Are We Overcomplicating Health and Wellness by Making it Convoluted and Polarizing?

If you research anything about nutrition, you will get vastly differing opinions. In truth, the opinions are sometimes influenced by financial incentives or influencers, creating an extremely polarizing view on health. We feel the need to "pick a side" and label ourselves as vegan, vegetarian, keto, Atkins, paleo, pescatarian, low-carb, or many more. Have we gotten so caught up in the health industry by praising or demonizing our food that we forgot the basics? It's not about too much fat, or not enough fat, or too many carbs, or not enough carbs, or too much protein, or not enough protein, or meat vs vegan, or whether it is organic vs non-organic. It's also not about the latest cleanse, diet, exercise, supplement, biohack, or sponsored study. It is about going back to the basics. 

The basics of health are simple, and we should only focus on the nuances (supplements, cleanses, biohacks, hormetic stressors, etc.) once we have built a solid foundation of health. Too often in this fast-paced world, we search for a quick fix or "hack" to motivate us to get healthy, but it only lasts for the short term. Accelerating health is similar to decorating a house with all the fancy finishes and furniture but forgetting to incorporate the critical steps of solid walls, a strong roof, and a deep foundation. During the first storm, your house would crumble. During your first "storm," you will crumble.

Why are we so conflicted?

One of the most significant issues is that we are chasing influencers, supplements, trends, fads, diets, cleanses, and products to "fix us." We crave a sense of community and leadership. It causes us to hone into a single focus without looking at the holistic view of health. Yes, a sense of community is excellent and much needed to motivate and improve our health while creating accountability, but there needs to be balance. Too often, we jump on trends without the proper research, only to realize that it's only a temporary solution. Sure, we may be deficient in something, and anything will help us in the short term. But then we fall back into old habits, and the cycle repeats.

So what are the basics?

The basics include:

• Eating quality whole foods.
• Avoiding toxins.
• Getting good sleep.
• Exercising within your stress limits.
• Getting sunlight every day.
• Lowering stress as much as possible.

Of course, so much could be added to this list, but this is the foundation. It would help to incorporate it daily, build it with good habits, and not overthink it. Each part of your health is integrative. One component affects the other. Become your own health advocate, understand what your body needs, and do not follow trends. What works for others may not work for you. Stay curious and do you research.

Most importantly though, build your foundation first and see your health improve sustainably and long-term.