By Dr. Nicole Sundene

One day a student from UW Med School followed me around on my Bastyr Internship Rounds and said, “is being a Naturopathic Doctor all about fish oil and probiotics?”

To which I responded, “pretty much.”

As much as this is a little tongue in cheek humor for my colleagues, I hope you all will be reminded of the pillars of health.

Plus I don’t have all the time in the world to nag everyone on the planet so here is how you can help Dr. Nicole on her nagging mission:

#1 Tell everyone to investigate and TREAT THE ROOT CAUSE of their health problem.

#2 Tell everyone to eat a Whole Foods Diet. Processed foods were soooooooooooooo 1900’s. Whole Organic foods are the new millennium. McInflammation is NOT your friend! Don’t be cast to the wayside and don’t believe that the FDA is actually in your best interest when they approve food additives that have never even been tested on human beings. Be sure to also recommend Flavonoid rich foods like berries, chocolate, tea, and red wine; high in antioxidants to prevent free radical damage and inflammation. It is really quite simple to prevent aging, which is essentially cellular DNA damage.

#3 Tell everyone they need probiotics because without healthy gut flora their immune system cannot properly function.

#4 Tell everyone they need fish oil or flax oil or both! Omega 3’s are the new BLACK. Also remind them that the new BUTTER is GREEN….OLIVE OIL should be used whenever cooking under 320F and Canola Oil (cold pressed) should be used for higher temps.

#5 Tell everyone they need more sleep.

#6 Tell everyone that needs to lose weight that they need to lose weight.

#7 Tell everyone to exercise and get outside for twenty minutes of sunshine on their hands and face to get the needed vitamin D.

#8 Tell everyone they need to manage stress better and BREATHE in to their bellies. Now teach them Square Breathing or Five Minutes to Zen.

#9 Tell everyone they need counseling to work on their “issues” if you don’t have “issues” you are probably just in denial about them…..like me *stops writing to ferociously wash hands for the 100th time today*….just kidding…but seriously no one is “issue free.” Food is here to nourish us not nurture us, and if we have issues with eating a diet that supports the “Unleashing of our Inner Fabulosity” then they need to get counseling. Revert back to rule #1…Treat the Cause.

#10 When all else fails, recommend an Allergy Elimination Diet to see if a certain food or food additive is the cause of the problem.

Remember “Progress not perfection” this simple list of ten tips to a healthier you, can easily improve your foundation and pillars to health. I will also be walking everyone through the allergy elimination diet next month since Farmer’s Market Fruits and Veggies should be ubiquitous!

While of course this article has my per usual DRY humor added to it, and of course there is a difference between Naturopaths and Naturopathic Physicians (I am not saying you can be a physician in ten simple steps) but I have found my family and friends spreading my nagging love throughout the world and I really appreciate it.

Nag away my dear friends and readers! Thanks for stopping by my Kitchen Table!

~Dr. Nicole

Have a simple healthy tip? Feel free to leave your remark or link in the comments section.