5 Foundational Pieces in Your Healing Journey

You may have started your healing journey years ago… or you may have started it days ago. When you start on your healing journey doesn’t matter. What matters is making sure these 5 foundational pieces are a part of your healing journey: Sleep, Food Intake, Hydration, Lifestyle, and Communication.

Keep reading below to learn more about the 5 foundational pieces in your healing journey.

1. Sleep

It's no secret that your body needs sleep. Sleep is the backbone of any healing journey. If you are not getting adequate sleep then you may be at a higher risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks, obesity, depression, and impaired immune system function. 

Sleep is important for many different roles in your body like your body’s ability to repair cells, restore energy levels, allow hormone production, and promote muscle protein synthesis. 

When you are sleeping, your brain stores new information and flushes out the toxins to make sure you are ready to go the following morning. Without adequate time asleep and high quality sleep, your body may not be able to heal like it should.

2. Food Intake

Eating enough to give your body the energy and “safety” it needs to repair itself is a critical part of your healing journey. Everyone can be at different stages in the healing journey but one thing is the same: when you are in a calorie deficit your body is not getting all of the nourishment it needs to move in the direction you may want it to go during your healing journey. 

While eating enough is fundamental to healing, the quality of the food you are eating is also important. Filling your plate with micronutrient dense foods to keep you nourished will help you get your vitamins and minerals you need for your healing journey. 

3. Hydration

It should be no surprise that hydration is important during your healing journey. Chronic dehydration can lead to many unwanted issues like reduced kidney function, frequent headaches, muscle cramping, nausea, and dizziness. 

Drinking enough water daily allows your body to regulate your body temperature, prevent infections, deliver nutrients to cells, lubricate joints, and keep your organs functioning.

Adequate hydration can also improve your sleep quality, mood, and cognition. A helpful tip to help you drink plenty of water daily is to use a straw and carry a larger water bottle with you. 

4. Lifestyle

Lifestyle shifts are a normal part of the healing journey. Usually when you notice that there are issues with your gut, hormones, or other issues in your body, chances are you may have been doing things to set your body up in a less than optimal position for your health. 

It is important to remember that your body needs help and you will need to support it on your healing journey through better lifestyle choices.

Lifestyle shifts during a healing journey can include increased movement of your body, positive changes to your sleep habits, reduction in consumption of foods that may be interfering with your healing journey, and changes in employment or other personal aspects of your life. 

5. Communication

When I am working with people on their healing journey, I noticed that communication is the foundational piece in their journey where they tend to drop the ball. Lack of communication with their health care team or provider is a common habit I see that impacts healing journeys. 

When on a healing journey, it is important to stay in touch with the providers that made recommendations for modifying your nutrition habits, encouraging lifestyle changes, or using supplements. 

If you don’t stay in touch with your providers, then they are not able to make any changes to your healing journey or monitor your progress. Usually, lack of follow up results in people needing more help in the future.

Honest communication with your providers about how you are feeling and about your progress on your healing journey is the best way to get the feedback and recommendations you need for better health.

The Takeaway

If you are someone who is on a healing journey, specifically a gut healing journey, I would love to be a resource for you! I help solve gut issues ethically, professionally, and within my scope of practice as a registered dietitian. Click here to get started on your healing journey today!