Friday, December 22, 2017

10 SELF-CARE TIPS: HOW TO IMPROVE HEALTH & WELLNESS IN THE NEW YEAR

Spending time exercising and eating healthy tends to make people happier and healthier versions of themselves, and that’s a New Year’s resolution worth keeping! Let’s look at ten ways to make you a better “you!”

The New Year is right around the corner, and every day up until the ball drops provides us with the opportunity to make positive and healthy choices in life. From emphasizing the concept of mindfulness in all you do to focusing inward and making self-care a priority in your life, there is no doubt that the connection between being a “better version of you” and taking care of yourself is real. Let’s take a look at how to be a better you in the New Year, including 10 unique ways to boost your health, wellness, and vitality on a daily basis.

10 Self-Care Tips for the New Year 

  • Learn to Meditate

    Practicing this ancient art of mindfulness has proven to calm the mind and soothe the soul. Meditation relaxes the body and mind from the inside out and has been proven to minimize stress, boost weight loss, sharpen emotional processing, and even effectively quell depression. This is an excellent way to improve mental wellness.

  • Get a massage

    It’s called massage therapy for a reason! Scheduling regular massages help relax the muscles, eases joint pain, lowers stress and even acts as a motivation for “good behavior” in other areas of your life. Though massage has therapeutic benefits, it also feels terrific and can be quite relaxing… what other motivation do you need?

  • Spend Time in a Sauna

    Seriously, is there anything more relaxing or therapeutic than a sauna? The warm air, soothing lighting, and calm interior of a top-quality infrared sauna act as a veritable meditation chamber that gently yet effectively detoxifies the body and relaxes the mind and spirit. Spending time in a sauna is a terrific way to improve your health and wellness this New Year, and the latest in IR saunas on the market today make it incredibly easy and convenient to enjoy the benefits of a sauna at home.

  • Schedule a Nap

    Think it sounds impossible to squeeze in a 30-minute nap each day? Well, according to a recent NY Times article, the average Facebook user dedicates about 50 minutes to the social media platform every 24 hours. Try limiting your social media time and instead use the time to catch up on a bit of sleep. Getting enough sleep is one of the most powerful self-care routines you can adopt.

  • Read a Book

    Put aside the e-readers and cell phone for a bit and cuddle up to a good old-fashioned book (yes, we mean the kind with paper pages). Reading not only helps boost your ability to think, analyze and create concept connections, but it also helps you sleep when you spend time with a real book and not an electronic version of one.

  • Focus on Positivity

    While this might seem easier said than done, being negative about situations – especially those that are out of our control – does little to boost our sense of happiness and empowerment. Instead, try to coax your thought processes to identify and react to negative situations with a one-two-punch approach. Start by recognizing the negative situation, then find a way to introduce a positive aspect. For example, if someone at work is annoying you, focus instead on three people whom you do get along with.

  • Disconnect for Two Hours Per Day

    We live in an interconnected world, but that isn’t always a good thing. In fact, recent research has shown a disturbing correlation between constant connection (via your cell phone, tablet, email, etc.) to a heightened risk of depression, anxiety and disrupted sleep patterns. If you’re committed to being the best possible version of you this New Year, schedule time to disconnect each day. This might mean putting your phone on silent while you clean the kitchen, going for a walk and keeping your phone on silent, or any other realistic way you can unplug from the world for a bit.

  • Learn to Say “No”

    When it comes to creating the best version of you, it pays to know who “you” are! Turn down one invitation to a social engagement per month, and take the time you’d have normally spent getting dressed, commuting to and from the gathering, and the event itself, and allocate that time to doing something for yourself. Use the money you would have spent on the event and mindfully treat yourself. Obviously, you’ll want to use discretion here (don’t skip your sister’s wedding!), but even saving a few hours a month can help you reinvest in yourself.

  • Create a Daily Gratitude List

    Think you’re totally aware of all the great things going on in your life? It’s made that much more apparent when you think about and catalog a short list of daily gratitude items. You don’t have to compile a lengthy list of super-intense items – just include simple things like “I’m grateful for the rain” or “I’m grateful for these new jeans I bought.”

  • Stop Trying to be Perfect

    One of the most freeing feelings you can introduce into your daily routine is the concept of “I’m going to aim for perfection, but be content with really good.” Don’t beat yourself up if your diet falls off the rails a bit. Don’t stress over a missed day at the gym. Skip the feelings of remorse over a night out that went a bit too late. You’re human, and your goal should be to be the best version of yourself… not a flawless example for all of humanity.

This New Year, keep the focus inward for a change. Act mindfully when it comes to your overall sense of well-being, and take steps to prioritize your own growth as you move into 2018. From spending time in a sauna to learning to enjoy the little things in life, you’re in for a terrific New Year.

