Side Effects
Movement Side Effects: Cardiovascular exercises lower blood pressure, grow new blood vessels & improve the efficiency of heart/lung functions. Resistance training exercises can increase the strength of muscles, bones, ligaments & tendons. Yoga, stretching & range of motion exercises can increase flexibility. Decide which body parts that you want to improve. Then, after consulting with your healthcare provider, gradually incorporate a variety of fun & enjoyable activities to your day & week to reap the positive side effects of building & maintaining a strong & healthy body.
Plant Side Effects: Consistently eating Whole Food, Plant Based (WFPB) foods is associated with preventing & reversing many food related diseases. WFPB meals & Traditional Mediterranean meals have been shown to have the greatest impact on overall health. WFPB meals consist of only plants (e.g., legumes (beans, lentils), whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts & seeds). Traditional Mediterranean meals consist of mostly WFPB foods with small amounts of unprocessed animal-based foods (e.g, fish, eggs, poultry, dairy & limited red meat). Long-term side effects of such meals are: improved heart/ vascular health (e.g, clogged arteries), cholesterol, blood pressure, digestion (microbiome diversity), inflammation, metabolic health, weight management, reduced cognitive decline/Alzheimer’s & lower risk for chronic diseases (heart, obesity, type 2 diabetes, some cancers). Make plant-based foods the main event at your next meal & reap its preventative & healing impact on your body & mind.
Believing Side Effects: There are psychological, emotional, social & physical benefits of believing in something bigger than yourself. Some examples are: 1) Reassurance during difficult life events; 2) Sense of Life’s Purpose & Meaning; 3) Moral Framework to guide behaviors & decisions; 4) Community/Social Support that provides a sense of belonging & decreases loneliness; 5) Coping Mechanism to deal with loss, grief or trauma; 6) Hope & Optimism helps with finding a positive outcome; 7) Mental Health (e.g, decrease depression, anxiety); 8) Social support to live a healthier lifestyle; 9) Stress reduction. By connecting your daily activities to the world & beliefs around, you will begin to see & feel how your thoughts & actions have a bigger impact than just on yourself.
People Side Effects: When you hang out with liked minded people, you benefit in the following ways: 1) Sense of Belonging; 2) Emotional Support; 3) Increased Motivation to accomplish goals; 4) Enhanced Learning; 5) Validation of Beliefs & Values; 6) Reduced Conflicts; 7) Networking Opportunities; 8) Collaborative Opportunities; 9) Positive Reinforcements; 10) Stress Reduction; 11) Shared Experiences & Learning. Social Health benefits are determined by our actions & inactions. Create & join circles of people who have similar mindsets & develop all the characteristics that you admire in other people.
Money Side Effects: We are all at different levels of financial health; however, basic principles can help to improve our financial health. Learn from peers who are in similar financial situations & find out what’s working or not. Learn from peers who used to be in similar financial situations & made financial improvements. Calculate your expenses at least monthly & know where your money is going. Practice paying yourself first; even if it’s a dollar or less per paycheck, the practice is more important than the amount. Until you are financially sound, resist credit or loans and only use them for absolute needs.. Practice investing in your retirement & see how small amounts can make big differences. Reading & learning about money helps to better evaluate & understand how we can take control of any amount of money that we have.
Side Effects of Purpose: A defined life’s purpose makes everyday decisions easier & more meaningful. Life’s purpose helps align daily activities to whatever gives us joy. Knowing your life’s purpose makes it easier to say, “Yes,” to some things & to say, “No,” to some other things. Having a clear purpose gives you the energy needed to get the work done & adds value to your contribution. Get a pen & paper & start drafting your life’s purpose. Seeing your life’s purpose in writing helps to define it, know it and believe in it.