Despite being in the middle of a pandemic it’s hard to believe sometimes, whilst we are given advice on social distancing, we are not given any guidance on how our diet can support our body’s natural defences. Well, with spring finally in the air and with restrictions lifting, it’s now time to introduce some changes to your lifestyle and get your body ready to face and enjoy life post lockdown!
Mixed fruits and vegetables at organic fair
Detoxification
Unfortunately, we live in a polluted world, which is exacerbated even further by our intake of processed foods which are full of chemicals, using chemical laden skin products and even when we think we are being healthy by eating fruit and vegetables, these are often sprayed with toxic insecticides. With our bodies being exposed to such high level of toxins, it’s time to give our body a rest, and an opportunity to detoxify. Here are some tips on how to reduce your own toxic load and give your body the support it needs:
* drink filtered water
* avoid your allergens and intolerances
* avoid refined sugar
* read the ingredient list rather than the nutritional information on labels. Is it a long list?
Do you know what you’re eating?
Choose wisely:
* clean your fruit and vegetables thoroughly before peeling
* choose ‘wild caught’ fish rather than from fish farms
* choose organic, grass fed meats and free-range eggs as often as you possible
* check the ingredient list of your personal products (especially hand sanitisers) – would you eat them? Remember that everything you put on your skin ends up in your body!
Emotional Support
Daily we are bombarded with negative news stories, which can create feelings of panic and fear. These emotional reactions elicit a stress response, which is directly linked with our immunity, the more stressed we feel, the less efficient are our bodies at fighting off illnesses. However, by making some small changes, you can take control of your emotions and restore balance to your life and wellbeing:
Social media detox: it’s time to free yourself from the streams of endless memes and selfies! Allocate time where you remove yourself from your phone, giving you time away from constant updates and distractions. Use this time to live in the moment and enjoy your time, remember, those posts will still be there when you open your phone.
Make time for yourself: By being free from your phone, you should use this time to introduce healthier habits which can reduce stress and improve your wellbeing. For example, mediation has been shown to combat stress, and there are numerous apps and video tutorials available online for free. Or why not go down a more traditional route, grab a book and light some essential oils, Clary Sage for example has been proven to have a soothing effect as you immerse yourself in a great read.
Nutritional Support
As they always say, ‘you are what you eat’, and what we put into our body, has a direct impact on how our body functions, which ultimately impacts on how we feel. So, put down those sugary snacks, and get the right nutrients into your body:
Vitamin C – this vitamin is important to help your immune system deal with viruses, especially cold and flu viruses. Vitamin C is found to be more effective when taken at several times during the day, and can be found in foods such as peppers, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, lemon, lime, kiwi, peas, oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes. Not only will this crucial vitamin support your immune system, it’s also been found to reduce stress too!
Glutathione – is the superhero antioxidant, the best strategy to ensure that it is being produced by your body is through N Acetyl Cysteine supplements. However, Glutathione is easily depleted by activities such as smoking and drinking alcohol, so consider how your actions can undermine all your good work.
Other Supplements
You should also consider introducing these supplements to your diet, your body will thank you as these have been found to fight off viruses!
* Vitamin D3 – spending 20-30 minutes in daylight is all that is needed every day in the summer, however, its supplementation is crucial over the winter months.
* Magnesium – sources of Magnesium are green leafy vegetables, almonds, cashews, buckwheat flour, Brazil nuts, pecans, garlic, cooked beans, peas. Remember that Magnesium levels are depleted by stress!
* Zinc – can be found in ginger root, lamb chops, pecans, haddock, peas, Brazil nuts, eggs, rye, oats, almonds.
* Selenium – is found in foods such as cabbage, courgettes, brazil nuts and chicken.
These simple changes can be introduced today and may be the best resolutions for our post pandemic world. If you’re looking for further support, or a more tailored approach which focuses on detoxification as well as nutritional and emotional support to regain/improve your health, contact me today.
Angharad Evans
Therapïau Naturiol Angharad
Natural Therapies by Angharad
07739 210291
Angharad can also be contacted on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/AngharadsNaturalTherapy
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