Category Archives: natural health

7 Mistakes Made When Starting a New Wellness Regimen that can Actually Sabotage Your Efforts

Posted on by under health, natural health, Nutrition, Uncategorized, wellness

by Dr. Imani Ma’at Kynes

Starting a health regimen can offer numerous benefits, but without a holistic approach, focusing on only one or a few components can lead to challenges and may even sabotage your efforts. Here’s a breakdown of the potential issues associated with each of the seven points and the benefits of combining all components into an integrative health plan, especially with the guidance of an Integrative Health Practitioner (IHP):

1. Only Focusing on Exercise

  • Issue: While exercise is crucial for health, focusing only on physical activity can overlook the importance of proper nutrition, hydration, and recovery. Over-exercising without proper support may lead to injury or burnout.
  • Benefit of Integration: Combining exercise with proper nutrition, hydration, and rest can improve energy levels, muscle repair, and overall vitality.

2. Only Focusing on Diet

  • Issue: Relying solely on diet for health can lead to nutrient imbalances, muscle weakness, or metabolic slowdown if physical activity is neglected. You may lose out on the cardiovascular, mental, and metabolic benefits of exercise.
  • Benefit of Integration: A balanced approach that includes both diet and exercise promotes optimal weight management, cardiovascular health, and energy regulation.

3. Adding Supplements Without Testing the Body

  • Issue: Taking supplements without understanding your body’s specific needs can be ineffective or even harmful. Excessive intake of certain vitamins or minerals could lead to toxicity, and deficiencies may go unnoticed.
  • Benefit of Integration: Testing and professional advice ensure that supplements target your specific deficiencies, maximizing their effectiveness and enhancing your health regimen.

4. Starting Without Baseline Indicators

  • Issue: Without baseline health measurements (e.g., blood pressure, cholesterol, body composition), it’s difficult to track progress or understand areas needing improvement. You may not know if you’re improving or worsening certain health metrics.
  • Benefit of Integration: Baseline indicators give you a clear starting point and allow you to measure progress over time. Incorporating regular check-ups or self-tracking can help fine-tune your regimen for maximum benefit.

5. Not Having the Proper Equipment

  • Issue: Lack of proper tools—whether it’s gym equipment, appropriate footwear, or kitchen tools—can limit the effectiveness of your workout or meal preparation. You may struggle to execute exercises or cook healthy meals properly.
  • Benefit of Integration: Having the right equipment makes it easier to stick to your regimen and reduces frustration. Investing in tools such as the proper blender, juicer, water purifier, enema equipment or exercise bands that support both exercise and diet enhances consistency and adherence.

6. Not Drinking Enough “Good Water”

  • Issue: Inadequate hydration or drinking poor-quality water can lead to fatigue, poor digestion, and compromised exercise performance. Water quality affects nutrient absorption and detoxification processes in the body.
  • Benefit of Integration: Proper hydration improves digestion, detoxification, and exercise performance. Drinking filtered, alkaline and mineral-rich water supports overall bodily functions and boosts the effectiveness of your health regimen.

7. Not Incorporating Detoxing and Cleansing

  • Issue: Toxins can accumulate in the body, affecting digestion, energy levels, and overall well-being. Neglecting detoxing can hinder progress, as the body may struggle to eliminate waste efficiently.
  • Benefit of Integration: Detoxing helps remove toxins and supports liver, kidney, and digestive function. When incorporated alongside a clean diet, exercise, and hydration, it leads to better absorption, digestion, clearer skin, and more energy.

Benefits of Putting It All Together

  • Comprehensive Approach: An integrative health plan ensures that all components of well-being (exercise, diet, hydration, detoxing, supplementation, and proper tools) work in harmony. When all aspects are addressed, your body can function optimally, leading to better physical, mental, and emotional health.
  • Sustainable Results: Focusing on only one or two areas may produce short-term gains, but a holistic approach leads to sustainable improvements in health, energy, and vitality.
  • Balanced Health: Integration reduces the risk of overemphasizing one area while neglecting others. For example, balancing intense exercise with proper hydration, nutrition, and rest prevents burnout or injury.
  • Customized and Flexible: While starting without an IHP might be more challenging, integrating self-research with a focus on multiple areas of health allows you to build a regimen that’s customized and adaptable to your specific needs. It may require more effort in the beginning, but over time, you’ll develop a well-rounded and balanced health routine.

By addressing all these elements in combination, you create a synergy where each component supports and amplifies the others, ultimately leading to better overall health

Progressively Yours Health and Wellness Podcast

Posted on by under Families, Forgiveness, Haiku Poetry, health, Incarcerated, Love, natural health, Nutrition, Poetry, Public Health

We, Bernard Kynes, Sr. and I, Dr. Imani Ma’at are so happy to announce the launching of the Progressively Yours Health and Wellness Podcast which aired for the first time on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. The show which is streamed live to FaceBook, YouTube and LinkedIn has been in the works for almost a year during which many things (concerning life and transitions) happened which postponed the launching. I missed the opportunity to dedicate this first show to my amazing Dad, Robert G. Thompson, who made his transition in February. His passing is still raw to me and I don’t yet trust my emotions to take a back seat! So I salute him here and know that I am because he was – and I am grateful for his love and sacrifices for me, my siblings and so many others during this lifetime. He retired from the New York City Housing Authority where he championed housing issues for thousands of New York City residents.

