10 Things You Can Do Today to Improve Your Health!

Your health is dependant on many, many things, including your current dietary and lifestyle habits, your mood, environmental exposure to toxins, stressors in your life, your genetics and a whole host of other factors which to a greater or lesser degree, affect how you feel on a daily basis. However, there are a number of things you can do TODAY to make dramatic improvements in your heath and well-being.

1. Drink 8 8-oz. glasses of pure water between meals. Every function in your body is dependent on water in some way, so you need to insure you are giving your body an adequate supply of this vital nutrient. The basic recommendation is to obtain half your weight in ounces of water per day, minimum.

2. Relax before eating. If you are uptight, hurried, nervous, etc., you should not eat. Take a couple of minutes to wind down, relax and let go of your worries and stresses before anything goes into your mouth. Being uptight while eating will lead to improper digestion and a whole host of gastrointestinal disorders down the road. Enjoy the food you are eating and take time to savor it!

3. Chew your food!! The food you eat should be a liquid before it hits the back of your throat. This insures that the food is broken down adequately and mixed with your salivary enzymes to promote optimal digestion.

4. Drink minimal liquids with meals. Drinking water or other liquids with meals dilutes the digestive juices and hinders proper digestion.

5. Eliminate wheat and wheat products from your diet, at least for 2-4 weeks. Wheat products contain a protein called gluten that causes sensitivities in most people. The only way to determine the degree of your sensitivity is to cut it out of your diet completely for 2-4 weeks and try reintroducing it. Eliminating wheat is especially important for those who are trying to lose weight.

6. Limit most dairy products. Dairy products including milk, cheese, ice cream, et cetera, contain many substances that are difficult for the body to digest. The one exception is cultured yogurt; many people tolerate yogurt well – just look for a variety that does not have added sugar.

7. Eliminate soda/pop from your diet - - period. All carbonated beverages contain high amounts of acids that are very detrimental to your health. Sodas are particularly harmful to you as they also contain sweeteners, artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors, preservatives, and numerous other additives that do nothing but detract from your health. Stick to water and herbal teas and you will be on your way to a healthier, happier you!

8. Get at least 30 minutes of regular exercise daily. This doesn’t all have to be at one time, so feel free to break it up if you have to. Breathe deeply while you exercise and be sure to stretch the major muscle groups after you finish.

9. Obtain at least 15 minutes of sunshine everyday. The only way your body produces Vitamin D is through direct skin exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D acts as a hormone in the body and affects many vital functions, including proper healing, repair and bone strength. For example, going for a walk after lunch is a perfect time to get sun, exercise and fresh air injected into your day.

10. Take time for yourself each day. This is crucial, and most of us just blow it off. I’m talking about 5-15 minutes even where you take the time to meditate, listen to music, paint, draw, call a friend, read a book, etc. Your health is YOUR responsibility, so take some time each day and do something for yourself. Surround yourself with things that make you happy: plants, flowers, pictures, etc. Fill your space with happiness and health.

If you don’t feel like you can incorporate all of these into your life right now, pick three and start them TODAY. Add another one in a week or every couple days until you have all ten. As you add them in, notice how your body and outlook changes. Soon, you will be enjoying a much more vibrant, happy and healthy existence and you won’t be able to fathom what life was like before you decided to take control of your health and make these ten simple changes.

~ Live Well ~
Trinity Fitness