 

Submitted by: Better Health Lifestyles.com

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from Better Health Lifestyles https://betterhealthlifestyles.com/10-self-care-tips-improve-health-wellness-new-year/

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

ENERGY TIPS FOR BUSY TIME OF YEAR

The year end is a busy time of year for many. There’s always a long to-do list to cross off, holiday parties to enjoy, lights to see, hot chocolate to drink, snowmen to build, gingerbread houses to decorate, and hidden Christmas presents to find. Yes, I’m a grown adult, I can’t help that these are my priorities. But, because I’m not 10 anymore, I seem to get worn out and feel tired a lot faster than I did when I was a kid. I do a few things to keep my energy levels high, some would say too high, but what’s wrong with wanting to feel like a kid again? Here are a few easy-to-implement tips:

Nourish Your Body: Protein-rich foods like quinoa, beans, eggs, and tuna make all the difference in sustained energy throughout the day. Sometimes it is difficult to be health-conscious during the holidays, but striving for consistent improvement each day by adding nourishing foods, supplements, and ingredients to your diet can be all it takes to see a difference in your energy levels. Personally, I NEVER go a day without my natural, Moringa-rich energy drink. By drinking it every day, I get the vitamins, minerals, proteins, antioxidants, and omega oils that my body needs to feel energized.

health-fitness-tips-when-busy

Gym Time: Probably the most annoying advice to hear when you’re tired is to go workout. But, working out equals endorphins, and endorphins mean energy. If the gym isn’t your thing, try walking around your neighborhood to see some Christmas lights or speed walk your way through the mall to get your holiday shopping done.

Take a Break: I know you’re busy, but sometimes to ACTUALLY make the season merry and bright, you need to take a breather. In a study by Brock University, a 10-30-minute nap is all you need to feel re-energized and refreshed. Don’t have 10 minutes? Try deep breathing for just 60 seconds. When you focus on breathing you help slow your heartbeat and help lower or stabilize blood pressure—resulting in a more relaxed you. Doing things like watching a holiday movie with your family or friends, sitting by the fire and reading a book, or going to bed just 30 minutes earlier can all help with your energy levels, too.

Here’s to staying happy, energized, and a little more childlike !

 

submitted by: BetterHealthLifestyles.com

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from Better Health Lifestyles https://betterhealthlifestyles.com/energy-tips-busy-time-year/

Friday, December 8, 2017

Could Moringa overtake Turmeric in 2018 as Superfood

MORINGA IS PIONEERING NEW ANTI-INFLAMMATORY SUPERFOOD

A new year is upon us and a new superfood trend here! Move over turmeric. Leading health and wellness experts at the Sterling Rice GroupGood Morning America and the popular wellness blog Well+Good have identified moringa as the superfood of 2018.  Zija America’s moringa brand has experienced over 200% growth this year and are leveraging the power of the US market to fundamentally improve the lives of farmers across West Africa and Central America.

moringa superfood

MEET MORINGA

Known in ancient cultures as the “tree of life,” moringa is nutrient-dense and contains promising medicinal benefits. Moringa’s leaves are naturally rich in protein, iron, calcium, vitamins, and antioxidants. Moringa also provides a complete protein with all nine essential amino acids.  Zija sources the highest quality, sustainably grown organic moringa leaves from their network of family farmers and women-led cooperatives across the globe.

MORINGA COULD BE A MORE EFFECTIVE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY THAN TURMERIC

Recent research has questioned the effectiveness of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory agent found in turmeric, and have shown promising results that moringa could be much more effective. Many of the polyphenols and related isothiocyanates in moringa (particularly sulforaphane from broccoli) have been well studied and shown to have promising anti-inflammatory activity.

START 2018 WITH A HEALTHY BOOST AND GET YOUR LEAFY MORINGA GREENS ON-THE-GO, TODAY!

Due to their best in class sourcing and quality standards, Zija offers the purest, most nutrient dense moringa on the market. Zija products are sold in over 6,000 stores across the US, including Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Safeway, and Amazon.com. Zija products include Moringa Superfood Bars, Pure Organic Moringa Vegetable Powder, Organic Moringa Greens & Proteins Smoothie Mixes, Energizing Moringa Herbal Tea, and Moringa Green Energy shots. Zija’s moringa products make it easy for Americans to get their greens on the go, while helping to plant moringa trees and support women farmers in the developing world.

 

Check out more about Moringa and other Health products on www.betterhealthlifestyles.com 

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from Better Health Lifestyles https://betterhealthlifestyles.com/moringa-overtake-turmeric-2018-superfood/