You are in charge of your health! Take steps now to be prepared for a healthy future.

Week 1: Detox and Diet

Toss the junk. Detox your pantry so that you can detox your body. From snack foods to frozen dinners, make sure they find their way to the trash can. Focus your diet on organic whole foods, and start to incorporate a variety of fruits and vegetables into each meal. Throw away everything that contains artificial sweeteners, flavours, colours, and preservatives, and anything that has ingredients on the label that are difficult to pronounce or that cannot be found anywhere in nature.

• Start each day by drinking a glass of warm lemon water. This helps the digestive juices of the stomach gain strength and eliminate waste from the body.
• Eat only whole foods like whole grains, fruits, seeds, nuts, veggies and organic dairy. Say no to processed foods, and yes to organic whenever possible.
• Start a herbal detox program, the herbs used in most programs not only help your body purge the toxins, they also help replenish organs. Some of our favorite kits include the Wild Rose Detox, Flor essence 7-day kit, Renew Life CleanseSmart Kit and the Enzymatic Therapy Whole Body Cleanse.
• Learn the difference between phase 1 and phase 2 cleansing. This is the cleansing that occurs on a daily basis if the body is given the nutrients it needs to operate at an optimal level. For more information visit our past blog Top 10 Cleansing Tips for Daily Detox.

Week 2: Boost Energy

• Give away a prized possession. Acts of generosity and finding that you are not tied to your possessions can be revitalizing. Live your life by abiding by the Law of Giving.
• Get active – even a brisk 10 minute walk at lunch time can stimulate energy production and increase focus.
• Laugh! It is proven that laughter helps optimize hormones in the endocrine system, decreasing stress and increasing energy.
• Try yoga. Many people have a misunderstanding of yoga. They equate it with the physical postures that they do in the yoga studio, which are one component of yoga. But yoga classically is divided into four: being, feeling, thinking and doing. Try to practice mindfulness and being present in all your daily activities.
• Don’t reach for quick fixes, like energy drinks or pills. These only deplete your energy further and can cause long term issues that harder to recover from.
• If you have been feeling run down, or emotional and chronically tired your adrenal function might be compromised. Take this quiz to test your adrenal function.

Week 3: Reduce Stress

Stress is unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to run your life or ruin your health. Be proactive about guarding yourself against the side effects of stress by learning to manage it.

• Sit in silence for a few minutes during or after a tough day. This kind of meditative practice will help you calm down and breathe. Here is a 10 minute meditation that can be done anywhere.
• Recognize your stress tigers and find ways to avoid or overcome them.
• Supplement as needed:
• B Vitamins: B-complex vitamins are important in stress relief management because one of their primary roles in the body is to keep the nervous system functioning well. Deficiencies of B-vitamins are associated with nerve problems and an increase in stress-related symptoms such as depression, anxiety and irritability. The B-complex vitamins work as a team, and supplements should include a balanced formula containing all of them.
• L-Theanine:  L-Theanine directly stimulates the production of alpha brain waves, creating a state of deep relaxation and mental alertness similar to what is achieved through meditation. Second, it is involved in the formation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA). GABA influences the levels of two other neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin, producing a relaxation effect.
• Rhodiola: Rhodiola encourages a healthy stress response to physical, mental and emotional challenges. It aids in increasing the body’s resistance to stress and enables the body to adapt more effectively to challenging circumstances. It also increases energy levels and improves other symptoms associated with chronic stress or adrenal exhaustion.
• Holy Basil: This herb functions as an adaptogen, increasing the body’s natural response to both physical and emotional stress. Holy Basil supports the body’s ability to function optimally during times of stress.
• Stress Formulas: There are many formulas on the market that offer the optimal levels of many ingredients in one product. Many find benefits when taking them on a daily basis to maintain balance and replenish depleted adrenal glands. Other products offer a near immediate effect and can be kept on hand for those moments of anxiety and nervousness.  Visit any of our stores to select one that is best suited to your needs.

Week 4: Fight Pain and inflammation

• General pain and inflammation is often caused by increased unbalanced pH levels in the body, and digestive issues.
• Deal with the source of the pain; don’t mask it with a quick fix.
• Learn more about the inflammatory process to understand how to maintain a long term goal.

True health care comes down to air, water, food, light and love. Stick to the basics, and listen to your body.