Ten ways to help boost your health
We all know the foundation to a healthy body is a wellbalanced nutrient-rich diet, good hydration and regular movement, but if we look beyond that, there are many more ways we can support optimum wellness.
Our emotions and our biochemistry are just as influential when it comes to whether or not we feel energised, optimistic and nourished.
Here are 10 pieces of health wisdom, for people of all ages:
1. Nourish your body with whole food and boost your nutrient intake with a daily green drink to ensure your body is best equipped to keep you healthy and energised.
2. Flex your ‘‘no’’ muscle more frequently and set clear boundaries around prioritising time for yourself. So many people do things because they feel they should, not because they want to.
3. Take time to stop and take stock of all the wonderful things in your life that you already have. Science has shown that the nervous system cannot focus on more than one thing at a time so when you feel grateful you cannot be stressed.
4. Take care of your liver by reducing its toxic load – choose organic produce, natural skincare and household products, cut down on your processed food and alcohol consumption. The liver is one of the big guns when it comes to our health and energy and it’s easy in our world of convenience to forget the impact we have on it daily with everything we consume and put on our skin.
5. Activate your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), your body’s natural ‘‘rest and digest’’ pathway, with 10 (or more) long, slow, diaphragmatic breaths each day. Activating the PNS switches off the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), your body’s ‘‘fight or flight’’ stress response. Diaphragmatic breathing is the only way science knows to communicate to your body that it’s safe and therefore able to switch off the SNS, with all the benefits this brings.
6. Good digestion is the basis of all health. Ensure oodles of good bacteria in your gut by avoiding antibiotics (that aren’t necessary) and eating real food – especially bone broths, fermented foods, plenty of vegetables and nourishing whole food fats.
7. Movement – we need to move our bodies to maintain strength and flexibility but also restore the body by not pushing it too hard. Activities such as weights, yoga, Pilates, tai chi, walking, swimming, stretching and other incidental activities are perfect. Gardening, farm work, carrying groceries and children all contribute, too.
8. Take responsibility for your health. When we say ‘‘I don’t have time’’ for something, what we are essentially saying is ‘‘that is not a priority for me’’.
9. Protect your sleep cycle and reduce your ‘‘on’’ time by avoiding bright lights and screens at least two hours before bed. Bright lights interfere with the production of the sleep hormone melatonin which can affect our capacity for deep, restorative sleep.
10. Drop the judgment. There is a story behind every person. There is a reason why they are the way that they are. Do your best to consider this always, as it helps us to bring curiosity rather than judgment to our interactions. ❚ Dr Libby is a nutritional biochemist, best-selling author and speaker. The advice contained in this column is not intended to be a substitute for direct, personalised advice from a health professional. Visit drlibby.com. Support your health through the festive season by trying Bio Blends by Dr Libby, her new range of foodbased nutritional supplements at bioblends.co.nz.