Part of the Elite Health Blends foundation lies in understanding the Mind Body Connection, and why it’s important. The connection between your mind and body essentially says your emotional health affects your physical health.

How the Mind Body Connection Works

To fully understand the Mind Body Connection, we have to turn to science. Every cell in the human body has a component known as telomere, which acts as a clock controlling the time between cell divisions. The shorter the telomeres, the more susceptible the body becomes to illness. Short telomeres have been linked to a number of issues, including: heart disease, HIV, aging, and osteoporosis.

When the body is under stress, it releases a hormone known as cortisol. You may already be familiar with it, as this is what science suggests leads to an increase in belly fat. The amount of cortisol your body releases is directly related to the cells’ ability to activate telomerase, or the enzyme that helps keep that clock ticking more slowly. Therefore, when under chronic stress, the body is constantly shutting down the telomerase, and is effectively speeding the aging process while promoting chronic illness.

Balance is key. Stress will happen, but to combat its effects, you need to make the connection work in your favor.

Making the Mind Body Connection Work for You

Learning to cope with stress and listen to your body is an important part of tuning in to the mind body connection.

Rather than feeding your emotions with food or dangerous substances such as drugs and alcohol, or pushing through when your body tells you it’s time to rest, you can use positive affirmations and visualization techniques to change your mindset from a negative to a positive one. You can focus on relaxing and healing your body to remove the negative energy with exercise such Yoga. Yoga utilizes techniques that will calm your mind while also building strength and flexibility for your body.

How I Make the Mind Body Connection Work for Me

My mind and body are highly in tune with one another. Whenever I encounter chronic stress because I don’t listen to what my body is trying to say, I certainly feel it. Whether it’s through headaches, insomnia, or an ulcer flare, I know when my body’s had enough. Once I take time to relax and unwind, I find myself much more calm, and the symptoms of my physical ailments diminish.

When I feel chronically stressed, I tell myself that whatever is on my plate has to wait. Nothing is more important than my ability to function. If I can’t make it through my day, several people suffer… but if I’m only going through the motions, those people suffer more.

I visualize the stress melting away. I repeat affirmations to calm my mind. Within a few minutes, I can feel a major difference, and this gives me the push I need to face the stressful situation at hand.

These techniques work for more than stress, too. By visualizing every step I take on my walk as one step closer to my weight loss, I feel empowered to continue. I visualize myself getting progressively thinner when I’m exercising and making the right food choices. I visualize my body taking in the nutrients it needs, and almost immediately feel energized.

How will you make the mind body connection work for you?