In today’s fast-paced world, the quest for freedom often begins with the pursuit of optimal health. When we’re in good health, we have the energy, vitality, and mental clarity to seize life’s opportunities.

The Freedoms Found in Optimal Health

Freedom isn’t just about breaking physical barriers; it’s also about liberating ourselves from the limitations that poor health can impose. The freedoms unlocked with optimal health include:

1. Physical Freedom: When we’re in peak health, we can engage in physical activities without constraints. Whether it’s traveling the world, hiking, or simply playing with your children, we can better savor every moment.
2. Mental Freedom: Good health supports a sharp mind. Thinking clearly aids in decision-making strengthening confidence to tackle challenges more efficiently. Mental freedom is the key to pursuing our passions and dreams.
3. Emotional Freedom: Health and emotional well-being go hand in hand. Optimal health helps to manage stress, anxiety, and negative emotions effectively. This emotional freedom enhances our overall quality of life.
4. Time Freedom: Illness often consumes time in the form of doctor visits and recovery periods. Good health gives us more time to focus on our interests and loved ones.
5. Freedom to Pursue Dreams: With energy and vitality, we can chase your dreams relentlessly. Whether it’s starting a business, writing a book, or traveling to exotic destinations, health is the passport to living life to the fullest.

Tips for Achieving Optimal Health

1. Prioritize Whole Foods:

• The importance of consuming whole, unprocessed foods cannot be emphasized. Food can be medicine if done right. “The Blue Zones Solution” focuses on advantages of fresh fruits and vegetables while benefits of high-quality meats and animal products is detailed in “The Carnivore Code.”

• Reduce or eliminate processed foods and sugars, avoiding empty calories and unhealthy additives.

2. Mindful Eating:

• Pay attention to what you eat and savor each bite for better digestion and satisfaction with smaller portions.
• Practice portion control to avoid overeating and maintain a healthy weight.

3. Variety and Quality:

• Incorporate a variety of foods into your diet including a diversity of fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and a variety of protein and animal-based foods.

• Choose high-quality, locally-sourced foods when possible. The importance of the source and quality of our food is as much so as the food itself.

4. Social Connections:

• Nurture strong social connections and community involvement building relationships as sharing meals with loved ones can positively impact health.

5. Individualized Health:

• Consider individualized nutrition based on your specific health needs and preferences, what works best for one person may not work for another.

• Engage in regular physical activity by incorporating exercise into a daily routine for overall well-being.
• Manage stress through relaxation techniques, meditation, or other practices, as high-stress levels can negatively affect health.

The Freedom of Fasting

Fasting is a time-honored practice that offers us a unique path to both physical and mental freedom. It’s not just about abstaining from food; it’s a deliberate choice to recalibrate our relationship with eating and nourishment. Here’s how fasting can unlock new dimensions of freedom in our lives:

1. Physical Detoxification: Fasting allows our bodies to undergo a natural detox process. When we give our digestive systems a break from constantly processing food, they can focus on clearing out accumulated toxins and waste. This purification process can leave us feeling lighter, more energized, and free from the sluggishness that sometimes accompanies overeating.

2. Mental Clarity: During a fast, we’ll likely experience mental clarity like never before. With our bodies not busy digesting, our minds can operate at their peak. This mental freedom can lead to enhanced focus, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Many great thinkers throughout history have used fasting as a means to gain mental clarity and insight.

3. Breaking Food Dependencies: Fasting challenges our dependency on food and helps us recognize the difference between actual hunger and emotional or habitual eating. This newfound awareness empowers us to make conscious choices about when and what to eat, rather than succumbing to cravings or societal pressures.

4. Improved Self-Discipline: Fasting requires discipline and self-control, which are valuable skills in achieving any form of freedom. Learning to say “no” to immediate gratification in favor of long-term health benefits builds inner strength and resilience. These qualities can extend beyond fasting and positively impact other areas of our lives.

5. Connection to Our Bodies: Fasting provides us with an opportunity to reconnect with our body’s signals. We become more attuned to our hunger cues and can distinguish between physical hunger and emotional triggers. This heightened body awareness can help us make healthier choices when it comes to nourishing ourselves.

