25 Apr Do You Live Like a Caveman?
Earth Day got me thinking. How connected are we in modern times to the earth? For example, when was the last time you got muddy? We tend to go from house, to sidewalk, to car, to building, and back again. No walking on grass and especially not mud. That’s great, right?
Maybe not always. In our quest to be forever comfortable and clean, we have disconnected ourselves from the earth. The earth, along with the sun, is our source of life and vitality. Let’s think for a minute how.
Do you live like a caveman (and I’m including cave-women and cave-children)?
As in, how close is your life to the life that we evolved to live? Are you working with Mother Nature or against her? Let’s consider how much modern life has disconnected us from our source.
Contact with the earth. As I said, we rarely touch the earth. I am seeing more and more lawns replaced with artificial turf and concrete. Our ancestors spent almost all their time in contact with the ground. Our bodies are electric beings; we get electrocardiograms, right? The earth has a charge and when we walk barefoot, or sit on the ground, or do gardening, we gain electrons. This has many positive benefits, like reducing inflammation. Maybe that’s why we find picnics relaxing or gardening satisfying.
EMFs. In caveman days, there was relatively little electromagnetic energy in the environment, compared to today, or even ten years ago. Now, we are inundated with EMFs from WIFI devices and overhead power lines. We saturate our heads with EMFs when we put cell phones to our ears. People report sleeping better, or just feeling better, once they turn off their WIFI at night, or keep their distance from their cell phones.
Sunshine. Cavemen had plenty sun exposure. Now we wear sunscreen, some of us on a daily basis, even those who live in northern latitudes. Sun on the skin has benefits, as well as sun in the eyes. Cavemen didn’t wear sunglasses. Florence Nightingale, the exceptional nurse that she was, found that sunshine was healing, as well as fresh air.
Swimming in the sea. When I was a child, I spent a lot of time with my family swimming in lakes or bays and I loved it. Recently I have seen beach parties where the children play on large plastic inflatable water slides instead of the natural water of the gulf. And, think how many people frequent swimming pools. So now we soak ourselves in chlorine, fluoride, and whatever chemicals are in our water supply, instead of the natural trace minerals in the lakes and seas. Those trace minerals contribute to our health.
Hot and cold. Since I live in New Orleans, I know what hot weather is. But I know people who say they just won’t go outside in the summer to avoid the heat. That seems fine, but sweating is a great way to detox. For those who live in the north, the winters can be plenty cold. But most people have well-heated houses, and cars kept in garages, so they rarely spend time outdoors getting cold. Some cold and heat can be forms of mild stress, and that has a “hormetic” effect on the body. Like stressing a muscle by lifting weights will make it stronger, mild stress can be healthful.
Food we eat. Cavemen ate plants they pulled from the ground. They ate animals who roamed freely and ate their natural diet. Now we eat food manufactured in a plant, not from a real plant. Our animals are confined in factory farms, are overcrowded and sick, and fed antibiotics, hormones, and grains they were not born to eat. Sounds so yummy, doesn’t it?
Pollution. Most of us are aware of the dangers of air and water pollution. But indoor air pollution is also a concern, something our ancestors didn’t have, because no shelter was as airtight as modern houses. Also consider land pollution, as farm land is sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers. That junk gets in your food and harms your health.
Reconnecting with the earth
You can make things better for yourself. Spend time outdoors, maybe walking, biking, hiking, or gardening. I love gardening because you can be sure no unwanted chemicals are on your food. Go to the beach, which is my personal favorite. Go to a park or the woods. Go barefoot. Try opening windows on a nice day and bear with a little heat or cold. Leave off your sunglasses and sunscreen except when you really need them. Eat organic when you can. Turn off your wifi sometimes, or hard wire your devices, and use your phone on speaker.
If you feel unconnected to the earth, or just want to improve your health, contact me. I’m a National Board Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach. I’ll listen to your story and learn about your lifestyle. I can support you with your own wellness goals, or help you follow your doctor’s recommendations. My coaching is personalized, not a program that works for some people but not all.
In the Comments below, share how you connect with the earth.
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Bulletproof on Protecting Yourself from Wireless Devices
Mark’s Daily Apple on Hormesis
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