Step 9: Listening to Nature

Our bodies are our gardens – our wills are our gardeners.
- William Shakespeare

You buy a "naturally" labelled face cream and you see a long list of perfumes, colourings and preservatives. You try to eat healthily, but so well-known salmon appears to be full of heavy metals, vegetables are full of pesticides and innocent looking muesli contains too much sugar. Can we be closer to nature in the times when we seem to be living more in harmony with our smartphones, instead of our biological clocks?

Fast technology development made our lifestyle even faster. We quit using our grandma’s healthy recipes, rituals or even natural ways of getting rid of stains on our clothes. We choose modern methods that we find in colourful magazines, but... the “modern” direction has side effects. Ready-made meals, fast food, fizzy drinks, lack of physical effort and the missing human interactions caused people to get ill with all sorts of civilization diseases. Our mental condition is not the best either - more and more people suffer from depression, neurosis and schizophrenia. Not everyone feels great in the world of plastic bottles with bisfenol, polystyrene foam trays, disposable cutlery and ready-made dishes. However, the power of Nature cannot be underestimated. That’s why it is good to remember about it before we hear our diagnosis or we put on weight.

The Earth is 4,6 billion years old. Let’s assume it is 46 years. The human kind has been on this planet for some hours. Our industry revolution has lasted for 1 minute and within this time we have destroyed 50% of forests on Earth 
[www.sciencealert.com.au]

In the rhythm with Nature
Traditional medicine is based on nature - some spices and herbs are recommended for summer and different for winter. In the summer we need food that keeps the body cool, in winter – on the contrary. The time of the day matters, too. In the morning it is recommended to eat something warm as it warms up our digestive system after the night. In winter we should eat vegetables that were harvested in autumn and can be stored without being processed, such as potatoes, carrots, beetroots or cabbage. Winter is also a season of soups, groats and fats. Spring is the season of radish, lettuce, cucumber and other vegetables, preferably from our own garden. You can also have your own vegetable garden if you live in a block of flats. It is enough to organise your kitchen and windowsills properly. The situation is even better when you have a balcony, you can grow cherry tomatoes or even wild strawberries.

Greenery and biological clock
One hour in nature is enough to regenerate after a stressful day at work, according to scientists. Looking at nature is very calming. Time spent in a park or forest can be compared to a trip to the seaside. Trees create a microclimate which is rich in minerals. People who have problems with upper respiratory tract should walk, or even better, run in a forest. Time spent in nature is also a chance to get far away from all the electrical / electronc goods we have at home. They create an electromagnetic smog which is not good for us. The influence of all the electronics around us includes sleep disorder, morning headaches and general discomfort. What’s more, the light that is emitted by smartphones has similar impact on our brain as sunlight so checking e-mails and Facebook in bed, just before you are about to fall asleep, is not a good idea. Light stops melatonin production, which causes sleepiness and which makes it easier for us to fall asleep.

Too much work makes us forget about our biological clock. In summer we should go to bed at sunset and get up at sunrise. Yes, together with hens and roosters. For most people it is impossible to do. Instead of listening to nature, we force our organisms to work when we should be relaxing. Especially those who live in cities tend to have their inner clock completely out of order. Cities are full of lights, supermarkets are open until 11pm, the same with gyms. All these things have bad impact on our sleeping habits.

Naturally? Only breastfeeding!
Breastfeeding is the only natural way to feed newborns. It is recommended by midwives and doctors. We should breastfeed our babies for at least six months as in this period a functional immune system is built. Mother’s milk is adjusted to a given baby’s needs. It is full of nutrients that a baby needs in this period of life. Breastfeeding helps a baby avoid having allergies later in life.

Breastfeeding is also a chance to build a close relationship between a mother and a child. During breastfeeding oxytocin is produced, which is also called "love hormone". It increases immunity and it helps to deal with infections more quickly. It also protects from sadness and depression. Artificial milk, even those declaring a high quality in no way can substitute mother‘s milk. Women who are breastfeeding for the first time, can get help from midwives and other advisors. The beginning may not be easy but the benefits for a baby are enormous.

The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one’s destiny to do, and then do it.
- Henry Ford

Natural choices are simple:

• Ecological vegetables
• Breastfeeding
• Reasonable usage of water and electricity
• Bike instead of a car
• Relaxation in a forest, instead of in front of a TV set

Go to Step 10 here >>