On the Right SIDE of Health: A Truly Integrated, Science-Based Model of Care

The sad reality is that the healthcare establishment is highly fragmented. Various “specialists” operate in silos, treating specific conditions and systems in the body. In this article, we explore the eight foundational components of the Pyramid of Health (SIDE x 2) and how this integrative healthcare model can help you restore and maintain your good health.

One of our top priorities right now at Natural Healthcare Center is helping patients become more resilient to fall and winter illnesses. Think about how your quality of life would be improved if colds, sinus infections, the flu, and other conditions happened less frequently.

Better performance at work and school. Fewer sick days. More energy for recreational and social activities. Less reliance on antibiotics and over-the-counter medication. 

Strengthening the immune system is part of virtually every patient conversation at Natural Healthcare Center. We talk about an anti-inflammatory diet, well-designed exercise and supplementation programs, getting plenty of sleep, reducing stress, and other lifestyle factors that support the immune system.

That’s because every individual’s immune formula is unique, and we’re looking at every brick in the foundation of the Pyramid of Health, all of which are integrated. Let’s take a look at these foundational components of the Pyramid of Health and why they’re all essential to good health.

Introducing SIDE x 2

SIDE is the acronym for the Pyramid’s eight basic elements, with two elements for each letter. 

S

• Stress. How the body responds to different types of pressure or threats.
• Structural Integrity. The strength, stability, and health of trillions of human cells.

I

• Immunity. The body’s ability to fight off infections and toxins and maintain balance.
• Inflammation. The body’s natural response to injury, infection, and irritants.

D

• Digestion. The process of breaking down food for absorption into the bloodstream.
• Detoxification. The process of removing harmful toxins from the body.

E

• Energy. Resources in the body that enable physical and mental activity.
• Epigenetics. How genes can be turned on or off by the life choices we make.

All eight foundational components of the Pyramid of Health must be considered collectively to achieve and maintain an optimal state of health. 

However, the fragmented medical establishment in our country typically treats each one separately. Patients schedule multiple visits to see different specialists who usually operate in silos, treating one body part or system with little if any consideration to the impact on other aspects of the patient’s overall health.

For example, a gastroenterologist focuses on digestion, a rheumatologist on inflammation, and a cardiologist on the heart. But the human body functions as an integrated system, not separate pieces.

Let’s go back to the immunity example. Because 70% of your immune system lives in your gut, I’m assessing digestion and detoxification and looking for ways to optimize these areas to improve immune function. The gut also reduces energy production and can become inflamed when under stress, which brings three more components of the Pyramid of Health into play.

Everything is related, but conventional healthcare treats them as separate disciplines. I’ve been working to change that for more than 30 years as a clinician, educator, and public speaker. 

The Missing Layer of Healthcare

True healthcare that focuses on maintaining an optimal state of health and preventing disease is complicated. If it were so simple, why has society continued to get sicker during the last 20 years?

The problem is that there’s no organized, structured layer of care that equally considers all eight foundational components of the Pyramid of Health when evaluating, treating, and educating patients.

You won’t find the Pyramid of Health in doctors’ offices or hospitals. Nobody gave it to me and I didn’t buy it on Amazon. I created it from the ground up. 

This is a science-based visual representation of my integrative approach to healthcare. It accounts for everything that affects an individual’s health and how the body functions. The Pyramid of Health serves as a blueprint for identifying the root cause of disease and making informed lifestyle choices that make us healthier, not sicker.

This is the missing layer of healthcare that would put an end to the chronic illness epidemic in our country if doctors, hospitals, medical practices, academia, and elected officials would adopt and embrace it.

Until that happens, we’ll continue to provide integrative care based on the Pyramid of Health at Natural Healthcare Center, just like we’ve been doing since we opened our doors in 2003.

Healthcare Is Not a DIY Project

Remember, your health is too important and too complicated to figure out on your own or in consultation with Dr. Google or the ChatGPT Institute. 

If you want to truly understand and improve your health, schedule a complimentary consultation at Natural Healthcare Center. We look forward to walking with you on this journey and helping you feel better, function better, and live longer.