Holistic Wellness – What? Why? How?

Health is very measurable. Period! It can be measured in a number of ways and yes while it is often broken down into a variety of elements and diagnoses, those charts often don’t provide the best picture of what a truly healthy body and mind looks like.

While modern-day western medicine has brought many wonderful and life-saving advancements, one of the downfalls of western medicine is the often-siloed approach to health, which looks at the body in sections of individual symptoms and pieces rather that the whole system it really is.

Here's why holistic wellness is so important, because to truly achieve optimal health in the physical, mental and spiritual sense, we have to view and support the body as the incredible system that it is.

What Is Holistic Wellness Or Holistic Wellbeing?

Holistic wellness is essentially an approach to life. Rather than focusing on the illness or specific parts of the body, this ancient approach to health considers the whole person and how he or she interacts with his or her environment. It emphasizes the connection of mind, body and spirit.

Holism is the theory that the parts of any whole cannot exist and cannot be understood except in their relation to the whole; “holism holds that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”; that parts of a whole are in intimate interconnection, such that they cannot exist or be understood independently of the whole.

This kind of holistic wellness and healing often involves multiple complimentary medicines and alternative healthcare practices that can overlap with modern-day western medicine, but will go beyond the singular treatment of symptoms to support more than just the body.

Did You Know?

The principles of holism have been around since the time of Hippocrates, 2500 years ago and even earlier then the eastern healing traditions of Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine!!

Thus, what we’d like to call the Holistic theory can be applicable to 5 interrelated dimensions:

1.Physical

2.Emotional

3.Social

4.Spiritual

5.Mental

These parts of our human body work cohesively together in order to facilitate homeostatic, well-being for optimal health. All of these 5 aspects of holistic health are what enable a person to truly live each day in the healthiest, happiest way possible and if one area if compromised, most likely other areas will be as well.

Physical

Our physical health is what most people think about when they think of health. This is mostly because it is the physical body that often shows us physical signs and symptoms of either optimal or sub-optimal health. These physical signs and symptoms are also easier to track and measure, versus other non-physical signs and symptoms that can feel more abstract.

When it comes to supporting your physical health there are few key practices that everyone can benefit from and can make a huge difference on your overall well-being:

• Sleep for 8 hours each night. This will allow your body to truly rest and repair from the day.
• Eat a nutrient dense diet that is high in plant-based foods and pasteurized animal products.
• Maintain a balanced blood sugar by eating meals and snacks that contain fat, carbohydrates, and protein every 3-4 hours.
• Move your body for 30 minutes each day. While every person’s exercise routine will be different, everyone can benefit from at least 30 minutes of movement each day.
• Limit processed foods and hydrogenated oils which are highly inflammatory and can increase risk of chronic disease.
• Do not smoke and avoid excessive alcohol consumption.

Emotional

While often overlooked, our emotional health is just as important as our physical health — especially because our emotional health can affect our physical health if it is not prioritized.

• Seek out therapy when needed. Therapy is an essential part of supporting our emotional health and should be utilized whenever necessary.
• Practice mindfulness and stress reduction habits that can help you better manage life’s daily stressors.
• Keep a journal to record your thoughts and feelings. Use your journal to record what you are grateful for as it can help bring positivity into times of stress.

Social

Research has shown that the happiest people on earth have deep connections with their friends, family and community.

• Make time for in-person connection. While technology has allowed for us to feel connected more, research has shown that virtual connection still does not provide us with the same level of happiness as in-person connection does.
• Get involved in your local community. Whether this is through your local volunteer organizations, clubs, or programs at your kids school — getting involved in your local community is one of the best ways you can support your social health and improve happiness.
• Set boundaries with people in your life that may increase stress or bring about toxic energy. Also do not be afraid to walk away from friendships and relationships that are negatively affecting your health.

Spiritual

Spiritual wellness does not necessarily mean that you need to become religious, although the two often have overlapping practices and principles. Instead your spiritual health should focus on how you are connecting with your inner soul, and the greater world around you.

Ways you can support your spiritual health:

• Spend time in nature
• Spend a few minutes each day meditating
• If you are religious, take the time to practice your faith

Mental

The last aspect of holistic wellness is our mental health, which often overlaps with both our emotional and physical health. The big distinction between our mental and emotional health though is that while our emotional health refers mostly to our daily mood and emotions, our mental health refers to our cognitive abilities that affect how our brain functions.

• Always keep your mind active by seeking out learning opportunities and problem-solving practices that challenge your brain.
• Consume nutrient dense foods that are high in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids that will help reduce overall inflammation and support cognitive function.
• Avoid excessive drinking, smoking and consuming recreational drugs.
• Improve gut health with gut healing foods like prebiotic and probiotic rich foods. Since the brain is directly connected to the gut, a healthy gut is essential for a healthy mind.

Biotevia – Premium Holistic Wellness Solutions

At Biotevia, we are passionate about nutrition and understand the physiology of how our body grows - physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. We are obsessed with the use of natural and organic ingredients, about flower and vegetable essences, plant and essential oils and how potent they can be to heal and nourish our skin, strengthen our very well-being. 

And so, Biotevia was born!

All our products are free of parabens, perfumes and synthetics ingredients. Instead, they are fuelled and fortified with the magic of everything natural, organic and 100% vegetarian such as turmeric, ginseng, ashwagandha, coconut oil, amla and the like.