1. Positive thinking. Start the day with positive thoughts or by forging a smile as soon as you open your eyes. Our thoughts affect our emotions by releasing both stress producing neurotransmitters like cortisol and adrenaline and positive ones like dopamine and serotonin.
2. Contrast showering. Shower with one minute of water as hot as you can handle followed by 30 seconds of water as cold as you can handle. Repeat this three times. It’s the difference in temperature that has the therapeutic benefit. Contrast showers increase circulation, help remove toxins, stimulate lymphatic circulation which improves your immune system, and wakes you up!
3. The Body Rub. Doing the Body Rub only takes five minutes either before or after your shower, but separate from it; nevertheless, its impact on health is huge. Using an unbleached or a white organic cotton/linen/flax washcloth dipped in hot water, rub your skin gently, always working towards the heart, except at the upper outer quadrant of the breast, from where we work towards the underarms. Continue from your fingertips up to your heart area, and from your toes up towards the heart again. Give extra attention to the collarbones, underarms, heart, soles, back of the knees, and the inguinal canal (at the bikini line) where there are concentrated lymph channels. The benefit of this practice is its ability to remove dead skin, to allow for better gas exchange, to increase venous return to the heart which helps varicose veins, to increase lymph circulation, to stimulate the immune system, and most importantly, to release toxins through pores.
2. Contrast showering. Shower with one minute of water as hot as you can handle followed by 30 seconds of water as cold as you can handle. Repeat this three times. It’s the difference in temperature that has the therapeutic benefit. Contrast showers increase circulation, help remove toxins, stimulate lymphatic circulation which improves your immune system, and wakes you up!
3. The Body Rub. Doing the Body Rub only takes five minutes either before or after your shower, but separate from it; nevertheless, its impact on health is huge. Using an unbleached or a white organic cotton/linen/flax washcloth dipped in hot water, rub your skin gently, always working towards the heart, except at the upper outer quadrant of the breast, from where we work towards the underarms. Continue from your fingertips up to your heart area, and from your toes up towards the heart again. Give extra attention to the collarbones, underarms, heart, soles, back of the knees, and the inguinal canal (at the bikini line) where there are concentrated lymph channels. The benefit of this practice is its ability to remove dead skin, to allow for better gas exchange, to increase venous return to the heart which helps varicose veins, to increase lymph circulation, to stimulate the immune system, and most importantly, to release toxins through pores.
4. Good Food. Start your day with a glass of room temperature water with the juice of half a lemon. Lemon, a great source of Vitamin C, is a natural antimicrobial, so it cleans and disinfects the inside of your body. Additionally, it stimulates the production of bile, which is an important part of detoxification.
Eat breakfast every morning. If time is limited, try a protein smoothie, nuts and seeds, or organic protein bars. Try to keep healthy snacks in your briefcase, bag or purse, glove compartment, or desk drawer, so when things get hectic you can still eat well. Eating frequently, but intelligently, stimulates your metabolism.
There is no perfect diet and you need to discover what works best for you. Remember, you are what you eat. Everything you ingest is broken down to make up the cells of your body. Food can be your best medicine or your greatest poison: you decide. Diet is also about cultural expectations, financial constraints, emotional well-being, and social activities, so refining it is a gradual and life-long experiment. Consider seeking help from your Naturopathic Doctor to find the eating plan that works best for you.
5. Move. Sedentary lifestyles often begin at work, so try to get up every hour throughout the day, even if it’s only for 30 seconds, as this will help prevent blood and lymph from stagnating. If possible, try walking, stretching, jogging on the spot, yoga, or Tai Chi. While you’re at it, try deep breathing through the nose. Make one of those movement breaks intense enough to bring on a good sweat for at least 15 minutes. This doesn’t need to be “exercise.” Chasing toddlers, moving furniture, cleaning windows… it all counts.
Read Full Article Here: Ten Naturopathic Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle
No comments:
Post a Comment