Progressively Yours is part of a larger platform entitled the Sankofa Institute for Wellness. We are dedicated to facilitating community wellness. The term will come to define itself over time as we offer this platform to highlight individuals and organizations that give of themselves tirelessly to support the wellness – mind, body and spirit of those whose lives help to give theirs meaning. That was a mouthful, but the first three guests were such individuals: Ms. Anecia Johnson, Dr. Gregory Ellison and Mark Blake. Their desire to inspire, educate, inform and ignite mind, body and spirit wellness exemplifies what we at Sankofa Institute are creating with this show. Each of them will be invited back for longer segments. Shows will be organized around monthly themes. August is dedicated to extraordinary people running amazing organizations serving the community. You will be moved – if nothing else to move to your next best! We are excited about sharing with our listening audience people that are so deep in the trenches that they may never truly get the kind of spotlight that they deserve. Other months will cover topics such as Healthy Eating, Exercise, Relationships. For August, we are starting with the topic of non-profit organizations that are serving communities in a big way! Join us on August 2, 2022 at 8:00pm EST to learn about the exciting work of Results Kids Club, Inc with youth in Decatur, GA.

Please subscribe to the Youtube channel. Join our Facebook group and connect on LinkedIn and spread the word. Our podcast is part of our new Institute – the Sankofa Institute for Wellness. All of our services and products can be found at TotalWelnessConsulting.com. We are looking forward to serving and collaborating with you, your families and organizations!

For the Ancestors!

Imani & Bernard, Sankofa Institute for Wellness, LLC,

sankofainst4wellness@gmail.com
800-773-9314
2107 N. Decatur Road
#199
Decatur, Georgia 30033
USA

Howling at the Sirens: Reducing the Noise and Increasing Happiness During the Holidays

Posted on by under Families, health, Healthy Haiku Poetry, Heart Disease, high blood pressure, hypertension, natural health, obesity, pain, Poetry, Uncategorized, wellness

What a strange title for a Blog about how to reduce the incidence of heart attacks during the holidays.  Prior to having Rottweilers as pets, as a health scientist formerly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, I researched and often contributed to the body of knowledge concerning high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, heart attacks and how to prevent all of the above. A lot of people go on line for updates about health and wellness including how to prevent heart attacks. A popular resource, WebMD recently posted that ”

“We certainly know that there are certain risk factors for coronary artery disease. There’s obviously smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia [high cholesterol], diabetes, lack of exercise, and age,” says Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD, a researcher at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles and a professor at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.

Since having our dogs we have noticed a strange occurrence.  They, like the coyotes in the woods adjacent to our home in Stone Mountain, GA – howl when they hear sirens.  Well at first (12 years ago) it would happen once in a while – perhaps several times a week.  Now it happens about 12 times a day and that concerns me. Other than the loud noise of our three dogs and sometimes their cousins in the woods howling and disturbing my peace, it now, for me signals emergencies in my neighborhood – many of them possibly heart attacks due to poor diets and lifestyles of residents in my area. I see what people are buying in the local stores and I am all too familiar with the local health stats. So the scientist in me is curious about the correlation between dogs and coyotes howling with an increase in heart health risk factors in my community. They are actually howling as I type……

With the coming holiday season – Thanksgiving through New Years- there is a noticeable increase in the “noise” from our dogs.  Over consumption of processed foods rich in fats, sugars, salts and devoid of nutrients – in addition to alcohol consumption place people at risk for increases in high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and heart attacks during the holidays. People also tend to reduce physical activity while sitting around and sharing quality time with friends and family.

Here are some quick and fun tips that families can do to stay healthy over the holidays (and always!):

  • Fresh fruit and veggie challenge: have a contest (everyone can put $5  -or more in a bowl) each time someone eats a fresh fruit, vegetable including fresh juice – they get a point. Some one must be designated to keep the spread sheet or everyone gets their own. At the end of the the holidays (or designated time period) the one with the most points receives the funds!
  • Family walks: Every evening after dinner, the family can take a nice walk through the community or somewhere safe and with proper lighting. Family can be comprised of family units, neighbors, relatives etc to ensure safety and numbers.
  • Learn new recipes that ensure nutrient rich food intake and reduced calories. Can also be structured as a contest. Be creative!
  • Drink at least 8 glasses Alkaline or clean purified water daily. Make sure everyone in family has their own glass or BPA-free plastic bottle (glass is better though). Encourage water consumption throughout the day. Keep refilling throughout the day!
  • Jumping jacks begin!  If you are physically able, do group jumping jacks, jump-rope or bike-riding.  Make family exercise a routine this holiday season and continue it as a tradition every day!
  • Limit animal products and fats which have been proven to increase the risk of heart disease and heart attacks.
  • Turn off the television.  In some homes it runs non-stop. If it is not on it forces you to get creative about how you spend your time. Being active burns calories. Just do something instead of sitting for hours!
  • Get a copy of Healthy Haiku 3: How to Fight Childhood Obesity One Poem at a Time for lots of additional health tips good for the entire family.

