7 Simple Steps for Healthy Living
Transitioning into a healthy lifestyle can seem overwhelming. For many, it feels like world full of unfamiliar routines and unattainable habits.
To break down that barrier, here are seven simple steps you can take to make your own transition, starting today:
1) Start your day with a mug of warm lemon water.
This simple habit is one of the kindest routines you can implement for your liver and colon. The lemon water helps your body to gently detoxify at the start of each day by flushing and supporting your liver, dissolving mucus and relaxing your bowels to promote elimination. In addition, the 200+ enzymes in an organic lemon helps to promote proper digestion and restore the liver, while its concentration of Vitamin C and potassium boosts immunity.
How to include this: First thing upon waking, fill your favorite mug with hot water and squeeze in the juice of ½ lemon. You don’t want boiling water, as this will kill the lemon’s valuable enzymes and vitamins. Drink it as you are getting ready for the day, about 15-30 minutes before breakfast for maximum benefit.
2) Incorporate green smoothies into each day.
We all know that eating plenty of greens goes hand in hand with health, but busy schedules can derail even the best of intentions. A practical solution for getting in those glorious greens is incorporating a green smoothie into your day. Here’s a recipe to get you started:
Packed with nutrient-dense leafy greens, antioxidant rich berries and beautifying fats, this delicious smoothie helps balance blood sugar, provides sustained energy and delivers a powerful plant-based punch.
Starting with a base of 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, add 2+ cups spinach, romaine or other leafy green into your blender with half an avocado (or a quarter if it is very large) and ¾ cup of frozen blueberries. Add in a few tablespoons of chia seeds or freshly ground flax to boost the fiber and create a thicker smoothie as well as a teaspoon of spirulina for a true superfood breakfast.
3) Put vegetables at the base of your food pyramid.
Vegetables, specifically leafy greens, are among the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. Packed with a huge array of enzymes, minerals, vitamins and fiber, these powerhouses reign supreme in promoting optimum weight, vibrant energy and glowing skin. When creating meals, rather than limiting vegetables to a salad or side dish, base the meal around them, aiming for veggies to fill at least half of your plate. Two simple meal ideas: marinara sauce over a plate of roasted zucchini and roasted bell peppers sprinkled with organic ground beef; or, half a head of cabbage with a drizzle of toasted sesame oil and Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (a healthy soy sauce substitute) with a little shredded chicken.
4) Drink more water.
It’s easy to forget the powerful effects water has on every system in your body. Proper hydration reduces inflammation, helps control weight and boosts your mood and mental clarity. Even mild dehydration prevents your kidneys from effectively purifying the blood, leaving your body and skin with health-sabotaging toxins. I suggest carrying a 1-liter reusable water bottle around with you throughout the day and refilling it at least twice. At your desk, keep it open and near to you as you work.
5) Eat food, not products.
Focus on eating food that is, well, real. I doubt if our great-grandmothers would recognize half of what passes today for food. A good rule of thumb is to avoid eating anything that you’ve seen advertised on television. This will drastically reduce the amount of preservatives, artificial coloring and additives you are consuming, all of which create a toxic environment in your body. Ever see a head of broccoli on a billboard?
6) Create a self-care menu.
What we eat and how much we exercise aren’t the only factors that influence our health. Partaking in activities that we love helps to manage stress and creates a positive impact on our emotional as well as physical well-being. Create a list of things you love – whether it’s going for a hike, reading a good book, having an Epsom salt bath, getting a pedicure, taking a dance class, writing poetry, anything. Make your list as long as you would like and consider it your self-care menu, scheduling out time for this each week and making it just as much a priority as your veggies and smoothies.
7) Find your purpose and live it passionately.
When we are living a life of authenticity, actively following our purposes and passions, we are nourished on level deeper than food can provide. It manifests in improved immunity, increased longevity and an intangible radiance. So find what makes you glow and go do it!
Taking care of you can occasionally feel indulgent and egocentric. But truly, it is just the opposite. When you are the best possible iteration of yourself, you are able to more freely give of yourself and your gifts. Combine that with a workable approach to a healthy lifestyle, and you’ve created a foundation for your best life yet.
