I try to give my body a break from inflammatory substances at least a couple of times a year. This is a simple reset to my system and hopefully renews my dedication to sustaining a mostly healthy lifestyle. None of these suggestions are particularly ground-breaking, but I do find that creating or renewing simple rituals are more likely to be the ones that stick. They are mostly gentle reminders things that we already know.
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FOOD
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I try to think about all the amazing foods that I can eat instead of all the foods that I need to cut out. Having a positive attitude is more than half the battle. So instead of dwelling on the fact that I can’t have a sandwich for lunch or pasta for dinner, I focus on how great I’m going to feel after I eat the vitamin packed salad and delicious simple supper made with whole foods. For those who know me, know that I can be just a tad bit dramatic, so I try to tone down the drama and just get down to eating better without having overly dramatic temper tantrums about how much I’m suffering without cheese! I put all my energy and my focus on eating as many non-starchy veggies that I can in a day.
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I FOCUS ON THE FIBRE
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If you've never cleansed before, take it super easy on yourself. Try just cutting out one or two things at a time. Ask yourself what the easiest thing would be for you to go without. Is it coffee? Is it dairy or bread? Is it sugar?Â
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Try to replace those foods with other, more heathy whole foods. Start your day off with some herbal tea, have a salad with some protein at lunch instead of a sandwich, make yourself a special Mocktail at "Happy Hour".
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Start a food journal and write down how you are feeling in your body and how you’re feeling mentally and emotionally. This process is interesting to track. You can look back in a few months and have concrete evidence on how making a few small shifts in your eating habits greatly impacted how you felt in your day to day.Â
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Instead of spending hours on social media, spend your "phone time" looking up awesome and inspiring recipes.
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My Naturopathic Doctor gave me a very simple way to start to change my relationship with food. The plate method: Half your plate is non starchy veggies, one quarter is protein and one quarter is starch. SO SIMPLE! This advice was a game changer for me.
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WATER
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Drinks lots of water with fresh lemon. I try not to be really strict about how much. I just drink when I'm thirsty and when I'm hungry and craving sugar which ends up being quite a lot!
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If you are exercising regularly, you can also make your own electrolyte drink by squeezing half a lemon and a pinch of salt into 8 oz of water. You can add maple syrup to sweeten if you like.Â
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DO NOT PUT LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL INTO YOUR WATER!
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ALCOHOL / OTHER STUFF
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Sorry to say, but there is no cleanse in the world that says it’s ok to consume drugs and alcohol. So, this one is Non-Negotiable. If you aren't ready to cut those out, then maybe start planning for when you can.Â
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EXERCISE
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These tips are meant for those of you who struggle with maintaining a regular exercise.Â
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Grab a friend or your dog or your headphones and get outside. Plan a time during the day that you won't have any excuses. Is it before work? During your lunch or after work? Maybe it's after dinner? Pick a time that is easiest for you to manage and just decide that it is Non-Negotiable. This is the time that you have set aside for yourself. Go for a walk, go to the pool or to the ocean, hike up a hill. Whatever it is. Just do it. Personally, I find that doing something every weekday is easier than doing it a few times a week, but that's just me. Find a schedule or pattern that feels good for you and make a deal with yourself that you can easily stick to.Â
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Sleep
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It goes without saying that getting enough sleep is an integral part of having a healthy and balanced life. SO if this is something you struggle to get enough of, now is the time to look for tools to help you.
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- Try drinking a cup of herbal tea before bed. Here are the top 5 choices for bedtime tea.
- Valarian Root - this bitter root contains over 150 chemical constituents. It is used for insomnia, anxiety, depression, PMS, menopause, and headaches.
- Chamomile – this gentle herb smells like apples and tastes herbal and somewhat sweet and is used for insomnia and anxiety. It is also used for digestive upset and skincare issues.
- Lavender – Although you may not think about drinking Lavender as a tea, it really is quite lovely. Combining it with Chamomile is a nice option as well. Lavender is well renowned for its sedative properties.
- Lemon balm – I call this the happiness herb. Its scent is just so cheerful! It is used for anxiety, stress and insomnia.
- Passionflower is well renowned for its use in sleep aids and anxiety.
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2: Have an Epsom salt bath before bed.
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- Epsom Salts have an extremely high-mineral content that replicate the benefits of soaking in a natural hot spring. They have anti-inflammatory properties and when absorbed through the skin, they draw toxins from the body, sedate the nervous system, reduce swelling and bruises and relax muscles.
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3: Add essential oils to nightly routine.
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- You can add them to an Epsom Salt Bath
- Diffuse in your room before bedtime.
- Keep a Roll On by your bed and use as needed.
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If you are interested in learning which oils are helpful with sleep learn more here.
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You can shop aromatic sleep aids here
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Hopefully this gives you a bit of inspiration to start or continue your own version of an annual or bi-annual cleanse!
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Yours in love, heath & aromatics
Leah
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