Imani.headshot.new1

Dr. Imani Ma’at is a Health Scientist (formerly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 22 year) Author, Speaker, Radio Talk Show Host, Wellness Coach, and Creator of the Health Haiku Workshops Series.

Click here for more information and booking options.

This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe any sickness or disease. It is recommended that you consult with your physician or other health care practitioner before starting any new health regiment or routine.

Puppy Litter Reminds Me of the Keys to Natural Health and Wellness

Posted on by under cancer, health, high blood pressure, hypertension, kidney failure, Life choices, natural health, Nutrition, obesity, puppies, reproduction, Uncategorized, wellness, wisdom

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Have you ever watched a dog deliver puppies? What an amazing experience! One of our soon-to-be 3 year old dogs had 7 beautiful puppies last night. Assisting and providing for her through the process was truly a privilege and a gift that I have never experienced in all of my years of raising dogs. I do mean privilege because I remember going through all-natural child birth 27 years ago as though it happened yesterday, Even though members of my family gathered around me, I kept feeling as though I wanted to be left alone and away from any on-lookers.

We have always received our dogs long after they have been weaned from their mothers. In preparation, she vomited prior to the delivery, but that signaled to me that she was almost ready deliver the puppies. She had labor contractions just like a woman and of course I recognized them right away. Her sides expanded and her body shook! She looked a little scarred and I could tell that she was in significant pain. However watching her dive in head first into pure instinct mode was simply amazing! After searching for a few minutes for a birthing location, she quickly decided upon the big dog house on the deck which provided sheltered space – a place where she could protect her puppies and deliver in semi-privacy. She delivered 7 healthy, beautiful puppies in the space of about 2 hours. Instinctively she released each from the birth sac and licked them clean for sanitation and to make sure that they were breathing and strong. After being cleaned, they latched on to her nipples immediately (or as soon as they could find their way to the spot). So yes, I was all engaged in wonder and amazement! What a beautiful natural process.

How close are you to being fit, healthy, and at your optimal weight? What if you are at the age of and ready to reproduce? Can you handle it? What would you need to do to prepare? I am not speaking of the obvious – suitable mate, husband, father, donor – no judgement – that part is on you. But what about your physical body? Have you been eating healthy, natural, organic foods rich with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that your body needs? Or have you been eating whatever your palate is yearning for at any given moment? Are you drinking a high quality of alkaline water to make sure that you are properly hydrated? We make life choices on a daily basis. Some support our highest good in terms of health and wellness and many do not.

In ancient cultures the term natural childbirth would have been considered an oxymoron! How else does one have a baby but through the natural process? Duh?? We are gradually getting back to a simple definition of natural health and wellness. One that includes a healthy diet, limited processed foods, limited dairy, limited wheat, limited meats, limited sugars. In fact the increased presence of these foods in our diets over the past 100 years, not to mention larger portion sizes, is directly correlated to present day trends of obesity, high blood pressure, cancer and kidney failure. A good rule of thumb with eating prepared food is to ask if it looked like that when it was growing? The further it looks from how it grew, the greater the chances are that it will not serve you well and may actually harm you.

During the labor, delivery and now nursing stage for the puppies, our dog ate very little and when she did take in nutrients she opted for water, our smoothie recipe loaded with nutrients and minerals and meat (no processed dog cereal).

In our community outside of Atlanta, Georgia, our neighbors are  95% African American. It is a predominantly middle-class area however the unsettling sound of blaring sirens – usually about 15-20 daily (I track them because our dogs howl at the sirens) continues to increase. As a Health Scientist who worked for many years to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, I know that the leading cause of death of all Americans (including African Americans)  is hypertension, high blood pressure, and heart disease. We are talking about thick sluggish blood and clogged arteries. How did we get so sick? How did we get so far away from nature in how we eat and live?

We could take notes from the animals – who, no mater how domesticated we attempt to make them – they are guided by instinct. Instinctively We also know what to eat, how much exercise to get, how much water to drink.

The message here is simple, tap into your inner wisdom in terms of what is healthy for you. Tap in to discover the diet and lifestyle that will deliver you to optimal health and wellness and change your quality of life. Read and search for the information on line too. There is very little that is new under the sun! Get quiet and just think about it. Every time you take in something that is harmful to your health and well-being an internal alarm goes off. My challenge to you is to start taking notice – acknowledge the alarms – and make little adjustments by what you hear! It is not magic, but rather instinct and science all wrapped up in one.

Please come back and read some more.  I will be sharing free tips on how to achieve optimal health and wellness through diet, juicing, alkalizing, and so much more.  Also tune in on Wednesdays 10-11:00pm EST to the Stepping Into My Power Blog Talk Radio Show. Are you Stepping Into Your Power by being the healthiest you that you can be? Let’s continue the discussion.

Visit my web site to learn more about my health and wellness offerings and programs. Invite me to speak at your next event!

 

Love & Light!

Dr. Imani Ma’at