For the last year or so, I’ve been deeply entrenched in the exponential growth of the natural health industry. People are realizing, slowly but surely, that the typical Western diet and lifestyle leads to a very unhappy and diseased body. Finally.

Thanks to my Mom, I was exposed to the alternative diet and exercise routine from a young age. Natural health in ingrained in me. But as I grow older and talk to more and more people about their personal stories I have realized: there is no such thing as the correct health routine.

The health world is full of really sexy people standing on their soap boxes telling us all what’s right. Well I’m jumping up on my tiny soap box to tell you that there is no singular method that works for everyone. Every body is different.

The human body is insanely complicated. We cannot categorize or predict because there would be WAY too many possibilities. Each body reacts differently to their environment, needs different foods, and handles different forms and intensity of exercise.

So what is the answer? Which of these very sexy, very healthy people do you listen to? It’s pretty simple … yourself!

The key is in developing an acute sense of self. Learning to understand when your brain or body needs something different from what you’re providing. For instance, in high school I was chronically lethargic, sleeping up to 12 hours every day. So for 3 years, my mom helped me explore my diet. One at a time, we cut out certain food groups, added in other things, and messed with my workout routine. We experimented with my body.

During that time and with the help of our first holistic doctor, we found that I (and my siblings and mom) are gluten-intolerant. As the years have worn on, I’ve seen two more doctors and continued experimenting and researching. My diet has become more limited but also more delicious and energizing.

The trick is to find the right combination of all the approaches that the industry has to offer. Now-a-days, it’s easy to experiment! Grocery stores are becoming more aware of food-intolerances and there are so many free (or cheap) and easy workouts for so many various body types.

So instead of latching on to one or two people, preaching their particular path to health, experiment with yourself. Keep a record (written or not) of how you feel with each dietary change. Know your body and how it’s handling your workouts. And most of all, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. This will be a lifelong process. You will change, as will modern trends and practices. But if you know your reactions and what you need for optimal health, you’ll always be at the top of the game.

I hope you’re all having wonderful days. Love and a big hug- Ash