Today is National Call Your Doctor Day.

I’m usually cynical about these “National” days because many of them seem pointless or downright silly.

But the message behind today’s is rather important.  Many women tend to take care of everyone else around them and ignore their own health, sometimes to their detriment.

So National Call Your Doctor Day is a reminder to all women to call your doctor if you are due for a check-up!

But that’s just the beginning…

Because what you do the other 364 days in a year has an enormous impact on your health, and the more you accept accountability for your health, the better those check-up results will be!

 So, ladies, here are some of the most important steps you can take for a healthier you and quite possibly a longer life:

6 steps to a healthier you!

1- Have a real, whole foods diet

A real whole foods diet is by far THE MOST significant step you can take to ensure that you will not only have a pulse for many years to come but that you also will be more likely to enjoy those years with better health and high energy, instead of being sick, tired and in pain.

If you need a little help in the food choice department, then check out my Great Taste No Pain health system.

Great Taste No Pain is not a “diet,” but a healthy eating lifestyle that encourages more efficient digestion and better nutrient absorption.

The key behind Great Taste No Pain’s effectiveness is proper food combination—pairing foods together in meals that are much easier for your system to break down. 

When you make your body’s job easier, that can pave the way for smoother digestion as well as less gas, bloating, constipation and acid reflux!

2- Explore bio-identical hormone replacement therapy

If you are facing menopause, I strongly suggest you explore bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).

Unlike synthetic hormones, BHRT works to help naturally reestablish the way your body sends messages to your tissues and organs to keep them healthy.

Your body has an easier time assimilating bio-identical hormones because they are identical in molecular structure to the hormones naturally made by your body.

You’ll have to seek out a practitioner that does BHRT—and because it’s more of a holistic therapy, many mainstream doctors are not familiar with it, but it is growing in popularity.  If you’re in the NYC area, Dr. John Salerno of the Salerno Center for Complementary Medicine is the best.

3- Consider breast thermography

Although mammograms continue to be the go-to for breast cancer screening, studies repeatedly show that mammograms have no impact on mortality rates.

Plus remember—mammograms only detect cancer once a tumor has formed—they are useless as far as prevention goes.

In addition, false negatives are a concern, especially for women with dense breasts.

A safe, very effective alternative is breast thermography.  Thermography tracks physiological changes that could indicate the beginning stages of cancer formation by measuring the infrared heat emitted by your body and translating that information into thermal images.

Thermography can detect signs of physiological changes due to inflammation and/or increased tumor- related blood flow up to 8-10 years before mammography or physical exam can detect a mass!

Now THAT’S prevention!

4- Get regular exercise

Ladies, it’s a fact that you don’t stand a snowball’s chance in you-know-where of having any measure of health if you don’t move your body.  

But exercise doesn’t have to be drudgery!  Even walking is very good and nearly everyone can do that.

So when you get your upcoming check-up, have your doctor clear you for exercise too, and then DO IT!

5- Nurture your gut

The beneficial bacteria that reside in your gut are truly your body's gold.

Your microbiome aids digestion and nutrient absorption, encourages healthy cholesterol levels, and even supports mental health!

Plus 70 percent of your immune system is in your gut--and without a healthy functioning immune system, you are far more susceptible to infections, viruses, and diseases--including cancer. 

Unfortunately, there are factors all around us that reduce our levels of these crucial friendly bacteria including: 

• Meats, poultry, and dairy from animals injected with antibiotics
• Chlorinated tap water
• Foods tainted with pesticides and toxins
• Antibiotics, birth control pills, and steroids
• Stress-filled jobs and lifestyles
• Processed foods and junk foods
• Refined carbs and sugars
• Aspirin, NSAIDs, and antacids

All of these chip away at your body’s friendly bacteria, day in and day out, and the cumulative effect on your probiotic colonies can be staggering...and dangerous.

But you can help counteract these factors with a potent, high-quality probiotic supplement like Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula.

Super Shield contains 13 strains of well-studied, effective probiotic bacteria that support sound digestion, help maintain gut wall integrity and encourage sharp immune system functioning.  

6- Make time for you

If you are someone who takes care of everyone but yourself, it’s time for some you-time. 

Do things that make you happy and reduce stress—taking up a hobby, going for a massage or infrared sauna, taking a warm bath, adopting a pet, reading a good book, meditating or praying, or listening to relaxing music—whatever works for you. 

Support your health not just on National Call Your Doctor Day, but 365 days a year!

You couldn’t do anything nicer for yourself.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia