Need a lifestyle makeover? Check out our positive life habits for living well with inflammatory bowel disease:
Exercise
Studies show that regular, rhythmic exercise lowers inflammation (both CRP levels and SED rates go down). Walking counts. Work your way up to rowing, biking, jogging, or swing-dancing.
As a bonus, your body will release endorphins. These natural happy drugs will automatically lift your mood, relieve stress, and reduce pain.
Sunshine
A regular dose of sunshine can boost your vitamin D levels and put you in a great mood.
To get more D for your minutes, soak in the rays before you take your morning shower – the vitamins are absorbed better. Stay safe. Limit your exposure time and avoid hours of peak sunlight.
Sleep
Getting your zzz’s before 11 p.m. means better digestive tract repair and liver cleansing. It also gives your body a chance to release essential growth hormones.
Don’t let bad sleep habits turn you into a zombie. Get the edge you need to be happy, alert, and productive.
Aromatherapy
Essential oils have provided pleasure and personal hygiene for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians priests used them for religious ceremonies, beauty treatments, and medicine. Hippocrates recommended aromatic baths and massage for good health.
The French chemist René-Maurice Gattefosse started the serious scientific study of essential oils after lavender oil miraculously healed his hands after a lab accident in 1910. This father of modern aromatherapy used oils to treat soldiers injured in the first world war.
Essential oils have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-toxic, and anti-depressant effects … pick a fragrance that fits your needs, or get a blend. We love Aura Cacia’s Relaxation.
Note: some people have negative reactions to essential oils. Always dilute in a carrier base, follow standard recommendations, and proceed with caution.
Massage
Massages can promote feelings of comfort, caring, and connection according to the Mayo Clinic. And doctors have recommended them to patients suffering from a variety of medical conditions.
Studies show massage can help with the following:
- Anxiety
- Digestive disorders
- Headaches
- Stress-related insomnia
Try a gentle Swedish or hot stone massage. Have a friend work Myotherapy magic by following Bonnie Prudden’s basic instructions for trigger point therapies (as described in her classic book, Pain Erasure). On your own or on a budget? Slather on aromatherapy oil-scented sesame oil after a shower.
Peaceful Mealtimes
Rule number one is … chew. Always chew all of your food thoroughly. Really. Until it’s a liquid (gross, I know … but it’s important). Digestion starts in the mouth and makes your body able to absorb the nutrients you need.
Rule number two is equally important. If you are at all upset, nervous, or anxious, or if there is an unhappy topic of discussion at the dinner table, DO NOT eat. Leave the table for at least 20 minutes and return when you feel calm and the climate for eating is peaceful. The digestive system is extremely sensitive to emotional distress. It won’t work properly if you are upset.
Laughter
Laughter floods your body with more endorphins and helps you relax. Watch a classic comedy movie … read humorous books (some of my favorite authors: James Thurber, Celia Rivenbark, Dave Barry, Bill Watterson of Calvin and Hobbes fame, P.G. Wodehouse). Share your favorites.
Friendship
Cherish your truly supportive friends. Allow yourself some distance from difficult friends and “frenemies” who make you feel stressed, drained, guilty, etc. (even if they don’t mean to). Make new friends. Join a forum. Volunteer and be a friend.
Prayer
Prayer is the most important and powerful action you can take. Prayer does not always immediately bring peace and relaxation, but it opens you up to the healing power of your Creator. If you don’t feel spiritual, if you don’t get an emotional high, if you don’t feel nourished, keep praying anyway. If you have absolutely no idea how to pray, can’t stand the thought of it, or are just too darn tired, ask a friend to pray for you, ask a stranger to pray for you, or even better, you can always do the Catholic thing and ask a saint to pray for you (number one recommendation – the Blessed Virgin Mary. Trust me … she has great influence).
Sources:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/massage/art-20045743