Small changes to boost your health
These little changes don't cost a fortune but can have a big impact on your overall health.
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How to get healthier with five small changes...
By Sarah Treleaven
– 24 Aug, 2012
Last
summer, I fell in love and took off for a lengthy excursion around the
globe, abandoning my gym schedule and eating as much as a pound of hummus
in a single sitting.
I don't regret a thing, but that life is
(unfortunately) not my reality.
Finally home, and settling back into
daily life, I've noticed I don't feel as light on my feet, don't
sleep as well as I used to, and frequently find myself dehydrated, and
lacking energy.
It can be difficult to go from pie for breakfast to Sunday Pilates in one step, and I'm hardly an all-or-nothing kind of gal.
I'm taking some small, easy steps to feel better, and a little healthier.
They're not necessarily broad prescriptions, but things I know my body responds well to:
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1. Have a pot of green, or white, tea every day.
I made a pot of tea every day.
Tea with caffeine can act as a diuretic, but I've always found white or
green tea supremely nourishing.
When I stick with this particular
routine, I notice the effects right away:
I've always been a breakfast eater - and definitely, a morning coffee drinker
- but I've gotten out of the swing of any morning routine.
I know, I function better all day if I have a decent amount of protein
when I first wake up.
It helps me resist reaching for snacks throughout
the day, and keeps my hormones stable.
I'm starting slow, with a
hard-boiled egg, and yogurt or beans, but hope to get a little more
creative over time.
I'm trying to stick with things I love - reading,
on the stationary bike, power walking on the treadmill, swimming laps in
the pool, sitting in the steam room - and working with the idea something is always better than nothing.
4. Eat green vegetables and/or herbs every day.
4. Eat green vegetables and/or herbs every day.
I'm getting back into the habit of making a smoothie every afternoon, and I always use lots of fresh berries plus spinach, kale,
or parsley.
It's a terrific and filling snack, and both my mood and
energy level are more consistent.
Whether you blend it at work, or at
home, have a great on-the-go container, to ensure you can sip your smoothie no matter where you are in your day.
5. Don't forget about treats.
5. Don't forget about treats.
I don't function well
under conditions of deprivation - I would survive, maybe, 30 seconds of a
cleanse - so I make sure I reward myself for trying to live a
little more healthfully.
I like keeping homemade cookies
in the house, and eat them daily.
I like having a glass of wine with
dinner, and eat dessert whenever I have room left, and can't imagine
any circumstances under which I would turn down fried chicken.
I'm
trying to find a better balance that will maintain my happiness, but also
ensure I'm not overindulging, on a daily basis.
When the vacation ends, it's back to reality, but it doesn't mean you have to go give up the daily joys.
See more ways small changes can help to improve your life.
When the vacation ends, it's back to reality, but it doesn't mean you have to go give up the daily joys.
See more ways small changes can help to improve your life.
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