8 Root Causes of Disease

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Many people in the United States live with one chronic condition or disease. This unfortunate truth is because Western healthcare does not prioritize addressing the root causes of disease. By changing the lens through which we view chronic illness, we will change our approach to managing our own health.

American Life and Chronic Disease

Listed below are some examples of chronic disease:

  • Anxiety/Depression
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Arthritis
  • Obesity
  • Heart disease
  • COPD/Asthma
  • Kidney disease
  • Diabetes
  • Cancer 

According to the CDC, the majority of Americans are living with at least one chronic disease. And statistically, if you have one chronic disease, you probably have multiple. As if living with a chronic disease isn’t hard enough, American society is structured in a way such that the most convenient choices are unhealthy ones. It’s cheaper, quicker, and requires less effort to eat processed, carcinogenic foods that promote inflammation in our bodies. This is not how humans were meant to live, which is why we are living with these chronic diseases.

How We’ve Been Treating Chronic Disease

“Have you been taking your medicine?” “Your numbers are too high.” How many times have we heard our doctor tell us this at our check-up? How much time do our doctors and pharmacists spend talking to us about medicine compared to lifestyle behaviors? This is the reason why so many of us are living with these conditions. Medicine is good for slowing the progression of our disease. It is not good, however, for getting our body back to a healthy and natural homeostasis.

How We Should Be Treating Chronic Disease

By prioritizing the root causes of all disease, we will be able to get our body back to its natural state. So, what ARE the 8 Root Causes of All Disease?

Stressors

The mental, emotional, and physical stresses that our body is subject to every day. Our bodies were evolved to handle a certain amount of stress in our natural habitats. They were not, however, evolved to respond to the constant stress brought about by modern society. We are constantly being attacked by stress from work, traffic, social media, the news, and virtually anywhere else we look.

Toxins & Toxicants

The benefits of modern society come with consequences as well. Due to new technologies and our convenient lives, we have become used to having toxins in our air, water, soil, and food. Although these toxins are almost everywhere, we can make a conscious effort to remove them from our lives.

Allergens, Antigens, and Adverse Food Reactions

While there are many allergens, and everybody’s immune system will respond to them in a different way, it is important to be aware of The Big 8 Food Allergens that may be in your diet.

Infestation, Infections, Dysbiosis

Our diet is fuel for us. It is also the fuel for the bacteria that live with us. The enteric nervous system is how our gut communicates with our brain. It controls the functions of our gut and the secretion of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. By balancing our microbiome through diet and supplementation, we will also balance our mood and brain function.

Nutrient Excesses and Deficiencies

The Western diet is the main contributor of these offenses to our body. We consume far too much of what is bad for us and not nearly enough of what our body needs In order to restore nutritional balance in our body, we must do what we can to change what we eat and supplement the necessary nutrients that are not currently present in our diet. Dr. Deanna Minich has a good way to approach this: to increase the variety of color in our diet.

Sleep Disorders

Sleep is vital to achieving a healthy lifestyle. It is when our body recovers, heals, and fixes all of the imbalances from when we are awake. Before modern society, the human sleep schedule was regulated by the sun. Now we have electricity and endless distractions to disrupt our circadian rhythm. We must restore this balance by practicing good sleep hygiene with lifestyle modification and supplementation.

Sedentarism

Another component of modern life that works against our health is how little time we spend moving. A sedentary lifestyle does not just mean that you do not go for runs or belong to a gym. Whether you have a full-time job, are a student in school, or are unemployed, you likely spend most of your time sitting down. Studies have shown that sedentary behavior is linked to cardiovascular disease and life expectancy, and quality of life. This problem of sedentarism overflows to our personal lives as well, with most of our leisure time being spent in front of a screen, on a couch, or in bed.

Sociogenomics (Relationships)

The final root cause of disease is related to relationships. We’ve already talked about our relationship with food, physical activity, and nature. The relationships we’re talking about here are with one another. We are social creatures that form and depend upon relationships. It was essential to our ancestors for their survival, and it is becoming more difficult to do this as we spend more of our time using screens.  

8 Root Causes of Disease

Root Cause of DiseaseWhat makes it worse?What makes it better?
StressorsOverworkingMeditation, mindfulness, yoga, relaxation
Toxins & toxicantsExposure, chemical dependenceDietary/lifestyle discipline
Allergens/Antigens/Adverse Food reactionsEating foods that irritate the gut, indoor/outdoor air qualityElimination diet
Infestation, Infections, DysbiosisProcessed foods, excess sugar Healthy diet, probiotics
Nutrient Excesses and DeficienciesFast food, Western diet, some medicationsDiverse diet including fruits and vegetables 
Sleep DisordersScreentime at night, inconsistent sleep scheduleSleep rituals, melatonin, meditation, relaxation
SedentarismDesk jobs, binge watchingRealistic exercise goals, scheduled sedentary “breaks,” standing desks
SociogenomicsIsolationSchedule social events, join clubs, reconnect with old friends
8 Root Causes of Disease

Now you are aware of the 8 Root Causes of Disease. You know what makes them worse. You know what makes them better. The only thing left that is stopping you from improving your health is you. Focus on removing stressors. Be mindful of what you are putting in your body. Establish routines around exercise and sleep. If you do these things one at a time, you will have transformed your health and your life by this time next year. The journey to your wellness begins with you, today.

