Of course everybody wants to be healthy and take care of their bodies, but sometimes life gets in the way, doesn’t it? Lack of time, the convenience factor, all these play a part in sometimes neglecting our body’s needs to help optimize one’s overall health. Maybe some people just don’t know where to start! We came up with ten very simple tips to help keep your body healthy and your energy levels functioning. You wouldn’t believe how a little change can affect your body in a positive way. The most important tip is to always listen to your body.
Get some sunlight on a daily basis.
Keep in mind that moderation is key. The sun can be very healthy for the body as long as it is not too much. Your body will let you know, just listen. The ultraviolet rays from the sun helps your skin produce loads of vitamin D, an essential vitamin in keeping up the immune system. With proper levels of vitamin D, the body can protect itself against numerous diseases, even cancer. Dr. Michael Holick, a dermatologist, has written a book called, “The UV Advantage” that outlines all his research on the effects of sun on the body and the importance of vitamin D. The sun can be very healthy for the skin, unless it gets to the point of burning. So again, moderation is key. It is also capable of lifting your spirits. When I am feeling sluggish or a bit down, I just sit out in the sun and breathe some clean air and I feel motivated again.
Replace soda and sugary drinks with water or all natural fruit juices.
Sodas may seem like a good idea when you are thirsty and need a bit of a boost, but it is not worth it in the long run. They will make you feel sluggish after a while and you feel like you need more, when what you really need is probably food! Even sodas that claim to be better for your health than regular soda are really not good for you either when you get down to it. Whether its high fructose corn syrup or some weird chemical sugar substitute, it is not good for your body. Ideally, it would be most beneficial to replace unhealthy drinks with water, but sometimes we need something with a little zing to it. There are healthier choices when it comes to soda. Did you know that there is a soda out there that uses all natural cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup? There’s a good start right there. Izze soda is a favorite brand of ours. It is a fruity, carbonated beverage with no added sugar, just all natural fruit juices. It is delicious and is a fantastic replacement for soda if you miss that fizzy flavorful drink. As I said, water is ultimately the best alternative, plus, an added bonus, it’s free! How’s that for an economy money saver?
Buy local foods.
Buying locally is the best way to ensure you are getting the highest possible quality out of your food. Next time you are in a grocery store, pick up any “fresh” produce and think about how far it has traveled to get here, how many different trucks it has been on, and how many different conveyor belts it has ridden on. Buying local fresh foods is a great way to be safely assured that you know exactly where your food has been and that it is as fresh as can be. That is the best way to get the maximum nutrients that food can provide you. You are also supporting your local economy and right now, I think we all need a little support.
Read something instead of watching television.
When you have some spare time, try to do something to exercise your mind, not paralyze it. Read a magazine, a good book is preferable, or even a comic book! But just reading is giving you some focus, which may help in future times where you need to focus and have a hard time. Get your brain going and it will be easier to stimulate it at any given time. By watching television, you are giving your brain a rest, it is just soaking in information by listening and not really working. Ever notice how after watching hours of television, you feel groggy or tired? It makes you feel sluggish and lazy, which leads to extended television watching. Try relaxing with a good book, who knows you may learn something.
Don’t be afraid to try something new!
There are all kinds of healthy foods that can be substituted in meal preparation that you may have never heard of. Go on, give it a try! You might be surprised with what you might find and it could lead you down a nutritional path. For example, have you heard about tempeh? Also, any snacks you have around the house, there may be an equally delicious healthier alternative to them. Seek it out, give it a shot, you might surprise yourself. As always, if you find something interesting, share it with us.
Stay away from stimulants late in the day.
You may need a pick-me-up, an extra boost in the late afternoon or early evening, just to get you through the rest of the day. So a cup of coffee or a soda sounds like the best idea. Wrong! Consuming stimulants late in the day will throw your body off of its natural rhythms. This can cause you to loose sleep or have a poor quality of sleep. You will most likely feel tired the next day because of your lack of sleep and need more stimulants throughout the day to keep you going. Its a vicious cycle. It needs to stop somewhere. There are healthier alternatives you can turn to for that extra energy boost. Try an all natural fruit juice that will boost your energy. Or chew on a good fruit and nut bar. Food is the best option because your body can convert that into energy. Coffee or soda will give you a caffeine boost, but also stave off your appetite, so your body is running solely on that caffeine. There are also vitamins you can supplement your diet with, but know that these vitamins do not supply your body with energy, they simply help your body convert food into energy more efficiently. Then, when it is time to rest, your body will rest comfortably.
Reduce unnecessary stress.
Everybody has stress, it is a fact of life. But what can help is trying to get rid of unnecessary stress. For example, always make sure you get up in the morning with plenty of time to get ready for work without having to rush at all. Take a leisurely shower, sit down and read something while you have a small breakfast, and have a nice drive to work. It steals a lot of energy from you to have to rush in the morning to make sure you make it to work on time. It leaves you feeling drained when the day has just begun! Whenever you feel stress, just take step back, analyze the situation, and ask yourself if there is an easy solution. You will be surprised to find there usually is.
Replace unhealthy snacks with healthy ones.
Let’s face it, we all like to snack sometimes. Sometimes it’s a habit, sometimes it’s because your hunger is just never satisfied. It’s okay to snack, as long as you are snacking on something healthy. Instead of munching on cheese puffs at work, try getting some granola. It comes in many delicious combination flavors, so you can find something that will taste good to you. It won’t fill you up or leave you sluggish, it will actually improve your overall condition throughout the day. I used to be a fiend for fruit snacks. I found an equally delicious healthy alternative in buying dried fruit such as mango, and golden raisins. It gives that fruity, chewy experience I love, but without all the added chemicals and ingredients in making those dinosaur-shaped fruit snacks. Just know that eating healthy does not mean eating snacks that taste like nothing, there are many delicious and nutritious snacks, you just need to be introduced to them!
Try to go for a short walk every day.
The smallest bit of exercise for your body can do wonders. And if you start out with a short walk everyday, you’d be surprised to see how easier it gets and how much better you feel. A walk in the morning or evening time is ideal, when the sun is out, but the air is nice and cool. If you can’t seem to find time to walk everyday, try just parking a distance away from your workplace or other destination. Leave yourself a little time in the morning so you aren’t in a rush.
I am sure everybody was told as a kid that you need to drink plenty of water. Did anyone ever tell you why? So you don’t become dehydrated? Well, water plays a very important part in the functioning of our bodies. It is essential for all of our vital organs to function at their optimal level. It carries nutrients to the different parts of our bodies. It helps in the breakdown of food so your liver does not have to work as hard. It is essential for the proper functioning of the digestive system. If you have problems with constipation, look at how much water you are consuming each day. It may be as simple as that. It doesn’t cost you anything to add water to your day. Give a try, drink plenty of water throughout the day, everday, and see what happens. You may feel less fatigue, you may see an improvement in your skin condition, you may feel less stomach discomfort. Who knows, maybe by drinking water more often, you just may find the easiest cure for whatever ails you.
