6 Foundations for Lasting Health

I won a tower building competition once. (It was with Styrofoam cups and skewers, but still one of my greatest accomplishments. 😆)

The objective was to build the tallest tower that could stand on its own.

While other teams focused right away on height, my team's strategy was to build a strong foundation first.

It looked like we were losing most of the time since the other towers kept growing and growing...until a certain point.

The towers without strong foundations reached their tipping points rather quickly. They were tall, but they all fell down quickly. They couldn't add any more height because of how unsteady they were.

But our tower...our tower didn't grow quickly. Once it did though, it seemed like we could stack endless amounts of cups without it falling. So, we won.

The same is true for health. Working on foundations before targeting specific issues is crucial to a life of health.

It sounds simple - and it is. We don't need to overcomplicate health.

There's a reason why focusing on single issues like clear skin, weight loss, etc. only leads to temporary results. It's like the towers - we can only make so much progress with weak foundations until we plateau or even collapse and have to start over again.

The 6 Foundations for Optimal Health

As a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, I focus on building and supporting 6 Foundations with my clients before using a more targeted approach. 

These Foundations for Optimal Health are:

1. Diet
2. Digestion
3. Blood Sugar
4. Minerals
5. Fatty Acids
6. Hydration

When we support these areas, the whole body can thrive the way God designed it to. 

Keep reading below for an overview of each foundation and how imbalances may show up in your body.

Diet

The foundation of all Foundations.

Optimal health becomes possible when we feed our bodies a variety of fresh, whole, nutrient-dense food. 

Imbalances here lie at the root of most symptoms.

Digestion

The best quality food is of no use if we cannot digest it and use its nutrients. 

Focus on this Foundation ensures we can use nutrients from food to build healthy cells for every part and function of the body. 

Imbalances here can look like bloating, constipation, heartburn, and more.

Blood Sugar

Our energy, mood, memory and many other functions depend on stable blood sugar levels. 

This Foundation focuses on supporting our bodies so we can maintain healthy levels. 

Imbalances here can appear as fatigue, trouble sleeping, mood swings, brain fog and more.

Minerals

Minerals can be seen as the “spark plugs” of the body since they are necessary for every function to run properly.

Focus on this Foundation is essential for optimal health because our bodies cannot make minerals.

Imbalances can appear as cramping, nausea, joint pain and other symptoms.

Fatty Acids

Often misunderstood, fats are required to live optimally.

This Foundation focuses on healthy fat intake to help with long-lasting energy, satiety, hormone health and much more.

Imbalances here can appear in many ways like hormonal imbalances, excessive hunger and headaches.

Hydration

Water makes up about 60% of our bodies and is necessary for proper digestion, flushing toxins and more.

It is a crucial nutrient and this Foundation ensures our levels are optimal for us to thrive. 

Imbalances here can contribute to many symptoms such as headaches, low energy, and digestive issues like constipation.

It always amazes me to see that, while there are six Foundations, there are usually only one or two most out of balance in my clients that are wreaking havoc on the whole body.

Looking in depth at your diet, lifestyle and symptoms tell you so much about your current deficiencies and stressors and point you toward the one or two foundations you need to work on. 

That's exactly what I help clients do when they work with me 1:1.

Discover your unique foundational needs by completing a free Nutritional Assessment so you can build a strong, thriving body and stop symptom chasing.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Julianne Salcedo is for educational and informational purposes only and is NOT intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified health care provider.