Tips for Safe and Effective Fasting:

• Start Slowly: Intermittent fasting, where we restrict eating to certain hours of the day, is a popular introductory experience for beginner practitioners to taste a sample of the enormous benefits that is initiated in the body between eating. As little as 6-12 hours without food can enhance insulin sensitivity, meaning our cells become more efficient at using glucose (sugar) for energy. This helps regulate blood sugar levels and may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Ketosis kicks in at around 12 hours while 24 hours will trigger a process called autophagy, where our bodies remove and recycle damaged or dysfunctional cells and cellular components contributing to improved cellular health and longevity, with increased gains from each following day.
• Stay Hydrated: While fasting, it’s essential to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Herbal teas and black coffee (without added sugar or cream) are often permitted during fasting. Citrus fruits like lemons and limes are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, contributing towards the health benefits. Some proponents of intermittent fasting believe that adding a slice of citrus to water can enhance the fasting experience by providing additional nutrients. If your primary goal is autophagy (cellular repair) or a strict water fast, you might prefer plain water without any additives.
• Listen to Our Bodies: Pay close attention to how your body respond to fasting. If experiencing any concerning discomfort or adverse effects, follow your instincts about your safety and wellbeing, and consult a healthcare professional if you it deem necessary.
• Breaking a Fast Mindfully: When ending a fast, we should do so mindfully. Starting with easily digestible foods, such as fruits or light soups, before reintroducing regular meals.

My personal guiding image during fasting is that of a solitary animal such as a cheetah, sick or injured seeking out a safe refuge, like a cave next to a dependable water source and staying for days, a week, healing and regenerating as nature does before emerging a more powerful and motivated being.

The forces operating behind nature are ours to harness and utilize. Fasting is an innate tool for achieving both physical and mental freedom. Incorporating fasting into our journey towards optimal health can be a transformative experience, offering us a unique perspective on the profound connection between nourishment, freedom, and well-being. However, it is essential to approach fasting with caution and respect for our individual health needs. Consult with a healthcare provider before embarking on an extended fast if you have underlying medical conditions.

Further Readings for Finding Freedom through Health:

1. “Nutrition and Physical Degeneration” by Weston A. Price: Dr Price embarked on a journey around the world to study the diets and health of various indigenous cultures, finding that ancestral diets rich in nutrient-dense foods, displayed exceptional dental health with virtually no cavities, along with robust physical health. Their diets were characterized by whole, unprocessed foods, including nutrient-rich animal products, organ meats, and an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. In contrast, Dr. Price observed that when these same indigenous populations shifted away from their traditional diets and adopted Westernized, processed foods high in sugar, refined grains, and vegetable oils, they experienced a rapid decline in dental health and overall physical degeneration. This transition led to an increase in dental cavities, chronic diseases, and a decrease in overall vitality.
2. “The Carnivore Code: Unlocking the Secrets to Optimal Health by Returning to Our Ancestral Diet” by Dr. Paul Saladino: This book explores the carnivore diet and its potential to revolutionize our approach to nutrition. Dr. Saladino delves into the compelling idea that our ancestors thrived on animal-based diets, and he presents a compelling case for the health benefits of returning to this ancestral way of eating. Through a combination of scientific research, clinical insights, and real-world success stories, he argues that an all-animal diet can improve various aspects of health, from metabolic function to mental clarity. This book offers readers a comprehensive guide to understanding the carnivore diet, its principles, and practical implementation, ultimately unlocking the potential for optimal health and vitality through a return to our ancestral dietary roots.
3. “The Complete Guide to Fasting: Heal Your Body Through Intermittent, Alternate-Day, and Extended Fasting” by Dr. Jason Fung: Dr. Jason Fung provides a comprehensive and authoritative resource that explores the transformative power of fasting for health and well-being. As a renowned expert in the field of fasting, he provides readers with a deep understanding of the science behind fasting and its potential benefits. From intermittent fasting to alternate-day fasting and extended fasting, this book offers a range of fasting strategies that can help heal the body, boost energy levels, and unlock a new level of health. Dr. Fung explains how fasting can aid in weight loss, improve metabolic function, and even contribute to longevity. With practical guidance, real-life success stories, and evidence-based insights, this book empowers readers to harness the incredible healing potential of fasting, making it a valuable resource for those seeking a healthier and more vibrant life.

Incorporating the wisdom from these books can help us embark on a transformative journey towards optimal health and the freedom it brings. Health is not just the absence of illness; it’s the key to unlocking the boundless opportunities life has to offer.