Shauna Anderson BSc. Adv Dip Nat. is a mother of two young children and has been a qualified Naturopath for 15 years. She is also the expert for wholefood supplement company Whole Earth & Sea. She has worked in the health industry as a writer, editor, and scientific researcher in product development for over 12 years.
Her passion has been living a healthy and balanced life ever since she began to study Natural Medicine in the year 2000. Her youngest son was diagnosed with autism in 2015 and since then she has also been determined to give him the best chance of a healthy life, through diet, natural therapies and lifestyle. She has also seen this life challenge as an opportunity to help her son on his healing path and to allow others to see the value of living a rich and natural life, through her writing and involvement in the industry.
Shauna Anderson BSc. Adv Dip Nat. is a mother of two young children and has been a qualified Naturopath for 15 years. She is also the expert for wholefood supplement company Whole Earth & Sea. She has worked in the health industry as a writer, editor, and scientific researcher in product development for over 12 years.
Her passion has been living a healthy and balanced life ever since she began to study Natural Medicine in the year 2000. Her youngest son was diagnosed with autism in 2015 and since then she has also been determined to give him the best chance of a healthy life, through diet, natural therapies and lifestyle. She has also seen this life challenge as an opportunity to help her son on his healing path and to allow others to see the value of living a rich and natural life, through her writing and involvement in the industry.
Thank you for being part of the Health and Fitness Travel, Strong, Healthy Women Interview Series, where we are shining a light on the importance of self-care, not as an indulgence but a necessity to reduce stress and general health issues.
Is there such a thing as a typical day for you and what does that look like?
I don’t really have a typical day as the nature of my career takes me on different paths every day. However, if I had to break it down, I would say the one consistent thing in my day is starting it the right way. I begin with a good breakfast that consists of Whole Earth and Sea’s Fermented, Organic Protein and Greens mixed into almond milk. This ensures I get a good dose of protein in the morning whilst incorporating all kinds of superfoods. I find this sustains me until lunch time. I also take Whole Earth and Sea’s Women’s Multi to get a good B vitamin dose in for energy. After I have gotten my children off to school, my other constant is a 10-minute meditation, followed by 5 minutes of planning my day. This sets me up for success as it gives me a good perspective on what I need to achieve that day.
Can you share a time when you felt your well-being was challenged in the past and what did you overcome it?
I think the most challenging time in my life as far as well-being is concerned was when my son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and then, my husband also became very ill (due to Lyme disease), but his diagnosis came much later. It was a very trying time both mentally and physically. I had very little energy, in a time when I needed it the most. I was always on edge due to my nervous system being overloaded with stress and lack of sleep. I also found I was stress-eating and drinking too much. So, of course I needed to change my habits to get my mental and physical health back on track.
I gave up alcohol and started employing some good eating habits, including my morning smoothie with Whole Earth and Sea’s Fermented, Organic Protein and Greens. I also started taking Whole Earth and Sea’s Women’s Multi and meditation for stress. These small changes had a huge impact on my quality of life. I also started counselling with a holistic counsellor to help me talk about my issues in a safe and meaningful environment. Again, this helped me immensely and my changed energy also affected my family positively, meaning I could be the best for them and myself, even in hard times.
What does being healthy mean to you and how do you keep this at the forefront when life gets unavoidably busy?
Being healthy is both a physical and mental achievement. For me it doesn’t mean perfection, it means feeling energetic and present in my life during the day and more relaxed at night. The times when I feel at my best are when I’m alert but calm, as I am prone to anxiety. Therefore, I try to avoid foods and beverages in my diet that will agitate me. These include alcohol and high sugar snacks. I try to maintain a good lifestyle, incorporating meditation and yoga and exercise as well as good eating habits and vitamins.
When life gets too busy to achieve all of this daily, I do what I can and don’t punish myself about the rest. I plan my week, so I put the important things in first and the rest is a bonus. I also try to be grateful everyday about what I have. Thoughts really affect mood and I find gratitude really brings things back into perspective, especially if I’m feeling down. There are statistics to say that listing things you are grateful for as little as three times per day can change neural pathways to a more positive mindset.
Have you ever taken a holiday specifically for your well-being? Can you share what the experience was like?
I try to take a holiday just with my girlfriends at least once per year. This will, of course, incorporate my well-being as it means I get to sleep and time bonding with my best friends. I think social interaction and rest are the best things for my well-being. I have also been away on a yoga retreat which was amazing and really reset my body, mind and spirit. I found I came out with a better perspective on my life, my family and all that I have. It is definitely something I would try again.
Every woman’s idea of self-care is different, tell us about yours?
I think self-care is a mixture of things I enjoy and that excite me with those that relax and restore me. It definitely starts with my nutritional habits and ensuring I take my vitamins (Whole Earth and Sea are my preferred brand as they incorporate natural sources of nutrients). It is also about spending quality time with and away from my family, to gain a balance. My biggest and most simple way to ensure I care for myself is definitely getting enough sleep. This is not always possible in our household, especially with a hyperactive child. That is why my trips away are very important to me, to re-energise and gain perspective. The trips don’t have to be far away or expensive. In fact, they are more often than not, just a night or two staying at a cheap AirBNB with a few friends.
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