Determinants of Health #7 Meaningful occupation

You don’t have to be a doctor to have important work. It does not even have to be paid to be a meaningful occupation. Occupation literally means how we spend our time – how we occupy ourselves. As a social species, human beings naturally seek out ways to engage with the world and others.

How do you give your time to meaningful pursuits? Volunteer work, following a certain career path, parenting, church or school involvement, fostering children, adopting pets from animal shelters, giving blood, the possibilities are endless! 

When I ask my patients what they do for work, I follow it up with “Do you enjoy it?” But really the better question is – “Is it meaningful for you?” And it does not have to be your main gig. With the Internet as a powerful tool, many people will create a “side gig” that involves something they are passionate about, a creative pursuit or some form of giving back.

Challenge yourself to answer the question: “What excites me?” and see where that leads. Not everyone becomes a rich, famous or powerful person in their endeavors but we all have the ability to reach out and positively impact others.

Naturopathic doctors take a comprehensive look at your health. We ask about the many factors that influence health, which we term “The determinants of health.” Taking a patient-centered approach lets us build a comprehensive plan to help patients achieve their health goals.  

Are you looking for a new kind of partnership with your primary care provider? If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my bio to get in touch. I offer free 15-minute consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Convenient telehealth appointments are available from the comfort of your own home.

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #healing #drjesskeating  #willowclinic #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #foodismedicine #healthylife #health #workit #bestjob

Determinants of Health #6 Vitamin R and Vitamin N

It’s Sunday! Traditionally a day of rest, my Sunday posts are dedicated to “Vitamin R.” In naturopathic philosophy, Vitamin R means rest, recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation. It is just as essential to good health as deep sleep, exercise, meaningful relationships and healthy food. Each Sunday I post about things that help me rest and rejuvenate. It is very important to cultivate these habits and hobbies. I cannot tell you how many of my patients draw a total blank when I ask them: “What do you do for fun? Or for “you time”? Or as a hobby?” Make sure you have an answer to these questions.

Closely related to Vitamin R is Vitamin N - time spent in Nature. In our modern world, we don’t always make time to be outdoors. Spending time in nature helps to literally ground us, calms the nervous system and can even lower blood pressure and cortisol (our main stress hormone). It can be as simple as gardening, walking in a local park, checking out a forest preserve, camping, etc. Make sure to get outside!

As a soothing hobby, I love to knit. I don’t mind that it makes me seem like an old lady. Knitting is a calming craft that I can do after a hectic day. Here I am making a 100% cotton wash cloth. Handmade crafts make very thoughtful gifts!

Knitting has benefits beyond calming the nervous system and slowing down our busy lives. Numerous studies have shown positive benefits to brain function, focus and even slowing arthritis by keeping your joints healthy. Trying new things is a crucial way you can keep your brain growing at any age.

Do the things you love. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. 

Are you looking for a new kind of partnership with your primary care provider? Check out my website or bio to get in touch. I offer 15-minute complimentary consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Convenient telehealth appointments are available from the comfort of your home. 

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #healing #drjesskeating #willowcnm #willowclinic #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #foodismedicine #vitaminr #selfcare #knitting #nature

Determinants of Health #5 Movement

This topic incorporates many aspects of physical well-being. We need both movement and rest, strength and flexibility, cardio and muscle work. Our posture and activities of daily living have a huge effect on our physical body as well.

Talking about our body includes our posture as we sit, stand and walk throughout the day. How much time are we active versus sitting? Many of us commute and work at sedentary jobs.

“Exercise” is a very broad term that encompasses many ways to be healthy. Lifting weights builds strength, which makes for stronger bones, better balance and faster metabolism. But strength needs to be balanced with flexibility by adding yoga or a stretching regimen.

Cardio workouts strengthen the heart and lungs and also burn calories.

All exercise can have a beneficial impact on sleep, mood and weight management.

Try to keep your body active all day. Look into a sit-stand desk for work, take frequent breaks to go get water or make tea, park farther away (even in the winter!)

If you struggle with consistency in physical activity, join a class or find an accountability buddy. Working with a fitness trainer or reputable teacher can also be very helpful in building a new habit.

Naturopathic doctors take a comprehensive look at your health. We ask about the many factors that influence health, which we term “The determinants of health.” Taking a patient-centered approach lets us build a comprehensive plan to help patients achieve their health goals.

Are you looking for a new kind of partnership with your primary care provider? If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my bio to get in touch. I offer free 15-minute consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Convenient telehealth appointments are available from the comfort of your own home.

 #naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #healing #drjesskeating  #willowclinic #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #foodismedicine #healthylife #health #fitness #feelbetter

Determinants of Health #4 Sleep

Oh sweet sleep! This is such an important part of our mental and physical well-being that it gets a whole day to itself. Sleep needs change as we age, ranging from 12-18 hours when we are very little to 7-9 hours in adulthood. Many of my patients are chronically sleep deprived and they quickly learn that getting consistent, deep, restorative sleep can be life-changing!

