I keep looking out my window and waiting for the first signs of Spring to appear; crocuses peeking their heads out of the last reminders of winter still left on the ground, birds singing happily in the morning, sunshine before 8:00 AM! Every season has something new and exciting to experience and spring is all about new life just waiting to burst on the scene.
With that in mind, I invite you to think back a few months to January and your New Year’s resolutions. I know, I know. Many of you have probably not kept up with them and statistics tell us that by January 21st, over 75% of those making resolutions have let them fall by the wayside. All those goals and dreams seem to get lost in the hustle and bustle of life and we end up not getting where we thought we would. Sometimes this leads to depression and feelings of guilt. Been there, done that.
But with spring upon us, let me propose something a little less demanding and a little more realistic. For some reason, we tend to go all out with New Year’s resolutions. I mean, when was the last time you heard someone say, “My New Year’s resolution is to only eat ice cream one day of every week”? Seriously. It’s usually more like, “I’m going to lose fifty pounds. Or “I’m going to run an hour every day,” or “I’m going to give up chocolate.”
Instead of saying, “I’m going to give up white sugar” – which is a very healthy goal, start with, “I’m going to start using pure honey in my tea instead of white sugar.” See the difference? Make the statement something positive, not negative like, “I’m going to give up . . .” (fill in the blank.) Just this one small thing can help you on the road to more natural, healthy living.
We all know the big bad seven and I’ll repeat them for you here: white flour, white sugar, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, artificial colorings, anything GMO, and caffeine. Many of the people who write to me are now in such a state because of years of this type of consumption, that they have to quit cold turkey, or they are going to have serious or even terminal health issues. That’s not a pleasant way to give something up, believe me.
So here are some little steps you can take on your road to better health and wellness. Take your time. If you can only commit to one this year, do that, but do it with all your heart. If you can take on more, great! The idea is to make your personal health a priority and take steps to make it the best it can be.
1) Use natural sweeteners instead of white sugar or artificial sweeteners. This would include honey, molasses, stevia, pure maple syrup and natural fruit juice. (Note: Raw sugar doesn’t count here unless you are consuming it via a sugar beet or piece of real sugar cane!! It’s still processed.)
2) Instead of potatoes as a side dish, try some exciting new grains like couscous or Quinoa. Add some thyme or ginger for some exciting taste treats that are good for you. Ginger increases circulation and is a master herb for relieving nausea as well as being carminative and anti-spasmodic, while thyme can help reduce congestion.
3) Use unbleached flour in your baking. It’s not as good as stone ground wheat, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
4) Read labels on things you buy every day. You’d be surprised where sugar is hiding. (Cereal, ketchup, salad dressing etc)
5) Try every day to stop and in a quiet place, (even if it’s the ladies room at work!) sit, close your eyes, and take twelve long, deep breaths - in through the nose, out through the mouth, slowly and deliberately.
6) Drink more pure water. Take a bottle and sit it at your desk and sip from it all day.
7) Substitute one caffeine drink a day with something healthy like water or herb tea. There are lots of wonderful herbal teas. Try one you’ve never had before. Be daring!
8) Try a bar of that natural soap you’ve smelled in the health food store, but never purchased. Our skin is the largest organ on our bodies and what we put on it can sometimes be as detrimental as what we put in it.
9) Do your best to eat something green every single day. (If it’s growing on the bread in the cabinet, it doesn’t count!)
10) Take quality vitamins every day. Believe me, 2000 mg of Vitamin C will do more for you than you can imagine and may keep you from having to take a handful of pills later in life. It is an antioxidant that is critical for tissue growth and repair, adrenal gland function and healthy gums. (For clarification, “quality” vitamins would not be the cheapest thing on the shelf, but rather a high quality, organic brand from a health food store or local co-op.)
That’s it folks - simple suggestions, to get you on the road to health and wellness. Spring will naturally encourage you to get out and move more, so you’re on your way! Just remember to take it slow. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to do too much too fast. And enjoy the journey.
Let's Get Better!
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