2018 December Newsletter | The Gift of Health
December can be a hard month for healthcare. With all the parties, get-togethers, comfort food and drinks it can be easy to lose track of the healthy habits you’ve built throughout the year.
This holiday season, try thinking of healthy acts as small gifts to yourself.
We’ve compiled some easy, cheap tips and tricks to improve your health incrementally throughout the month.
1. Epsom Salt Bath
Magnesium is a mineral that our bodies use for many things including regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels and blood pressure, as well as building protein, bone, and DNA.
Long story short, it’s REALLY important!
Unfortunately, most of us don’t get enough magnesium in our diets and our stomachs can’t effectively metabolize large amounts through supplementation.
The answer?
Epsom salts!
They have natural magnesium that is easily absorbed through the skin.
There’s a reason they have been used for literally hundreds of years!
So, do yourself a favor this week and take a 20 minute soak in an epsom salt bath.
It’s easy, relaxing, and good for your whole system!
2. Fifteen Minutes of Mobility
During stressful or busy times usually the first thing to suffer is fitness and exercise.
You may not have time (or energy!) to spend an hour sweating it out at the gym, but you can do something.
Odds are if you’re not getting exercise regularly that you’re just not moving your body much at all!
Lack of movement can contribute to aches, pains, tension, and feelings of tightness or stiffness. Basically, the effects of stress and poor diet are only magnified by sedentary habits.
A good first step is to add just 15 minutes of mobility work into your day 3 or 4 times a week.
This could be foam rolling, self massage, mobility drills, yoga, etc. Whatever gets you moving!
Not only will you feel physically better, the benefits of 15 minutes of quiet, concentrated work will do wonders for your mental state.
3. Smooth Mornings
There is a reason smoothies have become the staple of health gurus everywhere. It’s an easy way to sneak healthy fruits and vegetables into a meal!
If you’ve been indulging in some holiday parties lately, getting more fruits and veggies might be exactly what you need.
Now, your smoothie doesn’t have to be all kale in order to be healthy.
Start with something you like the taste of: yogurt, chocolate milk, protein powder, etc. so that you’ll actually enjoy it.
Then sneak in healthy things like spinach, blueberries, raspberries, bananas, mixed greens, lettuce, etc. Include some healthy fats: full fat yogurt or milk, nut milks, peanut butter.
Viola!
You’ve got a well rounded meal in one cup.
You might need to play with the ingredients to find the exact combination you enjoy, but it’s easier than it seems.
The true secret to an easy smoothie is frozen veggies and fruits.
They stay longer, are easy to use, cheaper than fresh, and won’t leave any stringy pieces in your drink.
4. Alcohol Substitute
Now, there’s nothing wrong with celebrating the holidays with a glass or two of your choice alcohol.
This time of year, however, there tends to be a lot of it everywhere.
One way to decrease your alcohol intake without eliminating it completely is to find a place holder.
Sparkling water, water with lemon or fruits, juice, the non-alcoholic version of your favorite drink, etc.
Sometimes we end up having our second or third drink more out of the habit or ritual than actual desire.
You just can’t say ‘no’ the hostess offering her signature drink!
Try substituting every other drink with a placeholder.
People won’t offer you a beverage if you already have one, you’ll probably be cutting calories, and your liver will take a sigh of relief.
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