HEALTH & WELLNESS by Nanette Wiser
In 1978, after reading Richard Louv’s insightful pieces in Psychology Today, I moved to San Diego for a summer (never leaving till I moved here). With an internship at San Diego Magazine, I was privileged to be Louv’s research assistant. His candor and discipline about the craft of writing, like Roy Peter Clark’s books, guide me to this day.
Louv continues to research and write about visions for our world and human connections that matter, especially with nature and the animal kingdom. He is ahead of the curve as usual. According to health and medical research, children who spend time around trees and grass have better mental health in adulthood. The same is true for adults, so hugging a tree and walking in nature may just be good medicine for the mind, body and spirit.
Louv’s Vitamin N (for “nature”) is the comprehensive practical handbook that informs families and communities on living and learning from nature with 500 smart, fun, and effective ways to engage with the natural world; scores of informational websites; and dozens of thought-provoking essays. There are creative projects and activities for every stage of life, from suggestions for calming infants through nature, building a nature vocabulary with toddlers, and helping tweens become citizen scientists to finding nature-centered schools, medical professionals, and even careers; plus easy ways for the whole family to join nature clubs, volunteer to restore damaged habitats, and more.
Louv’s newest book, Our Wild Calling: How Connecting with Animals Can Transform Our Lives – And Save Theirs, is equally provocative, “exploring these powerful and mysterious bonds and how they can transform our mental, physical, and spiritual lives, serve as an antidote to the growing epidemic of human loneliness, and help us tap into the empathy required to preserve life on Earth.”
Louv interviews researchers, theologians, wildlife experts, indigenous healers, psychologists, and others to show how people are communicating with animals in ancient and new ways; how dogs can teach children ethical behavior; how animal-assisted therapy may yet transform the mental health field; and what role the human-animal relationship plays in our spiritual health. Want more? Visit the blog.childrenandnature.org/blog
Equally intriguing reading is Dr. Mark Hyman’s “What The Heck Should We Eat” about the power of real food to keep us well. Food as medicine is trending topic, but Hyman’s expertise and tips shed practical insights into what we can do daily using food as medicine to support longevity, energy, mental clarity, happiness, and so much more.
He advocates a mix of supplements based on his research for a 10-day reset, followed by a menu of options and recipes that can reduce sluggish minds and bodies and restore vitality. drhyman.com/blog/category/recipes
Dr. Hyman is a practicing family physician and an internationally recognized leader, speaker, educator, and advocate in the field of Functional Medicine. He is the founder and director of The UltraWellness Center, the Head of Strategy and Innovation of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, a thirteen-time New York Times bestselling author, and Board President for Clinical Affairs for The Institute for Functional Medicine. He is the host of one of the leading health podcasts, The Doctor’s Farmacy. Dr. Hyman is a regular medical contributor on several television shows and networks, including CBS This Morning, Today, Good Morning America, The View, and CNN. He is also an advisor and guest co-host on The Dr. Oz Show.
Make a plan today to embrace both wellness ideas, cooking and walking in nature to improve you and your family’s health and wellness.