Good morning all,

Pills. Medication. Medical intervention. These are words we generally don’t really want to hear but are all too often grateful for. Thank goodness we live in a time where we have incredible options available to us if we really need them.

The flip side of this is sometimes we can get a little complacent about our health and just assume that there’ll be a pill or procedure to fix us in the future. While this may in fact be true at times, this mindset can deprive us of being shining beacons of health right now, and from enjoying an energised, vibrant life for many years to come.

Here are a few things I’ve recently found or revisited that can help us nurture a healthier body and mindset – enjoy!

Look after your microbiome

We’re basically 50/50 human cells and “non-human” cells living in the one body (you’re only half “you”?!). Looking after our non-human stuff is really important and over the past few years, gut health has proven to be a major player in our microbiome with links to many modern day chronic diseases.

These two Rich Roll podcast episodes – Robynne Chutkan and Ara Katz and Raja Dhir – beautifully explain how it all works and what you can do now to build a healthier 50/50 YOU!

You can also read this: The Microbiome Solution: a radical new way to heal your body from the inside out by Dr Robynne Chutkan.

Drink less beer

Oh. My. God. Surely not? But unfortunately, yes. As is mentioned a lot in the aforementioned podcasts, alcohol is one of the most commonly used substances that limits our potential. Even if you “only” drink a couple of times a week your body will almost constantly be dealing with its effects on a daily basis – yep, DAILY. What’s the answer? Try a month off the booze and use One Year No Beer to help keep you on track, and listen to this London trader’s story to hear how this one simple change made profound differences across his whole life.

Something you can do today

Thankfully many of the things that support a healthy microbiome are cheap, easy(ish) and readily accessible, even in London.

• Get a pet. Having a little animal around not only brings love and fun but also a whole new exposure to nature. And don’t forget to adopt, don’t shop.

• Go outside. The Japanese even have a term for it: “Forest Bathing”. It’s been linked to lower heart rate, lower blood pressure and improved immune function.

• Eat organic. Less chemicals, more natural microbes – the good ones!

• Get dirty. Improved hygiene is basically a modern wonder and has saved countless lives over the years, but taken “too far” it can impair our body’s natural defences. Overusing antibacterial soaps may disrupt the skin’s natural balance of microbes, so go easy (and read the label for recommended use).

For a whole lot more great actionable resources, Dr Gemma Newman MD has a brilliant website. Gemma is one of the growing number of GPs who focuses on educating and supporting patients to make lifestyle changes to help improve their health. You can read her story here.

Stay special,

Luke x

P.S. Do you like puppies? Me too. Here’s why...