12 Habits for Living a Healthier Life
Let’s face it, everyday it seems like there’s new information out there on how to be healthy. And, many times, these studies can even contradict other studies. It’s exhausting keeping up with everything. I like to keep it simple. Go backwards before all of the processed food and technology became such a big part of our lives.
Here are 12 habits you can start doing now to simplify and increase the quality of your life.
1. Eat nutritious foods. Believe it or not, many of the foods we eat are far from nutritious. Next time you put something into your body, ask yourself if that’s going to harm your body or heal your body. Try to eat good fats—avocado, walnuts, fish, and cage-free eggs. Cook with coconut oil, or grape seed oil. Eat salads with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Eat lots of broccoli, blueberries, and fermented foods like sauerkraut.
2. Try to limit or avoid gluten, wheat, dairy, and boxes. (Did you know that there is a limit to how much puss is allowed in our cow milk?) Instead, drink cashew or almond milk. Limit anything in a box. Boxes equal chemicals and genetically modified foods.
3. Fast at least 12 hours a day. Try to stop eating after 7 or 8 pm. Then, you can eat again at 7 or 8 am. Your organs need the rest. Fasting can improve cardiovascular health and decrease blood sugar. It can also boost your metabolism and support fat loss.
4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! This is pretty self-explanatory. Drink a lot of water. Put lemon in your water to get an extra kick of vitamin C.
5. Eat locally. Take advantage of the Farmers’ Markets around town. In addition to finding delicious organic fruits and vegetables, they will have more nutrients in them than their store bought counterparts.
6. Try collagen! This is amazing for your skin, hair and nails. It also improves your circulation, joints and gut! You can find collagen from chicken, grass-fed beef and fish sources. The best way to take it is to pair it with vitamin C for absorption. Put it in lemon water or take it with Emergen-C like I do.
7. Go on a grocery shopping tour! This is a very educational event that can save your health in the long run. You would be amazed at the number of chemicals we consume on a daily basis. It is also eye opening to see how many names they use to disguise sugar. Another valuable piece of information is actually figuring out which foods are nutritious. Many foods we eat have no nutritional value, or very little. If you need a local reference for a grocery shopping tour, shoot me an email.
8. Move all day long. Just because you might exercise before work doesn’t mean you can sit at your desk all day and still reap the positive effects of your workout. Make sure you are doing things during the day to keep moving. Take a walk at lunchtime, pace while talking on the phone. Figure out what you can incorporate into your busy day.
9. Keep a journal. Journals are a great way to de-stress, feel grateful and keep track of progress. Get an inspirational journal with a motivational quote on the front and starting writing away! You can write down any issues or communication that may have stressed you out that day. Log how you felt and what might you do to resolve it.
Jot down what you have to be grateful for in your life. Gratitude makes you feel happier. You will soon realize everything good you have in you life and focus on those things rather than what you don’t have. You can track progress on habits, eating, or goals. Write down your progress for that day. How do you feel? Is there a roadblock you need to get around? Figure out a solution. If you journal before bedtime, you just might dream about resolving it.
10. Be Social offline. Plan weekly or monthly dates with your friends. Have dinner, go shopping or to the movies. Plan a romantic night out with your partner once a week to make sure you have quality time together without the kids.
11. Get outside! Have you ever noticed that your pets try to get sunlight by laying by windows? They aim for about 30 minutes a day of sunlight. Why do they do that? They are getting their daily dose of Vitamin D. Many of us are low on Vitamin D. This deficiency can cause a weakened immune system, back pain, low energy, bone and hair loss as well as many other health problems. If you aren’t sure about your vitamin D levels, get tested.
12. Use technology to save time, not waste time. Shut down electronics when you are an hour away from bedtime. Instead, read, journal or connect with your partner. If you get on your phone at night and waste time, then put your phone in another room so you won’t be tempted to play games, check email or social media.
Choose a couple of these suggestions and commit to four weeks to see how you feel. A great resource to watch is “The Magic Pill” documentary on Netflix. You may never look at nutrition the same way again!