Chronic sleep deprivation builds up over time. Studies show that getting less than 7 hours of sleep for 2 weeks leaves people functioning at the same level as if they had not slept for two days straight! And since our focus and alertness decline slowly, we may not even be aware of how poorly we are functioning.

Sleep is where the body heals and repairs itself, it literally washes the waste product out of your brain and is crucial for every system in the body. Mental focus, mood and the immune system are particularly affected by poor sleep (quality or quantity).

Another modern invention that disturbs good sleep is shift work. The WHO (world health organization) recognizes shift work as a known human carcinogen. This means working nights and sleeping during the day increases your risk for cancer. Scientists think this is because daytime sleeping does not result in the same production of melatonin, which acts as a powerful antioxidant in the body. There’s no way around it: humans are meant to sleep when it is dark outside. Disrupting that disturbs our internal clock.

Naturopathic doctors take a comprehensive look at your health. We ask about the many factors that influence health, which we term “The determinants of health.” Taking a patient-centered approach lets us build a comprehensive plan to help patients achieve their health goals.

Are you looking for a new kind of partnership with your primary care provider? If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my bio to get in touch. I offer free 15-minute consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Convenient telehealth appointments are available from the comfort of your own home.

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #healing #drjesskeating  #willowclinic #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #foodismedicine #healthylife #health #sleep #feelbetter

Determinants of Health #3 Nutrition

I could probably talk about food and digestion for hours! Obviously what we put into our body all day every day has an impact on our overall health.

This determinant includes what we ingest as well as how well we digest. If you have severely compromised digestion, it does not matter how well you eat if your body cannot absorb and utilize it.

This topic is so dense that I will stick to a few basic points.

1.    What you eat matters. Period.

2.    Diet is everything you put into your mouth. I approach food in terms of sustainable lifestyle changes instead of fad, temporary or crash “diets.”

3.    There is no “best diet” for everyone – I work with patients to optimize their diet based on their individual health needs, age, activity level, cultural background and food preferences.

4.    Changing what you eat is a gradual and challenging process. Food is intertwined with our history, memories, convenience, access, knowledge and means. Be patient with the process.

5.    Keep an open mind and you may be astonished at the changes you notice. I have used dietary changes to benefit a wide array of conditions – gut health, headaches, sinus/allergy issues, menstrual pain, migraines, sleep issues, anxiety, depression, arthritis and more!

Naturopathic doctors take a comprehensive look at your health. We ask about the many factors that influence health, which we term “The determinants of health.” Taking a patient-centered approach lets us build a comprehensive plan to help patients achieve their health goals.

Are you looking for a new kind of partnership with your primary care provider? If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my bio to get in touch. I offer free 15-minute consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Convenient telehealth appointments are available from the comfort of your own home.

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #healing #drjesskeating#willowclinic #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #foodismedicine #healthylife #health #goodfood #nodiets

Determinants of Health #2 Hydration

This is such a fundamental determinant of our health that it is easy to forget about it. The body is approximately 60% water so it bears remembering! Water is essential for many of the routine day-to-day tasks that your body carries out like producing energy and disposing of waste products. Water is crucial on a macro level as well as it influences stool quality, bowel movements, skin elasticity and texture as well as ability to focus. The brain is largely water and inadequate intake is a common cause of headaches. Water is a key component of joint fluid and keeps our joints working smoothly.

 About 50% of our blood volume is water. Blood is like a superhighway that delivers oxygen and nutrients throughout the body as well as taking away waste products.  

 How much water do you consume? What other beverages do you drink throughout the day? Do you feel hydrated?

 I typically recommend about 60-80 oz of hydrating fluids for the average person. This amount goes up with increased size (height, weight, muscle mass), physical activity, climate (hot and dry) and season. Hydrating fluids include: electrolyte mix, herbal tea, coconut water, nut milks, lemonade, juice and of course pure, clean water.

Naturopathic doctors take a comprehensive look at your health. We ask about the many factors that influence health, which we term “The determinants of health.” Taking a patient-centered approach lets us build a partnership together to help patients achieve their health goals.

 Are you looking for a new kind of partnership with your primary care provider? If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my bio to get in touch. I offer free 15-minute consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Convenient telehealth appointments are available from the comfort of your own home.

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #healing #drjesskeating  #willowclinic #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #foodismedicine #healthylife #health #water #waterislife

Determinants of Health. #1 Breath

What is the thing that will kill you the fastest when deprived of it? While some of you may be tempted to say "love", physiologically it is air. When it comes to survival, there is a commonly accepted "rule of threes." You can survive for 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 hours without shelter (in harsh conditions), 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food. The point of this (beyond the fact that I love survival facts) is to highlight the importance of breath.

