Create healthy holiday habits! Boost your immune system and energy levels so you can settle in for a long winter’s adventure and leave the napping to the cat.
With the holiday season upon us, we are in full swing to be exposed to increased stress, indulgences, and germs. This time of year should be about family, friends, and holiday spirit, so keeping yourself feeling well and healthy will not only make for a more enjoyable holiday season but also make the New Year’s Resolutions more about fine-tuning versus a complete overhaul.
1. Keep Active
Easy right? You would be amazed at how fast we think less about exercise during the holidays! Not even intentionally. We just tend to put ourselves last this time of year. You know that feeling everyone gets after eating Thanksgiving dinner where you just want to lay down and veg out? DON’T DO IT! Go for a walk, do squats while watching television, dance! Whatever it takes to keep you moving at least twenty minutes per day. If you still go to the gym, keep it up! Exercising will help keep our bodies healthy, our immunity up, and will help combat the increase in stress during the holidays.
2. Kick Up Your Immune System
Cold weather and holiday time seem to be a feeding ground for all types of bacteria and viruses to set in. Don’t give them the chance! Increase your vitamin D3, zinc, and ascorbic acid (vitamin C.) Methylated B-complex vitamins will increase your immunity while giving that extra energy boost. Immune Shield by Sunwarrior is a great product to take daily as it contains fulvic acid which helps us absorb other nutrients we need from our diets. Immune Shield also aids with digestion, keeps the gut healthy, increases immune function, improves detoxification, reduces free radicals, and protects cognitive health as it is an antioxidant. Drink it alone, or add it to water, your favorite smoothie, or herbal tea.
3. Beat the Bloat
Keep your digestive system happy by drinking lots of water, hot tea, eating organic fruits and vegetables, and staying away from refined sugars, processed foods, dairy, and baked goods. Keep your colon happy by taking a dairy and soy free digestive enzyme like Enzorb with Astrazyme and Sunwarrior vegan probiotics every day. Liquid Magnesium Citrate is another great way to help keep the gut happy, improve sleep, and improve overall mood. Everything starts in the gut so be aware of what you are eating and the effect it will have on you and decrease your chances of not feeling bloated. A happy gut is a healthy life!
4. Plan Ahead
Bringing along bottled water, coffee or tea made from home, and snacks such as Sunwarrior Sōl Good bars, organic berries, fresh cut organic veggies, or trail mix will help decrease the need to stop for unhealthy fast foods when that “hangry” feeling sets in; one feeling I know we are all too familiar with! If you are attending a holiday party, be sure to bring a healthier option and even eat a healthy snack prior, so you aren’t tempted to devour all the fudge and cookies you see. It’s okay to scope out the food scenario when you get there so you can decide what foods will be the best and healthiest option.
5. Don’t Overindulge
It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being aware of what you eat and drink and how it will make you feel. Setting goals and knowing how you want to feel is key all year round but especially during this ever-so-tempting time. A little bit of your favorite holiday treat is okay, but if you want to keep from getting sick and gaining weight, limit your intake by setting a goal for yourself. Baked goods, refined sugars, processed foods, dairy, and alcohol all trigger an inflammatory response in the body and are linked to chronic conditions such as Type II diabetes, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, pain, obesity, and a general feeling of being functionally ill. Be aware of what you’re eating and how you feel afterward, this will help your wellness goals.
Keeping on track this holiday season will create a smooth transition into your New Year’s Resolution. It’s all about being mindful and aware of your intake, what your intake does to your body, taking your nutraceuticals and supplements to increase your immune system, getting the proper amount of sleep, and keeping active that will help ensure a joyful and healthy holiday season. Stay positive, set your goals, and remember that short term decisions affect long-term reactions in your body. This will empower you to have control of your overall health and wellness.
Wishing you happiness, health, and holiday cheer!
