Beware the magic bullet

If you’ve been aware of the wellness world for any amount of time, you have probably seen a good share of “superfoods,” “miracle detox,” and “all natural cures.”  You have probably heard some amazing claims made about this supplement, that combination of everyday ingredients, those weird berries, and all the fragrant oils. Each and every one of them is meant to heal the body from a wide range of what ails ya, from extra weight to cancer.  I’m not going to lie; I’ve certainly tried my fair share. At one point my medicine cabinet was a wasteland of “miracles.”

And who can blame me?  It’s so seductive to think that I can just do this one thing and all my problems will just disappear. Especially when I’m sick and feel horrible and scared. But it’s a false promise because that’s just not how we work.

Nevertheless, the promises keep rolling in, and people keep throwing their money at these cure-alls and feeling like failures when the promised benefits don’t come about.  The hilarious and gold-medal cursers over at the Thug Kitchen have a perfect name these phenomena, “cult of wellness magic.” (Don’t click through if cursing offends you.)

You might be thinking, “Carrie, aren’t you being a bit cynical?” To that I answer a resounding, “Heck yes, I am!” And I would urge you to be cynical, too. If anyone tries to sell you a remedy for your pain with the promise that it’s as simple as taking a pill or including an expensive powder in your smoothie, they aren’t about your well-being. They are about your money.  Any remedy that doesn’t jibe with science, doesn’t view you as a whole person, and/or takes a one-size-fits-all approach should not pass your smell test.

This does not mean that I don’t think you can find healing. Obviously, I do or I wouldn’t have become a health coach. But I also know from the healing I have gained and from the transformation in my clients’ lives that healing occurs when you are intentional about all aspects of your life — from what you put on and in your body to how you use your energy to how you speak about yourself.  And yes, SOME  superfoods, supplements, and oils may play a role in all that, but they aren’t the whole shebang…not even close to it.

You are better off increasing the number of vegetables you eat in a day than drinking a liter of the newest health drink. Getting a full night sleep every night will do more for weight control than that weird new detox. And making it a daily practice to work on your stress will do more for your long-term health than that expensive supplement.

So the next time you start to find yourself seduced by some new wellness magic, turn off your screen, march into your kitchen, and whip up some veggies. There are no magic bullets but you are more powerful than you know. You are more than capable to do the work needed to make the change happen.