7 Ways to Balance Your ROOT System

A client comes to see me who knows she needs to start eating healthier but remains resistant to making the necessary changes. She also complains of joint pain and swelling, intolerance to certain foods but can’t stop eating them, and recently gained a few pounds. From talking with her she comes across very stressed out but won’t admit it, she holds some strong opinions and admits she “hates change”. In addition, she happens to be a big meat eater and overindulges at meals and uses food as pleasure to reduce her stress level.

I see another client who displays a delicate persona and seems shy and untrusting. She admits being worn out, stressed to the max, and completely exhausted. The reason she came to talk with me is to discuss what and how she should be eating. Food confuses her which resulted in her eating very little protein and restricting what she eats because of being afraid if she eats the wrong thing it could make her feel worse. As a result she lost a lot of weight and her hair started thinning along with that her skin appears pail and lackluster. Lastly, she states being no longer close with her family and feels a bit isolated.

Both of these women are exhibiting imbalances in their ROOT system.

Ok, “great”, you say. What does the ROOT even mean and how does this relate to me? I am going to attempt to explain! But, first, can you see yourself at all in either of these women I described above? If so, you really want to pay attention. But, if you don’t let me outline a few typical imbalances seen in this system of the body to see if anything else resonates.

ROOT Imbalances:

• Being in a food rut

• Eating too much or too little protein

• Feeling very sensitive to how food reacts in your body to being unaware or disregarding how food effects you

• Food intolerances

• Unsure how to eat

• Inflammation anywhere in your body

• Under-active immune system or over-active (autoimmune disorders)

• Stressed but not affected or can’t handle any stressful situations

• Poor bone mineral density

• Erectile dysfunction

• Constipation

• Adrenal fatigue

• Swelling, pain, or stiffness in joints

• Calcifications

• Over indulgence in pleasurable activities or not allowing yourself enough pleasure

• Has an overly “tough” skin

• Pushes people away

• Feelings of insecurity

• Lack of boundaries

• Feeling stuck or scattered

• Lack of trust in others

• Not seeing yourself as separate from your family; very little alone time

• Lives life alone with no real sense of community or “tribe”

• Disregard of family traditions

The root system identifies with who we are at the core of our being along with our sense of safety, establishing boundaries, and belonging to a community. The root is all about anchoring ourselves to the physical world, just like the roots of a tree. The lower half of our body is like our root system along with our DNA and muscles, bones, feet, blood cells, and immune system. We need those “base” systems in proper working order before the rest of our body can follow in line. It remains a very primal system. Sometimes we like to disregard our primal nature as humans and look at loftier issues. When we fail to keep our thinking mind and our primal nature in proper balance it leads to issues in some key areas of our body as well as our connection to our family and community.

A deep color red is associated with the root system. Research has even linked the color red to many of the attributes associated with the root system. Such as feelings of alterness, anger, vigor, and aggression. In addition, research has linked the color red to our drive for survival, along with avoiding danger and threats. Red can signal dominance, make a women appear more desirable to the opposite sex, and it can intensify the feeling of pain.

As you can see color plays an important role in our lives, and not just because it happens to be pretty. Color effects us on physiological level and this is why we need to pay closer attention to the impact color has on our bodies, emotions, and thoughts.

Now let’s look at some ways we can balance our ROOT. When I say balance I never mean we will be able to keep anything in our bodies perfectly balanced, static, never changing. As I’ve explained in previous posts, it acts more like a dynamic balance. Micro ups and downs, ebbs and flows. We aren’t static beings after all. Read below for suggestions on how to seek balance in your ROOT. See if you can identify with at least one point from each of the seven areas. This way you are striving for balance in multiple ways, each having an impact on a different area of your physical, mental, and emotional aspect of you.

7 Ways to Balance the ROOT

Nutrition:

• Establish mindfulness around your bodily sensations when eating. Notice if you are hunger, when you are full, and pay attention to how your body feels with different foods you eat.

• Eat the right amount of protein for you body. Not too much, not too little. Plus, vary those protein options and balance them out with alkalizing plant foods.

• Pay attention to overindulgences and try to reduce the number of occasions.

• Incorporate anti-inflammatory foods like fish, fruits and vegetables, flaxseeds.

• Consider adding a fiber supplement to keep bowel movements regular

• Eat more red colored food like beets, cherries, pomegranates, raspberries, and tomatoes.

• Incorporate more root vegetables for their amazing mineral content. Rutabaga, turnips, celery root, sweet potatoes, parsnips.

• Pay attention to food ruts and strive for more diversity in your diet.

• Seek guidance from a qualified health professional for suggestions on supplements to support adrenal function, the immune system, inflammation, and the skeletal system.

Emotions:

• Keep a journal to explore life situations that “inflame” you

• Pay attention to the reaction you have when someone disagrees with you.

• Note your feelings: do you frequently feel irritated, enraged, angry, or experiencing emotional pain?

Thoughts:

• Note your stress levels and find ways to reduce it

• Pay attention to any repeating thought patterns and get to the bottom of them

• Are there particular family traditions that you continually follow but may not be best for your health?

• Bring your priorities into balance

Movement:

• Clear clutter from your home

• Implement small lifestyle changes

• Spend time in nature

• Do nurturing exercises like yoga, gi gong, pilates, and tai chi ( learn more! )

Affirmations:

• I am calm and relaxed

• I am grounded

• I am safe and secure

• I am open to change and possibility

• I am accepting of myself and others

Visualizations:

• Check out Dr. Deanna Minich’s great book called The Complete Handbook of Quantum Healing under the section “inflammation” for some great visualization techniques.

Meditations:

• Make time to be by yourself to nurture just you

• Find to time to relax and de-stress!

There are 6 other aspects that I will be coving in future blog posts so if you feel balanced in your ROOT system be patient there is way more to cover on this topic. If you feel you need personal support to fully work though imbalances in these areas please reach out to me and we can develop a personal plan just for you!

In vibrant health,

Paula

Resources:

Whole Detox: A 21-Day Personalized Program to Break Through Barriers in Every Area of Your Life, Dr. Deanna Minich

How the Color Red Influences Our Behavior: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-color-red-influences-our-behavior/

#wellness #functionalnutrition #mindbody #foodandspirit #vegetables #fruit #color #boundaries #protein #roots #inflammation #insecurity #foodintolerance #foodruts #tribe #community