What Does Authentic Health Look Like to You?

Nobel Prize winning biophysicist, Max Delbruck, tells us that any living cell carries with it the experience of a billion years of experimentation by its ancestors. These ancestors gave us much more than a family tree. The very things that make us distinctly human were unknowingly tested and perfected by them. The ones who were more successful passed down that success to us. How our hearts, brains, lungs, kidneys and guts work, how our bodies respond to certain foods, how we learn, what we need to feel secure and thrive, all these things were refined by our ancestors and passed down to us.

Think of these traits as authentic, since they are unique to us humans, shared by all of us, eons in the making, and durable over time. Authentic Health is the state of genuine vitality consistent with our human origins and individual nature, and it is achieved by deliberate attention to not just one or two of the components that make us human but all of them.

However, we live in a world that seems to be rapidly moving away from the ways our ancestors lived, and our bodies and minds are desperately seeking what they need to be healthy and functioning at their best, but finding it more and more difficult.

What are these components? What does it take to be authentically healthy and relearn what our ancestors have taught us?

Traits We Can Learn from Our Ancestors

We have a lot to learn from our ancestors about living healthy lifestyles. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors were highly physical and were always on the move. They understood the value of interdependence and stayed socially connected.  Without societies protection, they would succumb to the wild. Processed foods were not an option, so they ate a plant-based diet that included nuts, fruits, fish, and minimal meats. Also, they had a strong connection with nature that kept them calm and limited chronic stress. Essentially, our ancestors were masters at giving purpose to everything they did in life.

When you take inventory of your life, can you notice areas where you are living authentically? Do you see areas where there’s room for improvement? If so, why not make a plan to work on it? For example, if you are mostly sedentary, can you incorporate ways to move more? If you feel like your clothes are getting tighter and you sluggish, are there ways you can improve your diet? If you find that you are becoming reclusive, are there community events you could participate in, or friends you can reach out to? This is all a part of what it takes to live in authentic health.

Live Long. Live Well!

This article is intended for general informational and educational purposes only, and should not be construed as financial or tax advice. For more information about whether a reverse mortgage may be right for you, you should consult an independent financial advisor. For tax advice, please consult a tax professional.