Since ancient times, the bee has been a symbol of wisdom, birth, rebirth, and industry. Worker bees, in particular, are seen as dedicated, organized, efficient, and productive creatures. Bees spend their lives working for the good of the species and the good of humanity. Their primary driver is the well-being of their queen, who is responsible for the hive’s reproductive functions.
I believe we can learn lessons from the bees that can help us to be passionate, dynamic, and determined about our mental and physical health.
Working Towards Physical Health
Being passionate about positive physical habits can help you decrease stress, reduce disease risk, and increase your energy. Steps you can take to achieve a healthy lifestyle and combat age-related changes include:
Commit to a healthy diet. Doing this dynamically requires you to use mind over matter. It’s really easy to get distracted and forget to eat healthy foods. Sometimes our lives are so busy we don’t have the time to prepare high-quality meals. The resultant snacking can pile on the weight while causing nutritional deficiencies. Lack of the right vitamins and minerals leaves us vulnerable to disease. Follow a healthy diet by:
- Increase the number of fresh fruits and vegetables you consume. Where possible, eat them in their raw, natural form to gain the full nutrient value and fiber content.
- Limit your snacking and reduce the amount of food you eat at meals by opting for six smaller meals a day rather than three main meals with snacks in between.
- Plan meals ahead of time to avoid grabbing fast foods and pre-prepared items, which are usually high in unhealthy ingredients.
Reduce unhealthy additives and ingredients. Minimize your intake of foods containing high quantities of trans fats and added sugars. Also, cut down on the amount of salt you take in. Adults should avoid consuming more than 6 grams of salt a day because it contributes to higher blood pressure. Other food additives to avoid include monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium nitrate, artificial food colorings, high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, BHA and BHT.
Maintain optimal hydration. Staying hydrated is critical for your skin, your kidneys, and other internal organs, weight management, fitness, heart health and wellness, and to slow down aging. It’s easy to dehydrate due to illness, medication use, extreme exercise, or insufficient fluid intake. Staying hydrated reduces your risk of dehydration and its complications. Try to drink a quick glass of water first thing in the morning, before every meal, and again before bed for the easiest way to nail your fluid intake habit.
Get restful sleep. Make sure you get enough sleep by creating a restful sleeping environment for yourself. Darken your bedroom, remove any devices emitting radiation, and either open a window to get fresh air or use air-purifying equipment to clean the air as much as possible. Set a bedtime routine and stick to it. Avoid heavy foods before bedtime, and embrace good sleep hygiene habits.
The Bee’s Role in our Physical Health
These are all essential habits the worker bee adopts from the day it is born. Bees spend their time making honey, which has shown notable physical benefits for humans. Topical use of medical-grade honey promotes wound care, particularly in burn victims. Honey has shown promising results in cardiovascular treatment to reduce heart disease risk. It helps treat upper respiratory infections and nighttime coughs and can relieve gastrointestinal conditions.
Maximizing Our Mental Health
Studies also suggest honey could offer antidepressant, anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety benefits. In some studies, honey has been shown to help prevent memory disorders. Since most of these benefits haven’t yet been proven, however, it’s vital for humans to take ownership of their mental wellness. One way to do this is to develop a mental health toolbox that includes:
- Taking time out for prayer, meditation, mindfulness practices, or yoga.
- Participating in healthy lifestyle activities that refresh and re-energize you, such as walking, running, or exercise classes.
- Compiling a playlist of uplifting and positive music or sounds you can listen to whenever you feel the need.
- Practice an attitude of gratitude and consider your blessings whenever you’re feeling down.
- Interesting hobbies that help you relax “switch off” your active mind for a bit.
- Consuming mood-boosting foods rich in nutrients and enzymes such as B vitamins, probiotics, and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Spending time with people you trust, who are willing to listen and be encouraging.
- Volunteering for local organizations, which has been found to reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose.
To achieve your physical or mental health goals, you must first convince yourself that YOU are worth fighting for. Decide what you want in the way of wellness, and then take the first step by asserting your mind over matter. Maintain your motivation to improve your health, and, like the remarkable bee, you’ll achieve the ability to stay passionate, dynamic, and determined.
For more information on improving your health and wellness, please check out the BEMER blog posts on my Independent BEMER Website.