change your physiological state. Healing through the mind-body connection has been understood since Greek ancient medicine, so focusing on nourishing your mindset, is vital to better health and longevity and preventing chronic illness. 

Studies have shown that negative thoughts, anger, and bitterness can suppress the immune system. As a result, it is not prepared to protect you against infection and may malfunction, leading to autoimmune disease. By breaking free from harmful thinking and changing your perspective, you are putting yourself in the best place possible to be at your best. 

Food and mood are intrinsically linked, and you can only truly overcome a gloomy outlook by nurturing both. I struggled with fluctuating emotions for years, reasoning that it related to my thinking alone. However, when I removed trigger foods, such as gluten, from my diet, my mindset improved. I then worked on my perspective and emotional health without this food-related blocker. 

Faith in Yourself 

If you don’t believe in your mind that you can better your health, your body won’t either. You have to have faith in what you are doing to take strides in your health and wellness. Without trusting your diet and lifestyle choices, you are more likely to return to your old ways (potentially bad habits). 

The pursuit of health is an ongoing one, and it may take time for you to achieve your goals, but if you stick with it and progress, you will get there. 

You may fall off the wagon occasionally, but it’s about getting back on track that counts.  It doesn’t mean you have failed, as this way of thinking is unhelpful for long-term success. Focusing on progress over perfection and knowing that you can regain your health is the worthiest approach. Ultimately, you succeed with each step you take to improve your health. 

If there is one thing for you to take away from this, it is to know that the person who holds the most power to change your health is you! 

I searched for answers to understand my health problems for years, and when I realised that I had the key to unlocking better health for myself, I began to see meaningful improvements in my health. 

If you are looking for ways to improve your health, the first step is the most powerful, which is why I now offer a 30-minute health assessment and consultation, First Step to Health. It includes a 360-degree review of your health history, current health status and health goals. The coaching will give you direction on areas of your health to focus on and suggestions on the next steps. If you fancy taking that first step, you can book here.

And if you have an autoimmune disease or chronic illness and are living with daily fatigue, join my 6-week Energy Enhancer program starting 1 August 2022. Over the six-week program, you will learn how to boost your energy, live without crashes, and regain your strength, so you can do all the activities you love again without the fog of fatigue. You can join here.

If you would like to learn about some simple habits to transform your health, read my other article here.