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Article: 10 Health Tips to Start the New Year Feeling Great
A new year brings a fresh new
start, and this year we start a whole new decade. Try incorporating a few of the following health
tips over the next few months. Each one
will make you feel healthier and more vibrant and will make it easier and more
fun to try more items on the list. These
suggestions seem simple but will make a huge difference in your health!
1. Drink more water! I know I have said this before but it is the MOST important thing you can do for your health! All of the organs of elimination require water to effectively remove waste material from your body. The skin, kidneys, liver, and intestines will serve  you best if you get enough water! To determine your daily requirement for water, take your weight and divide it by two, and then replace the word pounds with ounces. For example, a 120 pound person requires 60 ounces of water. Only water counts for water! (not even herbal tea!). If you are active, you will need extra water. To increase your absorption of water, put a tiny pinch of celtic or himalayan salt into a gallon of water, put a glass gallon of water out in the sun for a few hours, or add the juice of lemon or lime. All of these help structure the water so you will absorb more.
2. Eat organic produce and foods whenever possible. They may cost a bit more, but it is worth it! Conventional (non-organic) foods are loaded with pesticides, herbicides, chemicals, and fertilizers that are toxic (many of them have been proven to be carcinogenic as well). These toxins end up not only in your food, but also in the air you breathe and the water you drink and bathe in. Additionally, conventional foods are grown in soil that is depleted, as there are not regulations for crop rotation and other practices that replenish the soil. Organic foods consistently test higher in all nutrients. When we purchase organic foods we support an industry that is keeping our air and water clean, our food supply rich with nutrients, and our planet in balance.
3. Eat as many raw fruits and vegetables as possible. They are loaded with substantially more water, fiber, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals than their cooked counterparts. A simple way to get more fruits and vegetables in your diet is to have a piece of fruit every morning, and keep a bag of mixed organic salad greens around and add a quick easy salad to every meal.
4. Use grain-like seeds including quinoa, millet, amaranth, and buckwheat instead of wheat, pasta, rye, spelt and other glutinous grains or flours. These grain-like seeds are high in protein, provide excellent fiber, help hold moisture in your intestines and are a food for the friendly microflora. They also calm your mind and actually help you sleep better especially when eaten at dinnertime. You get all the benefits of grains, without feeding yeast (candida) or contributing to carbohydrate-caused weight gain.
5. Start juicing! Fresh organic vegetable juices are an incredibly potent source of vitamins and minerals that will keep you alkaline and assist with the cleansing process. Kale, spinach, celery, cucumber, ginger, lemon, parsley, sprouts, carrots, apples, and beets are all wonderful in juices. If you do not own a juicer, find a local health food store or restaurant that makes fresh organic juices and try to drink juice 2-3 times a week.
6. Drink purified water. San Diego water has chlorine, fluoride, arsenic, and many other toxic chemicals. Filtered water is inexpensive to purchase at water stores, or you can have it delivered. You can also install an alkaline antioxidant water system or reverse osmosis filtration system (rentals are also an option) on your kitchen sink. Countertop filters such as Britta or Pur do not remove impurities from the water.
7. Shower and bathe in clean water. We absorb a substantial amount of chlorine and chemicals through our skin when showering and bathing, and also absorb them through the steam we breathe when showering. The chlorine and chemicals in the water are drying to the hair and skin, and are very toxic. Shower filters are inexpensive to purchase, easy to install, and will drastically reduce the amount of chlorine and chemicals that you absorb when showering. We sell filters at the center and they are easy to find on the internet.
8. Start dry brushing your skin. The skin is one of the largest organs of elimination, so exfoliating the skin allows you to release more toxins. Dry skin brushing also improves circulation, moves lymph for efficient detoxification, and improves the appearance of your skin (especially effective for cellulite!). Always dry skin brush before showering. Find a brush with the firmest bristles you can. Begin at the extremities and brush towards the heart using substantial pressure and short strokes to stimulate circulation.
9. Consider cleansing your body at the change of each season to let go of the old and make room for the new. The benefits of cleansing include weight loss, increased energy, clearer skin, elimination of toxins, improved elimination, and many more. Any time you eliminate something heavy or toxic from your diet, your body will begin to cleanse. A cleanse could be as simple as eliminating refined sugar or meat for a week. Another level could be eliminating refined sugar, refined flour, alcohol, dairy, and meat for a week. The next level could be consuming only fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and oils for a week. The next level could be only raw fruits and vegetables, oils, and fresh juices. The next level could be a week long juice fast with cleansing herbs. Any cleansing you do will help heal your body and boost your immune system.
10. Read books that stimulate your mind and move you in the direction of your health, wellness, and spirituality goals. If you do not have time to read, get audio books that you can listen to in your car or listen to on your iPod while you get things done around the house. The following is a list of some of my personal favorites that I found to be transformational.
Spirituality and Metaphysical
Ask
and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks (I highly recommend ALL of their
books)
Many
Lives Many Masters by Brian Weiss
Start
Where You Are by Pema Chodron
Your
Soul’s Plan by Robert Schwartz
Mind-Body
Wellness
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
Women’s Bodies Women’s Wisdom by Christiane Northrup
Health and Nutrition
Healthy
Healing by Linda Rector Page
Concious
Eating by Gabriel Cousins
Sunfood
Diet Success System by David Wolfe
Eating
for Beauty by David Wolfe
Cleanse
and Purify Thyself by Richard Anderson
Psychology and Interpersonal
Relationships
Non Violent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg
Getting
the Love You Want by Harville Hendrix
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