Your Health IS Your Success!
We often think about investments as giving money to our stock brokers and hoping that our stocks gain value; many know that this is a risky proposition, but do it anyway. If we pick a good broker who picks good stocks, we’re in decent shape.
Few people are aware of how an investment in their HEALTH is actually the most important and lucrative investment they can make. While 401Ks and retirement plans are great investment tools, staying healthy is an even better one! You can’t outspend disease no matter how much money you have.
Studies are beginning to show a clear relationship between the lifestyle choices you make and your income and success. Given the disease burden currently plaguing our country and much of the world, we must now look at health as a major economic factor.
Studies looking at successful business entrepreneurs and executives clearly show that they attribute much of their success to their health habits. They hire the best doctors and fitness experts and follow a good plan. It was previously thought that those of higher economic status had the luxury to make better choices leading to better health, but evolving data is showing that because they make better health and wellness choices with sound guidance, they are wealthier and are more successful in their careers!
One study released in 2012 by Money Magazine showed that exercising 3-4 times a week increased income by 6% for men and 10% for women. A 2012 Brigham and Young study showed that loss of productivity at work can be decreased 66% with good nutrition and by 50% with exercise.
I’ve always been a fitness buff and even competed in college basketball and figure competitions after having my kids. I often encourage my patients to begin resistance training regimens because muscle is directly associated with metabolism. 
According to traditional Chinese medicine, muscle is the tissue of the spleen qi (pronounced chee)-which is what is called the “post-heaven qi.” In other words, spleen qi is responsible for our metabolism, which powers all body function such as vision, movement, detoxification, immune system function, digestion, absorption, thinking, analyzing data, hearing, and on and on….
We can understand this link by understanding more about mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells. Mitochondria are directly responsible for making all of the energy that powers our cells and body function. Muscles contain the most mitochondria of any tissue of the body. This explains the traditional Chinese physicians’ conclusions from 3,500 years ago that the spleen qi and muscles were vital to life. Now, modern science is proving this in its own way. This is why I absolutely love Chinese medicine. No matter how much new information becomes available, Chinese medical theories remain intact.
Spleen qi is most closely associated with the gastrointestinal system according to our conventional medical model, so keeping the gut healthy is a critical factor to maintain metabolism and energy production.
Preventing diseases and successfully treating chronic conditions can be tricky and requires a great deal of expert guidance from an experienced and certified Integrative medical doctor. Given the complex nature of the human body and its interactions with our toxic environment, proper guidance is critical and more important now than ever before.
Three tips to begin to successfully prevent disease and increase your success and wealth are:
- Make sound nutrition choices and plan ahead for your meals. It’s critical to eat sufficient amounts of clean proteins, healthy carbohydrates, and tons of leafy veggies.
- Eat small meals every 3 hours throughout the day. This is the best way to get your metabolism into high gear and is a secret bodybuilder trick to stay lean.
- Begin a strength training regimen three to four times a week with the goal of increasing muscle mass-remember – this requires protein and some carbs to feed them!
These three tips will get you started in a good direction, but it can be difficult to get on track without great guidance from an expert in Integrative medicine. A comprehensive integrative medical evaluation and program is the best investment in your health and wealth.
Dr. Mylaine Riobe, who most recently was a guest on Naturally Savvy, The Frankie Boyer Show, and Dr. Veronica MD, is committed to helping her patients make lifestyle changes that truly affect their success in business and personal goals. To schedule your first step with Dr. Riobe, call 772.266.4258 – your VIP path to a better you awaits you.
