Why You Still Feel Stuck In Your Health Journey After Diets, Supplements, & Labs

You've embarked on countless diets, experimented with various nutritional supplements, and still, you're left feeling tired, bloated, sad, or anxious. You've gone through cycles of hope and disappointment, potentially causing more stress on your body and mind.

While many health enthusiasts resort to new diets and supplements to fix their problems, they often overlook the crucial elements that might undermine their well-being.

This blog post sheds light on three significant reasons why these methods may not be effective and offers a more holistic approach to achieving wellness.

The Pitfalls of Relying Solely on Diets & Supplements

It's a common belief that the right combination of diet and supplements can act as a panacea for all health problems. However, this notion can lead to overlooking the root cause of the symptoms you're experiencing.

The first reason why your diets and supplements may not yield the desired results is that they often fail to tackle the root cause of your problems. External stressors, such as toxins and infections, can undoubtedly influence your health. Still, the root cause of chronic symptoms usually traces back to trauma or accumulated stressors throughout your life.

In an article published by the BBC, they note how supplements may actually cause harm by interfering with the body’s natural antioxidant defenses, increasing the risk of cancer, or creating imbalances in other nutrients (Riley, 2016).

Elimination Diets

When you subject your body to diets it's not meant for, you only hurt yourself. You hurt yourself further when you give it the wrong supplements and force it through tiresome exercises that leave you sore instead of energized.

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

Nourish yourself well, allow yourself to rest, and treat yourself as you would God… but it’s a mistake to think an elimination diet is going bring you the long-term health relief and happiness you’re seeking. 

There are three main issues with elimination diets: 

1 - Following a cookie-cutter plan that does not suit your individual needs or preferences

2 - Eliminating too many foods at once, which can cause nutrient deficiencies, stress, and confusion

3 - Expecting a quick fix or a miracle cure, which can set you up for disappointment and frustration

This insight may be particularly poignant for those who often experience the "fight, flight, or freeze" stress response. Dieting, supplement intake, and even rigorous exercise may not suffice in mitigating this response, which is critical to reversing chronic symptoms permanently.

The Limitations of Laboratory Results

A second reason why your health journey might not be working as expected lies in the inherent limitations of lab reports. Despite their importance in identifying potential health issues, they aren't always completely accurate and should not be considered the sole determinant of your well-being.

In fact, even the National Library of Medicine confirms that every step of the testing process is, quote, "...vulnerable to errors, which can then potentially generate erroneous results and finally jeopardize patient safety” (Kresser, 2013)

It's crucial to remember that while lab tests can provide valuable data, they don't necessarily paint a complete picture of your overall health. There are cases where people feel healthy but become disheartened upon receiving unfavorable lab results. Conversely, some people might feel something is wrong, but lab results indicate otherwise.

The Importance of Holistic Health Approach

Thirdly, you might not be seeing the improvements you want because you're primarily focusing on the physical aspects of your health. While physical fitness is crucial, it only represents a small part of overall health and wellness.

It's worth noting that addressing the mental and spiritual aspects of your life is equally, if not more, important (1 Timothy 4:8). In fact, a strong relationship with one's faith or spiritual practice can play a crucial role in restoring health, particularly when chronic symptoms are related to stress responses. 

In fact, chronic stress affects all systems of the body, including the musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous, and reproductive systems. It also provides some examples of how stress can cause or worsen various health conditions, such as headaches, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, depression, and infertility. (Kresser, 2013)

FREE STRATEGY CALL 

Feeling tired, bloated, sad, anxious, insomnia, sensitivities, or digestive issues despite numerous lifestyle changes is more common than you think. There are countless stories of individuals spending significant time and resources, yet they still feel lethargic due to neglecting their mental, emotional, and spiritual states. 

However, with the right guidance, you can learn to rewire your brain and renew your mind, bringing you on the path towards genuine health and wellness.

If this article resonates with you and you're ready to see your old self again, you can take the next step by requesting a free strategy call to discuss a personalized approach to take your next step towards a happier, healthier you. 

CLICK HERE to schedule your free call now.

Remember, true wellness involves your body, mind, and spirit.

Brooklyn Hanna

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References

Kresser, C. (2013). The little-known difference between folate and folic acid. PMC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3784758/

Kresser, C. (2013). The little-known difference between folate and folic acid. PMC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3784758/

Nichols, L. (n.d.). Top 10 elimination diet mistakes. Lily Nichols RDN. Retrieved January 28, 2022, from https://lilynicholsrdn.com/top-10-elimination-diet-mistakes/

Riley, A. (2016, December 8). Why vitamin pills don’t work, and may be bad for you. BBC Future.https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20161208-why-vitamin-supplements-could-kill-you