What is Natural Living & Why Should I Care?

Q: Do I need to eat clean 100% of the time?

No. I don't recommend trying to... it's not sustainable. You do need to decide for yourself, what kind of eating pattern you choose (clean 90% of the time, 80%, 70%) is up to you and your goals. Just remember the less processed food or chemicals in your diet the better.

Q: Do I have to stay away from all the forbidden foods?

Well yes and no... it depends on your goals. It's not so much about the forbidden foods... it's about empowering you and your body in reaching your goals. You need to decide what your goals are and then figure out what foods help you move toward your goals, what foods are neutral, and what foods are best to minimize or stay away from. It's different for each person.

Are you new to natural living?

You may realize that living a natural lifestyle is becoming more popular as a way to improve overall health and well-being, but do you know all of the benefits that come with it?

In this post, we’ll explore the advantages of natural living from a holistic perspective and provide tips to help you live a more natural healthy lifestyle. One that empowers you to improve your mental and physical health naturally, without needing to rely on conventional medicine.

What is natural living?

In simple terms, natural living is when a person makes sustainable and non-toxic lifestyle choices that are better for your health and the environment. In other words, natural living aims to live in harmony with and as close to nature as possible.

It may sound hippie dippy, but natural living is more about getting back to basics of eating real whole foods, avoiding toxins and highly processed foods that don’t resemble anything in nature, with a focus on taking care of yourself and making the world a better place to live.

What does natural living mean?

Living naturally can mean different things, depending on who you ask. For some, the primary goal is to reduce their environmental impact as much as possible to preserve the earth, with an awareness that their actions also affect human health.

For me, the natural healthy mom coach, living naturally means more than just making sustainable and non-toxic product choices. It’s about building a life that is conscious of how our choices affect our well-being and the world around us.

Furthermore it’s about surrendering to our Creator, and trusting that He’s provided everything we need within all of His creation – including our body’s incredible, natural healing power. When we faithfully tend to the resources He’s granted us, we can calmly and confidently persevere on the journey to wellness and wholeness.

It’s an opportunity to experience the joy and the power of connection with God, as He intended.

Where does conventional medicine come into natural living?

There is certainly a place for conventional medicine and I think Chris Kresser sums it up nicely in his book, Unconventional Medicine:

“Our current medical model is based more on managing disease and suppressing symptoms than it is on preventing and reversing disease or promoting health.”
“Conventional medicine is structured to address trauma, acute infection, and end-of-life care, not keep people healthy.”
“It is incredibly effective in acute and trauma care…”

If I get into an accident or have some other emergency, I want to be taken to a hospital!

The problem is that modern medicine has created a pill popping society that has lost touch with what it truly means to be healthy. So much of conventional medicine revolves around suppressing symptoms which actually has contributed to the rise of chronic disease. The drugs that are sometimes prescribed for symptoms often have numerous uncomfortable side effects, which can include dependency, damage to our organs, and even death.

Why is natural living important?

There are a number of reasons why living naturally is important if you want to take back your power and transform your mental & physical health.

1) Your body is designed to heal itself!

In non-life threatening situations it doesn’t need drugs, surgery, or anything else that conventional medicine has to offer. Modern medicine can mask symptoms and make them harder to treat in the long run.

For example we have been conditioned into believing that all fevers are dangerous, when in reality it’s a natural defense mechanism that our bodies employ to fight disease. In other words, in most cases your body doesn’t need medication to reduce the fever. You can skip the Tylenol, using it is actually counterproductive or worse.

2) Conventional medicine can lead to more problems

Unnecessary intervention into a vastly complex system like the human body can lead to more problems down the road, such as increased resistance to medications and even antibiotic-resistant superbugs that are now killing thousands of people every year.

The human body is an incredibly complex system! It’s just better to let it do its thing and give it all the support you can.

3) Natural health looks at the whole person

Rather than focusing on one specific disease and just treating symptoms natural health looks at how the body works as a whole and seeks to discover the source of the problem.

4) Natural remedies work without side effects

There’s a reason why natural health is becoming increasingly more popular… Natural remedies can often be just as effective or even more effective than pharmaceuticals. Which means you don’t have to rely on conventional medicine!

5) Pharmaceutical drugs can be dangerous

A natural healthy lifestyle keeps your body free from excess drugs so that your body can function as God intended. It also means that you won’t have to worry about adverse drug reactions, which are now the 4th leading cause of death in the United States.