The Low Down on Pre-, Pro-, and Post-Biotics

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The gut is absolutely key to health, and bacterial diversity is one of the hallmark signs of gut health. So you’ve heard of probiotics. You may have even heard of prebiotics. But how much do you know about postbiotics? Let’s break it down and look at the importance of pre, pro and postbiotics and how to get more of them.

Pre-, Pro-, and Post-Biotics

Most people know the importance of gut health and the role of quality probiotics. But it’s not just about popping a probiotic pill once a day. Understanding these microorganisms and how to support them will help ensure a healthy gut.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are indigestible fiber that act as food for probiotics. Because the body can’t break down prebiotic fiber, they pass through the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. In the colon, gut microflora ferment the fibers. In a nutshell, prebiotics are food (nonliving indigestible fiber) for live, active bacteria in the gut.

Probiotics

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that reside in the gut and help the body distinguish between beneficial bacteria and harmful invaders and pathogens. Making sure you have a healthy flora goes a long way to boost immune function and support gut health, proper digestion, respiratory and urinary health, and even mental health. (Find out more about the health benefits of probiotics in this post.) But unfortunately, probiotic supplements are usually not enough to create the diversity and quantity of bacteria needed for a robust, healthy gut.

Postbiotics

Postbiotics are the beneficial byproducts of the fermentation process carried out by probiotics. The only way to get more postbiotics in the gut is to increase both pre- and probiotics. Increase probiotic and prebiotic foods, and the body will produce postbiotics.

You simply can’t overestimate the value of getting enough postbiotics to the gut. Some of the benefits include:

  • Supporting healthy gut bacteria (probiotics)
  • Reducing harmful pathogens and infection
  • Balancing the immune system and reducing inflammation
  • Regulating blood sugar in the body
  • Provide powerful anti-tumor and antioxidant effects

So how do we get more postbiotics?

You could take a fiber supplement, but this often comes with side effects, such as gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. Instead, focus on the wide variety of fiber that you can get from food:

Inulin – Slows digestion, increases fullness, reduces cholesterol absorption, reduces blood sugar, and may also lower the risk of colon cancer. It is found in asparagus, bananas, burdock, chicory, dandelion root, garlic, artichokes, leeks, and onions.

Fructooligosaccharides – Protect against unhealthy bacteria, decrease cholesterol, and may improve symptoms of abdominal distress. Good sources of Fructooligosaccharides include blue agave, yacon root, garlic, onion, leeks, chicory root, artichokes, asparagus, and bananas.

Resistant starch – Improves gut bacteria and intestinal mucus lining. Also lowers post-prandial blood sugar, and may increase fat burning. It is found in whole grains and beans, including oats, potatoes, rice, barley, sorghum, pinto beans, black beans, soybeans, chickpeas, kidney beans, lentils, and peas.

Pectin – A soluble fiber that slows stomach emptying, thereby decreasing blood sugar. It is almost completely digested by gut bacteria into short chain fatty acids. Good sources include apples, grapefruit, sweet potatoes, squash, peas, green beans, and tomatoes.

Want to learn more about the importance of gut health and how it can help improve your mood, metabolism, and motivation? Come check out this free webinar.

Why you should reexamine the word “fearless” if you’re serious about your goals

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Recently, I interviewed Tanya Dalton, author of The Joy of Missing Out and The Busy Woman’s Guide to an Extraordinary Life of Meaning and Success, on The Lindsey Elmore Show. (Catch it here.) In this post, she shares her insight about the value of fear and failure in our journey for success. This may just change your mind about what it means to be fearless.

A lot of people don’t know this, but my very first job was as a teacher. Recently, I was thinking about kids and how in education, especially in the early years, kids are taught to abide by the rules. And it makes sense! Rules are for the children’s own safety and the safety of others. Rules help ensure children and school staff can go about their days in a safe and efficient manner.

In one sense, rules exist because they make a lot of sense for our world to function properly. But if you flip the concept of rules on its head and play devil’s advocate for a moment, what do rules prevent? Sometimes, depending on the rule, rules can prevent big-picture, out-of-the-box thinking. Rules can prevent risky ideas from becoming life altering innovation. 

While abiding by certain rules may help you on your path to success, perhaps that thinking has been ingrained in us for so long that we’ve become afraid of failure.

One of the main topics I discuss in my new book, The Busy Woman’s Guide to an Extraordinary Life of Meaning and Success, is how our society holds a negative bias towards fear and failure. 

The Pitfalls of Fearlessness

I have come to really dislike the word “fearless” because it assumes fear is an all-encompassing negative emotion. In contrast, fear is a very powerful and necessary emotion. Fear lives within us to keep us safe. It is a biological function that is necessary for our survival! 

Without fear, we would lean too far forward when looking over the Grand Canyon, or we wouldn’t think twice about jumping off the roof instead of using a ladder when hanging the Christmas lights. We need fear. So when did fear become such a bad thing for people?

