Peace of Mind

The world of health is in need of a strong foundation

By Anna Marie Frank

» OUR NATION’S FOUNDATION OF HEALTH NEEDS A MA-

JOR OVERHAUL. As this pandemic unfolds and the “nocebo” effect takes its toll on an already-fragile population, it pushes me to spread positive, valuable and effective information centered around the fact that YOU have more control over your biology than you are led to believe. Wash your hands, wear a mask, stay six-feet away, get a doughnut for getting vaccinated — is this the best our country can do?

When I evaluate a client’s foundation of health, I look at their stress level, nutritional and water intake, quality of sleep, brain type, pH levels and their bowels. Do they have physical markers on their tongue, nails and in their eyes? Do they have a strong energetic field? There are a million questions I could ask a client, but the most important thing I must do is look and listen. Listen to their words and see what their bodies tell through observation. Do you think any of these things could impact how someone’s body and mind responds to COVID-19? I bring this up because in natural health, we look at an individual’s foundation of health (mind, body, spirit and energy) and we work on reinforcing areas that need more support. If we all worked on building a strong immune system, for example, would this virus be the hot topic it is today? Would our biology be better equipped to deal with this virus and others? I would bet YES!

So I ask, why are we not promoting a strong foundation of health in America? Why is a naturopathic approach to supporting one’s health forgein in our country? My name is Anna Marie Frank, a board-certified doctor of naturopathy. I am not a Western doctor. My approach to supporting an individual is holistic. It is an approach that encompasses mind, body and spirit. I submersed myself in wellness more than 20 years ago. Through my own health challenges and personal healing, I was led to do what I do now. My personal healing was not a straight-up physical ailment that I remedied. My healing came from healing my brain and mind.

YOU MAY FIND THIS INTERESTING: The brain is the only organ in your body where medication is prescribed even though it has never been examined. We can’t measure a “chemical imbalance” in one’s brain, yet we give mind-altering medications for that “imbalance” that have life-threatening side effects, and again, there is never a clear indicator of what is chemically going on in the brain. I share this with you because this was me. I went to my doctor and within minutes I had three mind-altering drugs prescribed to me. These meds had many side effects, which made me feel worse, and if it were not for a little light inside of me, I may not be here today. This experience led me to question what was expected when it came to my personal health. I was led to believe someone in a white coat had more control over my biology than I did. I was never taught how to build a strong baseline of health (mind, body and spirit), and this was so wrong! I had more control of my personal health and well-being! Our bodies are always speaking to us — are you listening?

So here we are in a pandemic and I ask you: What are you doing to improve your foundations of health? How are you taking care of your mind, body and spirit? What is something you need right now to support your well-being?

Here are some basics to help build you up: participate in positive conversations; get quality sleep; eat fruits, veggies and herbs daily; move your body; get sunshine; touch your bare feet to the earth (it’s called earthing); keep learning; and live your purpose!

The views expressed in this column are those of Anna Marie Frank.

Toro Fusion Grill

Meet Philip Chang, co-owner of Toro Fusion Grill, serving Japanese and Asian fusion cuisine for nearly 15 years. The Chang family’s background in the hotel industry helped grow their customer service experience, and after moving to Bakersfield in 2001, they felt that The Marketplace would be a great location to start their new business. Established in 2007 as one of the first Japanese restaurants in Bakersfield, Toro Fusion Grill has been offering the Bakersfield community an extensive menu filled with a variety of sushi, noodles, and rice dishes. Toro Fusion Grill uses black rice in its dishes which naturally detoxifies the body, boosts the eye, skin, and immune system health, and acts as an antioxidant. House favorite menu items include the Popcorn Lobster Roll, Chicken Teriyaki Hot Stone Bowl, and Poke Tuna. To make a reservation or place an order for takeout, call 661-663-7878 or visit www.torofusiongrill.com. Located at 9000 Ming Ave, Suite T4, Bakersfield, CA 93311.