Some of the ways that breath gets disrupted are respiratory disorders: Asthma, COPD, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, collapsed lung, etc. But even without lung disease, this determinant is often less than optimal. As a society, we tend to consciously or unconsciously “suck in our gut.” This means disrupting the normal movement of the diaphragm – the large muscle that drops down to open up the lungs and allow them to fully inflate. It turns us into “chest breathers” where we raise our shoulders to take a deep breath and this gives the lungs much less room to move.

A great experiment is to get a pulse oximeter – a small device that clips onto a finger and shows pulse and oxygen saturation. Our blood should maintain a 98-100% saturation of oxygen but this dips if we are not breathing well or have a lung disorder. I often have patients watch as their oxygen saturation goes from 95% to 98% with a couple of deep belly breaths. I frequently train patients how to properly breathe again. Many patients are surprised that something so fundamental like breathing could be functioning sub-optimally.

Breath affects our mood and energy levels – without enough oxygen, you may feel fatigued or un-motivated. A lack of deep breathing can also cause or worsen feelings of anxiety.

Naturopathic doctors take a comprehensive look at your health. We ask about the many factors that influence health which we term “The determinants of health.” Taking a patient-centered approach lets us build a partnership together to help patients achieve their health goals.

 Are you looking for a new kind of partnership with your primary care provider? If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my bio to get in touch. I offer free 15-minute consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Convenient telehealth appointments are available from the comfort of your own home.

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #healing #drjesskeating  #willowclinic #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #foodismedicine #healthylife #health #breath

She is You Contributor Announcement

I’m so excited to be a contributor for She Is You, a community for women who are ready to create the life they’ve always wanted. I’ll be writing about Midlife Health every month, so take a look at the site to see what’s happening.

>>>https://sheisyoumag.com/

Here are some of my articles that have already been published:

• In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month: 10 tips to prevent and beat breast cancer

• Why is October breast cancer awareness month?

• Is it time to get a mammogram?

• Have some healthy Halloween treats on hand to indulge your cravings

• Your guide to staying healthy this cold and flu season

• Is it possible to stick to your health goals while still enjoying the holidays?

• Year-end medical to-do list

Naturopathic Principles #6 Prevention

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I know, it’s corny but so true! I can’t resist a good adage especially when it conveys wisdom.  

Natural medicine seeks to optimize health and wellness by preventing disease whenever possible. This includes taking into account personal risk factors, family history, genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors. This principle also encompasses the idea of reversing a disease course before it gets too entrenched.

Many chronic diseases have precursor states. You may have heard of pre-diabetes or pre-hypertension (high blood pressure). These early disease states are the best time to use dietary, lifestyle and targeted supplementation to reverse early physiological changes. Unfortunately, conventional medical providers usually do not have the training or the ability to offer longer visit times to provide the necessary patient education.  

A lot of medical doctors are now adding continuing education courses in functional medicine to try to get a better grasp of highly effective diet and lifestyle modification. But a weekend seminar is no match for spending four long years steeped in these principles. Functional medicine is basically a re-boot of naturopathic medicine.

Does this principle resonate with your own health beliefs? Are you looking for a new kind of partnership with your primary care provider? If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my bio to get in touch. I offer free 15-minute consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Convenient telehealth appointments are available from the comfort of your own home.

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #healing #drjesskeating  #willowclinic #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #foodismedicine #healthylife #health #prevention

Naturopathic Principles #5 Doctor as teacher

This is one of my favorite parts of being a naturopathic doctor! Doctor as teacher is what truly sets apart holistic practitioners from a conventional medical provider. I get to build a therapeutic alliance with my patients, educate them about their health and give them lasting tools to establish and maintain great health. I spend a considerable amount of time in every appointment but especially the initial intake explaining things and answering questions. I want my patients to have an understanding of their bodies and the why behind my treatment recommendations. The Latin root for doctor is docere which actually means teacher.

Through patient education and empowerment, naturopathic doctors partner with our patients and encourage self-empowerment. I support patients taking ownership of their health. I love patients who have lots of questions because then I know they are engaged in the process. I frequently refer to this as a health journey and there is lot of learning along the way.

Does this principle resonate with your own health beliefs? Are you looking for a new kind of partnership with your primary care provider? If you are ready to start or revitalize your health journey, you are in the right spot! Check out my bio to get in touch. I offer free 15-minute consultation calls to answer your initial questions. Convenient telehealth appointments are available from the comfort of your own home.

#naturalmedicine #naturopathicmedicine #healing #drjesskeating #willowclinic #telehealth #holisticmedicine #healthjourney #foodismedicine #healthylife #health #ownyourhealth