A health coach and organic wholefoods businesswoman has revealed how to maintain optimal health by avoiding what she has dubbed the seven ‘deadly Ss’.
Soulla Chamberlain , from Sydney, told Daily Mail Australia the seven factors can lead to serious health-related consequences as each one opposes the eight foundations of health.
The seven Ss that should be avoided include sugar and seed oils, soft drinks, a sedentary (inactive) lifestyle, sleep deprivation, stress, synthetic fragrances and social disconnection.
‘The increase in weakened immunity, chronic illness and degenerative diseases in the last 100 or so years can be attributed to a cluster of poor lifestyle choices – these seven are largely to blame,’ she said.
‘The empowering aspect is that it’s all reversible and you can take control of your health by acknowledging what you consume and use daily.’
Ms Chamberlain has taught thousands of people about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle through her blog, online workshops and businesses.
Soulla Chamberlain, from Sydney, (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia the seven groups oppose the eight foundations of health and can lead to fatal health-related consequences
Sugar and seed oils
Refined sugar and seed oils are damaging to the body as both typically do not provide any nutritional value.
Refined sugar found in sweets, confectionery, desserts and soft drinks is devoid of any nutrients and can lead to health problems when consumed in high amounts.
Ms Chamberlain said sugar quickly spikes our insulin levels and is then stored as fat, which often leads to weight gain.
Whereas seed oils, such as sunflower oil, vegetable oil, soy bean oil and canola oil, are considered to be ‘fake’ or ‘industrialised’.
Ms Chamberlain added how seed oils are ‘highly inflammatory and toxic’ to the body, and should not be used when cooking.
Soft drinks
Since hydration is the second foundation of health, soft drinks should be avoided as they do not sufficiently hydrate the body due to the artificial ingredients used.
‘Soft drinks contain so many artificial colours, flavours and ingredients, as do caffeinated drinks,’ Ms Chamberlain said.
‘If we all changed what we drank as well as what we ate, there would be less people with chronic illnesses and lower levels of obesity.’
‘Soft drinks contain so many artificial colours, flavours and ingredients, as do caffeinated drinks,’ Ms Chamberlain said
Sedentary lifestyle
With millions around the world working 40-hour office jobs, it has become more important than even to incorporate some form of exercise into your lifestyle.
‘The third foundation of health is movement, with the deadly opposite being sedentary or still,’ Ms Chamberlain said.
‘We’ve evolved from hunter-gatherer ancestors who needed to move to survive to being sedentary for most of the day.’
She added how we need to minimise illness and disease by being as active as possible in our everyday lives rather than keeping still.
‘The third foundation of health is movement, with the deadly opposite being sedentary or still,’ Ms Chamberlain said
Sleep deprivation
Getting enough good quality sleep each night is just as important as eating well and drinking enough water every day.
Ms Chamberlain said the body needs to rest, reset and regenerate at night in order to heal itself before the proceeding day.
‘In most cases it can be difficult to keep track of your health, lose weight or do day-to-day tasks if you’re sleep deprived,’ she said.
Stress
Ms Chamberlain said stress is a big ‘killer’ in the western world and is often difficult to avoid in some cases.
‘Mindset and stress management go hand in hand, and modern-day humans often experience ongoing chronic stress rather than short bursts of acute stress,’ she said.
‘For instance, what is happening in the world today with Covid-19 is causing unprecedented stress to occur 24/7, leading to fatal consequences.’
In order to combat against stress, Ms Chamberlain suggested focusing on what you can control rather than what you can’t, turning away from listening to media or news updates and deleting social media.
In order to combat against stress, Ms Chamberlain suggested focusing on what you can control rather than what you can’t, turning away from listening to media or news updates and deleting social media
Synthetic fragrances
Ms Chamberlain claims the overuse of fragrant products, such as perfume, cleaning products, shampoos, air fresheners and makeup, can also lead to health issues.
She said only essential oils and fresh air should be breathed in through the lungs as anything else is deemed to be toxic.
‘The average woman applies numerous chemicals to her body every day without even realising because the products used contain a number of harsh chemicals,’ she said.
She added how cleaning and personal care products often do not list the ingredients used, but are deemed to be safe because they are sold at supermarkets.
‘This loophole makes it difficult to determine what specific chemicals are used, and so it’s best to stick to natural products,’ Ms Chamberlain said.
Ms Chamberlain claims the overuse of products with synthetic fragrances, such as perfume, cleaning products, shampoos, air fresheners and makeup, can also lead to health issues
Social disconnection
Ms Chamberlain highlighted the importance of social connection through your spouse, family, friends, community and surroundings, as without connection many often fall into depression or anxiety.
Social disconnection is relevant to the millions of Australians currently stuck in lockdown due to Covid-19 restrictions – and so it’s important to maintain connections by touching base with loved ones virtually.
‘We as humans need closeness, unification and connection with others because it feels good and releases good hormones,’ Ms Chamberlain said.
By focusing your attention on your connections can boost your sense of purpose and unification with others of significance to you.