Rule #1: Eat a Healthy Diet
Short-term diets hardly ever work. They’re only effective until you stop and then you normally gain the weight back again. To make a permanent change to your body, you need a lifestyle change that you can stick to, so let yourself have a treat every now and again if it keeps you sane! Eating a nutritional, balanced diet is key – just find what works for you.
A good place to start is to make sure you’re eating the good sorts of fats packed with Omega-3s. The oiler the fish the better, salmon, tuna and sardines are packed with these good fats. If fish isn’t to your taste, you can always take an
Omega-3supplement to boost your levels. Another rule to healthy eating is to lower
your sugar and flour intake and up your vegetables instead. Including a daily supplement like
magnesium into your diet is also an easy way to keep your immune system performing at its best.
Rule #2: Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Sleep has a lot to answer for when it comes to your mental and physical wellbeing. While you sleep your brain recuperates and stores information, new cells are created to heal and repair your body and hormones are produced to regulate your weight. When you don’t get decent shut-eye, your body starts producing cortisol, wreaking havoc on your immunity and limiting your ability to heal.
It’s important that you allow yourself time to properly wind down before going to sleep – most people need at least an hour. During this time, avoid bright lights and electronic devices – your body is designed to sleep at night, so the less light the better.
Magnesium is another great helper for those that have trouble sleeping. It’s called the chill mineral as it helps muscles relax, to give you that calm “sleepy” feeling and helps you unwind after a long day.
Rule #3: Manage Your Stress Levels
Humans are programmed with a ‘fight or flight’ response. When we are in danger (or stressed), our bodies produce cortisol and adrenalin to feed our muscles and brain, allowing us to think and act faster. While these hormones are useful in small amounts, they can be destructive in high doses, attacking your immune system in particular. To limit these hormones, managing your stress is essential. Go for a run, take a bath – find what works for you and do it regularly.
Every now and then you just need to reset and recharge. Healthy people understand that taking a break from life once in awhile is not a luxury but a necessity. Nobody can keep going forever – when you feel run-down, rest, relax, enjoy the change of pace until you’re ready to start fresh, full of energy to tackle life once again.
Rule #5: Treat the Root of the Problem, Not the Symptom
When you encounter an issue with your body, it’s important to find out what’s causing it. Healthy people don’t just drink a lot of coffee when they’re feeling tired, they investigate the underlying cause and treat it. Perhaps they need more sleep; perhaps they are low in iron or B12. By only treating the symptom, you never really fix the issue at hand and often cause more problems in the process. Put your detective hat on and find out what’s going on – your body will thank you for it.
Rule #6: Reinforce Your Immunity
Healthy people ward off colds before they happen. There are lots of natural ways to keep your immune system up to scratch, particularly in the winter months when you’re most at risk of getting sick. Visit your doctor to check if you’re deficient in
vitamin D,
iron and B12 – these nutrients are essential for getting through the winter unscathed.
Rule #7: Keep Your pH Balanced
Your body is healthiest when its pH level is slightly more alkaline. When your body becomes too acidic, you can develop a condition called acidosis, which results in fatigue, rapid breathing, stomach problems and confusion. Eating lots of alkalising foods including avocado, dark leafy greens, coconut and cucumber while cutting back on sugar, meat and dairy will help to keep your pH in check.
Rule #8: Detox Regularly
Today’s environment has a lot more toxins and chemicals than it used to. When there are too many toxins in your body, you can start to experience digestive issues, fatigue, skin problems and muscle pain. Detoxing regularly is a great way to keep the nasties out of your body and your health in good condition. There are lots of safe, natural ways to detox.
Rule #9: Embrace Apple Cider Vinegar
This incredible liquid is so beneficial for so many parts of your body. With its range of bacteria, yeast, acids and nutrients, it supports digestion, lowers blood sugar levels, aids weight loss and supports immunity. To reap the benefits, it’s best taken raw, organic and unfiltered. Use it as a salad dressing or dilute it with a bit of water and drink it. It’s truly amazing.
Committing to a healthy lifestyle is no small feat but the benefits are huge when you do. Remember that you are only human, so make small, achievable changes and build up your routine – drastically changing your lifestyle overnight is not only distressing, it’s unsustainable.
What health hacks do you swear by? Share them in the comments below.
