Five Pillars of Wellness + The Three to Thrive

There are five main pillars that need addressing to attain a baseline of wellness, plus three overarching facets that will allow you to truly thrive. They are as follows:

FIVE PILLARS

(1) Nutrition & Hydration

(2) Sleep & Relaxation

(3) Exercise & Movement

(4) Stress Management & Resilience

(5) Relationships & Networks

THREE TO THRIVE

(1) Gut Health

(2) Detoxification

(3) Joy

NUTRITION & HYDRATION

Proper nutrition is required for all bodily processes - everything from cell growth to energy production. Macronutrients are required in large quantities for such functions (hence the prefix 'macro'), with proteins being most important for cell development and cell repair, carbs for energy production and digestion, and fats for energy production and to aid in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals needed in only small amounts (hence the prefix 'micro'), but none-the-less essential for many metabolic processes. They are important in many of the processes already mentioned for macronutrients (i.e. energy production and cell repair), but also in blood clotting, immune function, cell growth, bone health etc. Many macro- and micronutrients also have special functions within the body, for example CoQ10 (protein), Glutathione (protein) Vitamin C (vitamin) and Zinc (mineral) all have antioxidant properties and are capable of preventing cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species, such as free radicals. Finally, we should avoid any foods that cause significant inflammation such as refined sugar, trans fat, alcohol, and depending on the individual, gluten and dairy.

Hydrating the body is important from many perspectives. Water is a crucial component of the digestive process, from the production of saliva to the absor