The truth is nine out of ten deaths in the U.S. can be ascribed to lifestyle. When you simply eat better and move more, you are less likely to develop heart disease, stroke risk, diabetes, digestive diseases, infections, and other chronic illnesses. However, for some people (especially those in the later stages of the disease), the Standard American Diet and exercise might not be enough.
If you’re dealing with chronic illness, you need more in-depth and personalized care from a holistic doctor. That means conquering the cause, not just masking symptoms.
The 4 Causes of Chronic Disease & Illness
Most common symptoms and chronic illnesses can be traced back to an imbalance in at least one of four areas. Let’s look at each of the four causes.
1. Inflammation
Not all inflammation is bad. In fact, inflammation is your body’s healthy response to injury or acute infection. If you break your leg, that area will swell, which is a normal part of your body’s inflammatory response. You need this to happen because you want your body to focus on healing that broken leg.
The problem with inflammation is when it doesn’t go away after a broken bone has healed or if it shows up for no apparent reason. This is called chronic inflammation.
Chronic inflammation must be calmed, or it will start to damage other organs and tissues. If chronic inflammation is not addressed it’s like trying to build a house while it’s on fire. When you have chronic inflammation, just as one symptom resolves, two more pop up and take its place.
Some symptoms and illnesses that are related to chronic inflammation include:
- Headaches
- Sinus problems
- Cough
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Chest pain
- Acne
- PMS/Hot flashes
- Weight gain
- Food and environmental allergies
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- Asthma
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Fibromyalgia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- And many more
2. Toxicity
We live in a very toxic world that seems to get worse every year. From the air we breathe to the water we drink and the food we eat, toxins are everywhere and are unfortunately impossible to completely avoid. This is why your body has the ability to detoxify itself.
The liver, lungs, kidneys, bowels, lymph system, and skin act as filters, using the good and eliminating the bad. However, if the toxic load is too great or one or more of those organ systems weakens, then toxins can’t be fully excreted. Instead, they are set aside or stored to be dealt with later.
Toxic buildup in your body can show up as relatively minor symptoms, such as:
- Headaches
- Hives
- Acne
- Fibroids
- Cysts
- Benign tumors
Without proper attention, however, toxic buildup can lead to more serious symptoms and conditions, such as:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Kidney stones
- Precancerous lesions
- Lupus
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Cancer
The best way to address toxicity is not to wait until the toxins build up so much that chronic illness starts to develop. However, if you have already started to develop any of the symptoms above, now is the time to begin a detox program.
Not all detoxification support is created equal. Some programs only barely scratch the surface, whereas others are so hard on your body, they can be debilitating for some time (i.e., spending all day in the bathroom or severe fatigue). You want to choose a detoxification program that is effective and allows you to go about your daily activities without interruptions.
3. Immune Deficiency
The immune system is your body’s first line of defense against intruders like harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and other invasive microorganisms. Not only can the immune system detect a problem, but it also releases white blood cells to seek and destroy any problem.
But just as anyone would feel after a big battle, the immune system gets tired and depleted. Sometimes the intruders are too big, too strong or there are too many of them and your body just can’t win.
If you contract every cold and flu that comes around, are unable to get rid of a cold or flu quickly, or chronically feel “off,” your immune system needs support.
3. Excess Body Weight
While excess weight is a symptom of many chronic illnesses, it can also contribute to the development or worsening of a chronic illness you may already have.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss, but addressing the first two underlying causes of disease can have a profound effect on your weight:
Inflammation
When you carry excess weight, you tend to have more inflammation, and when you’re more inflamed, you tend to accumulate more and more weight. Reducing chronic inflammation can help your body naturally release excess weight.
Toxicity
If the toxic burden is too great or your detoxification system is weakened, then toxins can’t be eliminated and are set aside or stored to be dealt with later. In an effort to keep you alive, toxins are sent as far away from vital organs as possible and can be stored as fat. Your body actually creates fat cells to store these toxins. Therefore, the greater the toxic buildup, the more fat you can accumulate. If you have tried multiple diets only to gain all the weight back (and then some), it’s probably because your body is overwhelmed by toxins.
Now What Do I Do About It?
The SHAPE ReClaimed Program addresses each of these 4 causes of disease simultaneously!
- The SHAPE Program emphasizes anti-inflammatory nutrition.
- It is a gentle, yet effective detox.
- You get support for a strong immune system.
- The SHAPE ReClaimed Program is not a weight loss program or a diet; weight loss is simply a side effect.
This means the SHAPE Program addresses the underlying cause of the most common symptoms and chronic diseases. It is the optimum in preventative care.
Fight Disease & Start the SHAPE ReClaimed Program in Orland Park, IL
If you are ready to reduce inflammation, toxicity, immune deficiency, and excess body weight then Anchored in Health can help you. Our holistic doctor will work with you throughout the SHAPE ReClaimed program to address the causes of diseases. Get started by following these steps:
- Reach out with any questions or schedule an appointment online
- Meet with our holistic doctor
- Start feeling better and living your healthiest life
Other Health Services Offered by Anchored in Health in Orland Park, IL
We want to help your live your healthiest and happiest life. This is why we also offer Functional Medicine, genetic testing, and breast thermography. Additionally, we offer chiropractic care, therapeutic massages, and acupuncture.