Nutrition became one of those passions while growing up in my father’s footsteps. My dad, Dr. Thomas B. Wright, introduced me to whole food supplements when I had a severe case of mono at the tender age of 16. I was so sick and hated missing school, my friends, my horse, and of course, driving. There was nothing medically that could be done, so my father prepared a specific supplement schedule. They were Standard Process whole food based supplements. The ones he used in practice. Of course, he made me chew them, claiming they tasted like dirt, but so what! No one argued with Dad. With those particular supplements along with good SOT™ Chiropractic care and my mom’s traditional cooking, I recovered. I did not forget nature’s power of healing through whole food nutrition and great Chiropractic care. It set my path for life.

I seemed to have acquired the passion of Dr. Royal Lee, like my dad and many other health care professionals. He was the founder of Standard Process and extremely passionate about nutrition and how whole foods with their minerals, vitamins, enzymes, and other elements worked together to maintain and restore health. He built an amazing nutritional industry around his passion. His story and its history can be found at www.standardprocess.com.

This Wellness Wisdom column will be full of comments, articles and many stories from what I have learned, researched and practiced throughout my career. I continue to “deep dive” and go down numerous rabbit holes in my research to help me, my patients, family, and students of Chiropractic answer questions about health and healing. The “clues and cues” are out there; we just need to find them.

“When you read, you learn.”

“The natural force within each of us is the greatest force in getting well!”

- Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician.

This statement was true thousands of years ago and is still true today! However, today we are exposed to massive, toxic chemicals in the foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the environment in which we live. Diets of today consist of sugar laden, processed, fake foods stripped of their vital, life sustaining nutrients. Over processed, chemical laden foods were designed for a longer shelf life, not to necessarily nourish our bodies.

How can we rebuild and support our Immune System so it can fight the intense viral and bacterial infections we are exposed to today and function at optimal strength? After 44+ years of practice, I’ve developed a few suggestions that I have found extremely helpful for my family, patients and friends.

1. Buy whole, fresh, non-GMO, organic foods. Make sure to include a nice variety of fruits, vegetables, and protein. Plus essential fatty acids from fatty fish, olive oil, butter & ghee. If you don’t invest in your health today, you will invest in your sickness tomorrow!
2. Limit or avoid white sugar! Sugar is a proven contributing factor to diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, chronic illness, autoimmune disorders, and more. Instead, use Monk fruit, honey, molasses or maple syrup. Sugar was meant to enhance the food, not be the food!
3. Sleep. Stop! Turn down or turn off all electronics, and reduce the noise! If you’re feeling really froggy, turn off the noise at 6 pm. It’s just like taking time to prepare a good meal; we need to take the time to prepare for a good night’s sleep. You can conquer the world on a good night’s sleep!
4. Hydrate with spring water! Spring water contains minerals that provide the “calming tide” our bodies need. Minerals also help the body stay hydrated. 8-10 cups of water daily is good. Half your body weight in ounces is even better! Your body has many cries for water. Take the time and listen.
5. Exercise. It raises the body temperature, which helps fight infections. It also mobilizes the lymph system, a powerful component of the immune system that flows throughout our entire body. Start moving!! The best exercise for you is the exercise you’ll do!

Try incorporating one or all of these suggestions today. It’s never too late to start.

Good health is not for the asking. Good health is earned!

To be continued........................