JULY IS SOCIAL WELLNESS MONTH
An important lifestyle factor we focus on at Walker's Functional Nutrition is social supports and networks. One of the questions clients are asked in the intake process are if they have support from family, significant others and/or friends when embarking on a wellness program of diet and lifestyle modifications to heal their chronic health issues. Because in addition to the education and support we provide it is important to know if clients will also have others in their life supporting their efforts to make significant changes that will aid in their healing or not.
Moreover, we are social beings. Support can be seen as an encouragement to engage in healthy behaviors. Lack of support or isolation can become a barrier to health behavior adherence.
According the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM), those with strong social relationships have 50% increased likelihood of survival against chronic disease. In post menopausal women, social isolation and loneliness may increase cardiovascular disease risk up to 27%. Poor social relationships are associates with a 29% increased risk of heart disease and 32% increased risk of stroke compared to those with strong social connections. Aging adults with lower social engagement are 59% more likely to experience cognitive decline and impairment.
Social support can help mediate stress, combat loneliness, address depressive symptoms and our genetic expression. Click the button below to read an IFM article on Sociogenomics. It describes how our social environment affects genetic transcription with critical impacts on health. (epigenetics)
Emphasizing the need for healthy social supports is crucial during this time. Many people have spoken about some of the difficulty they have been experiencing re-integrating socially as we emerge out of the isolation brought on by the pandemic in the past few years.
For these reasons, Walker's Functional Nutrition is hoping to run online support groups for people interested in getting assistance with eliminations of highly inflammatory foods in the western diet and other lifestyle topics needed to promote wellness. We are strongly considering incorporating group programing for existing clients so the people we serve can have a greater sense of community support in their healing journeys.