processed foods, red meat, bacon, chips, cookies, pastries, bread, pasta, white rice, sweet carbonated beverages, alcohol, and fried foods.
Five things you can do right now to help balance your hormones and reduce inflammation:
- Get adequate sleep – what is rest anyway? In today’s culture, sleep for some has become taboo. People searching for success have accepted the expression, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead!” But the truth is sleep deprivation is quite damaging to our health. Conversely, getting enough sleep allows the body to rejuvenate, heal, and rest for mental and physical acuteness. It’s also imperative to note that simply lying in bed and closing our eyes isn’t “sleep.” We have to ensure that we’re getting quality sleep – the kind when we awake, we’re not sluggish but refreshed.
- Manage gut health – they say good health starts in the gut – the real question is why? An imbalanced gut can cause many issues. When we have more harmful bacteria in our guts vs. good bacteria, our bodies store more fat, struggle to regulate blood sugar, and do not absorb the necessary nutrients from foods or supplements we consume.
- Reduce stress – stress has been known to manifest symptoms of sickness that isn’t there. Stress alone can be detrimental; some might call it “the silent killer.” When managing our stress levels, we ensure that our mental, emotional, and physical health functions as intended.
- Exercise regularly – exercise is a stress reducer. Not only does it reduce stress, but it also helps to manage a healthy weight, improve mental stability, and balance hormones.
- Reduce sugar intake – the truth is, this high fructose corn syrup and sugar are hidden in many of our favorite foods and drinks, from the cheapest products to those listed as the “healthiest.” Eliminating or reducing sugar alone is a solid start for us being healthier!
RELATED: 5 Foods That Cause Inflammation
MS is an inflammatory disease. It’s also a disease of the central nervous system. Can we live healthy lives with MS? Sure. Will there be challenges? Absolutely! But the good news is, we’re already ahead because we can shift how MS impacts us with a healthy diet and exercise. As we move forward, let’s think of moderation as the key to a more prosperous lifestyle – one where MS doesn’t destroy us, but we destroy it.