Individualizing Health

When it comes to your health, it’s important to remember the you part of it! When you select a doctor or go on a treatment plan, make sure you are getting care specific to what you need and respond well to. This is also important in your daily wellness practices. While there are some overarching principles regarding good health, there’s no one-size-fits-all. 

Diet

There are some basic diet rules out there: get enough vitamins, keep a balance of macronutrients, eat your veggies, stay away from refined sugars, etc. But not all bodies react the same way to the same foods. You may find that you don’t digest some foods well. You may find that a Mediterranean diet helps reduce inflammation, or that red meat makes you sluggish. Heck, if peanut butter makes you gassy, you need to know that so that you don’t gobble it down right before a hot date! Some studies even show that your genetic makeup might determine the best diet for you.

Specific medical conditions may also require specific dietary protocol. For instance, if you are a diabetic, you know all too well the importance of monitoring your glucose levels and carb intake. So if you deal with the “dawn phenomenon,” for instance, you may need to make dietary adjustments, such as fewer carbs early and late in the day, or eating an earlier dinner. If you’re at a high risk for osteoporosis, make sure you consistently take in enough calcium. People on blood thinners may need to avoid green vegetables, because of the high vitamin K.

Small ailments

We by no means suggest taking our advice instead of seeing a doctor! There are some small ailments, though, that you may find you’re able to relieve in ways particular to you. Someone with chronic shoulder tension may find acupuncture useful; someone else may find that medicinal CBD Fix provides relief; someone else altogether may require muscle relaxers from the doctor.

Pay attention to your body: you may notice that certain activities, foods, or interactions cause negative reactions. Too much sugar may give you a sore throat, or you may simply burn easily in the sun. These little things are important to notice and take care of. Your best friend may never get a sunburn, but if you turn into a lobster in 10 minutes, slather on that sunscreen silly!

Individualized medicine

There is actually a branch/style of research in medicine known as “individualized medicine.” This practice stems from the idea that “people vary in their circumstances, preferences, and in their optimal path to full health.” In individualized health, a patient is compared to other patients with similar characteristics. By comparing someone with people who are more or less like the patient, any aberrations stand out in stark contrast. At the same time, these subsets are becoming clearer and clearer, making it easier for doctors to notice any trends that might be specific to people with a patient’s particular characteristics. Major research clinics like Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic employ individualized medicine as part of their research and treatment.

Related:
How To Make The Best Choice in a Doctor
How to Make the Most of Your Doctor Visits