How to get started with natural living

If you’ve read this far I’m guessing you want to change your lifestyle, but you don’t know how. Or maybe you’re thinking, “I’ve tried to change my habits many times but failed… I don’t have the willpower to change.” Or perhaps you realize some of your habits may not be all that healthy, but you don’t want to change. “It’s only one drink with dinner. I need it to unwind.” Sound familiar?

Behavior change is hard. I understand. But I’m here to tell you, it’s possible if you follow these 6 simple steps:

1) Change your mind

To change your behavior, the first thing you need to change is your mind. Most people see themselves as changing when they stop doing something. Being able to stop unhealthy behaviors is important, however it first takes a mental change.

2) Set an intention

You’ve got to decide that YOU are going to take 100% responsibility for yourself and your health. This is a pretty big step, but the most important one. It will keep you going in one direction or another depending on where you set your focus. If your intention is positive and uplifting, then that’s where your focus and energy will go and the outcome will be to your benefit. If it’s negative and destructive, well… you can guess what happens.

3) Find your WHY

This is huge! You have to understand why this matters to you. Once you identify the reasons or “why” it will help you move forward with a sense of purpose and help give you a vision to strive toward that is bigger than yourself.

4) Find a support system

Without anyone to keep you accountable or cheer you on, change can feel impossible. You need someone who is willing to support you through this journey no matter what. Someone who may even give you tough love when you need it! Not someone who is going to enable your bad habits or sabotage your efforts.

5) Make a plan

If you went for a week without planning anything, how far do you think you would get? Probably not too far. Being spontaneous is fun sometimes… however, if you want to make lasting change then you need to plan for it. A good plan is one that focuses on setting small achievable goals and then building on them.

6) Stick to your plan

This is all there is too it. I know, it’s easier said then done! However, once you begin taking action on your plan, you’ll gain momentum as you move towards establishing healthy habits. Most importantly, celebrate your daily wins and it will begin to feel easier.

Tips for success in living a natural healthy lifestyle

Eat proper nutrition.
Exercise daily.
Get proper sleep.
Drink more water.
Detox your body.
Reduce chemicals in your home.
Use natural remedies.

Set clear boundaries.
Spend time with people you care about.
Pay attention to your thoughts/language.
Get outside in nature daily.
Write in a gratitude journal daily.
Discover your purpose and pursue it.
Pray & read scripture daily.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, the natural healthy lifestyle is science based.

Unfortunately there are many websites who try to give natural health a bad name. They say it’s not based on real science, they spread misinformation and use words to sow confusion. However, it is recognized for it’s importance internationally by scientific health organizations, like The National Institute of Health (NIH).

Europe and the United States have roughly a third of the population participating in some form of natural healthcare. For Australia, that number is even higher at 70% of the population joining in on natural health care modalities.

Absolutely not. The naturally healthy lifestyle is not about deprivation, it’s about giving your body what it needs, which is a wide variety of foods, even your favorite desserts and indulgences, but you must eat them in the right quantities at the right time to avoid sabotaging your health.

No. I don’t recommend trying to… it’s not sustainable. You do need to decide for yourself, what kind of eating pattern you choose (clean 90% of the time, 80%, 70%) is up to you and your goals. Just remember the less processed food or chemicals in your diet the better.

No. Eating right is not about diets or following a certain plan. It’s all about getting back to the way food was meant to be—whole, fresh and nutrient dense. Use common sense when selecting quality foods, and listening to your body… be aware of how certain foods make you feel.

Well yes and no… it depends on your goals. It’s not so much about the forbidden foods… it’s about empowering you and your body in reaching your goals. You need to decide what your goals are and then figure out what foods help you move toward your goals, what foods are neutral, and what foods are best to minimize or stay away from. It’s different for each person.

Most people experience an improvement in the way they feel mentally & physically when transitioning to a natural healthy lifestyle. You may notice that you have more energy and mental clarity than ever before. Also, by eating fresh and nourishing foods your body begins to heal itself of chronic pain and disease.

The same food you’re eating! That’s one of the many benefits of a healthy family lifestyle. Kids are much more likely to be naturally healthy if they have access to proper nourishment and if healthy habits are instilled in them from a young age.

The last thing you need to know about natural living

I hope you find the information in this post inspiring. It may feel overwhelming at first, but don’t let that keep you from taking action.

As you begin to adopt these practices you’ll be on your way to taking back control of your health and wellbeing. And you’ll realize that it’s not only possible to live a lifestyle that doesn’t rely on conventional medicine and pharmaceuticals, but it’s also more beneficial to your physical and mental health.

What area do you struggle with most? How can I support you? Let me know in the comments.