Instead of being fearless, I invite you to be brave. Brave people still have the fear present, but instead of seeing fear as the enemy, they focus on how they can use fear to push forward. In my eyes, brave people are the ones who have overcome the things they were once afraid of. 

Failure as Fuel for Determination

Many of us have also been taught to fear failure. But how I see it, it is failure, not progress, that is the truest sign of growth. If you fail at something, it means you pushed yourself instead of staying in your comfortable place. 

Failure should be incorporated into any major goal or aspiration you set for yourself. That is, if you do not make your goals adaptable, then you are not accounting for life and how life works! Should you meet failure, use it as a turning point to adapt and reset your goals. 

We cannot make things like failure and fear go away with words like “fearless.” But we can find a way to use fear to move us forward. We have a choice in the words we tell ourselves, so choose your words wisely. 

Tanya Dalton is a best-selling author, speaker, productivity expert, and growth strategist for female leaders. Her highly anticipated second book, On Purpose: The Busy Woman’s Guide to an Extraordinary Life of Meaning and Success, will be on sale wherever books are sold on October 26, 2021. Preorder it here.

Tanya is also the founder and CEO of inkWELL Press Productivity Co. a multi-million dollar company providing tools that work as a catalyst in helping women do less while achieving maximum success.

Want some practical tips for facing your fears? Check out 7 Things Standing in the Way of Achieving Your Dreams.

Treating Loss of Smell from COVID-19

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Fever, body aches, fatigue, shortness of breath, congestion. . .all of these are common symptoms of COVID 19. But possibly one of the most tell-tale symptoms is the loss of the sense of smell. It seems to be the litmus test for this virus, and can be one of the most long-lasting symptoms. So what really causes the loss of smell, and is there anything you can do about it?

First, a few terms. Anosmia, literally translated smell-blindness, is the total loss of the sense of smell. Parosmia refers to a dysfunctional or impaired sense of smell. Both have been reported by COVID sufferers. Often, anosmia occurs and sufferers experience parosmia before regaining their sense of smell over time.

The Importance of Smell

The loss of the sense of smell is more than just annoying. You may be surprised at all the functions your sniffer plays in your everyday life.

  • Smell directly impacts the sense of taste. In fact, about 80% of the flavors we taste arrive from what we smell.
  • Smell can be the first thing to alert you to danger, such as smoke or rotten food.
  • The sense of smell impacts your quality of life. Anosmia sufferers describe feelings of isolation and a blunting of emotions.
  • Because the sense of smell is closely tied to the amygdala portion of the brain, it plays a significant role in memory. (Learn more about this connection in this post.)
  • In the same way, the sense of smell can impact emotions and mental health.

So even though anosmia may sound like nothing more than a minor annoyance, when prolonged, it can actually lead to depression, anxiety, isolation, and other issues.

Why Does COVID 19 Cause Loss of Smell?

Scientists offer a few different opinions about the mechanism by which the virus robs the sense of smell. Initially, scientists speculated that the virus damages specialized sensory neurons that send sensory information to the brain. However, more recent research reveals that “the novel coronavirus changes the sense of smell in patients not by directly infecting neurons but by affecting the function of supporting cells.”

This is good news because these supporting cells can heal and regenerate much more effectively than sensory neurons. For this reason, a loss of smell resulting from COVID is almost always temporary. Interestingly, the damage to supporting cells also explains some of the memory and other neurological issues caused by the virus.

Tips for Regaining Sense of Smell

Olfactory Training

Smell training is actively sniffing the same four scents daily for about 20 seconds each. Choose fragrances with distinct, strong aromas, such as garlic cloves, spices, mint, eucalyptus, and ground coffee. This method is surprisingly effective, possibly even better than corticosteroid nasal sprays.

Stop Smoking

Cigarette smoking can drastically impair the sense of smell, as well as the body’s ability to heal.

Castor Oil

The main component of castor oil, ricinoleic acid, help fight infections. It also helps reduce inflammation inside the nasal passage, which speeds healing and may help recover the loss of smell. To use it, gently warm castor oil in a glass of warm water. Place two drops in each nostril twice a day.

Zinc

Zinc is a vital nutrient in the process of cellular regeneration. It helps stem cells replicate used, aged or damaged receptor cells in the nose and mouth. Taking a zinc supplement may encourage your smell to recover more quickly. A word of caution though: Avoid zinc nasal sprays and do not take hyper-doses of zinc, as this can actually worsen anosmia.

Other Vitamins

Adequate vitamins help support our bodies’ ability to heal. Eating a diet rich in essential vitamins and nutrients is perhaps the best defense. Consider the following vitamins:

  • A: Supports growth and repair of olfactory endings
  • C: Combats free radicals and important for cellular health
  • D3: Boosts immune function
  • B-12: Supports the respiratory system and proper olfactory function

When All Else Fails

Maybe you’ve lost your sense of smell and you’ve already tried the above remedies and then some. We don’t clearly understand why some people regain smell in a few days or weeks, while others take months. This may depend on the extent of the cellular damage, baseline health of the individual, and other unknown factors. However, keep in mind that permanent anosmia from COVID-19 is extremely rare.