10 Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle 1. GO TO BED BEFORE 11PM Lol, sorry, don’t mean to sound like your mom, but there’s a lot of goodness that happens when you go to bed before 11pm. The first of your 10 tips for good health start here. Ever notice that you get a “second wind” in the evening when you stay up late? Your body is designed to have a wave of cortisol that rises around 11pm if you’re still up. That rise in cortisol can make it difficult to settle down for a while. Cortisol primarily comes from the adrenal glands, and the adrenals are in charge of your body’s fight-or-flight response to stressful things. High or abnormal levels of cortisol can make it difficult to lose weight or relax, and are associated with abdominal weight gain (belly fat). So, be kind to your cortisol levels (and probably lose weight)– go to bed before 11pm. 2. GET 7-8 HOURS OF SLEEP I know that this isn’t always possible in every season of life, like when you have a new baby, but as much as depends on you, aim for 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Sufficient nighttime sleep is important for so many aspects of your health, including a healthy weight, amazing thyroid function (plays a role in weight, energy levels, lowering cortisol levels, and feeling alert (sleep deprivation + driving can slow reflexes just like driving while intoxicated can). Do your best to get 7-8 hours of sleep a night, and you’ll lay the foundation for feeling like Wonder Woman. No cape required. 3. STOP MICROWAVING YOUR FOOD Some studies suggest that the electromagnetic radiation (that’s used to heat up food) may have a carcinogenic (cancer-causing effect). It can change the structure of food, and in theory, may play a role in changing our DNA a bit (hence the potential for cancer). If you truly want to be healthy, stop nuking your food (and your innards) and start using safer methods to reheat your food. Alternative options to microwaving your food: Use a toaster oven. Reheat on the stove top. 4. DRINK 8 GLASSES OF WATER A DAY You knew that this had to be on here, right? It had to be on the list of 10 tips for a healthy lifestyle. I know that you know that you should drink more water. And if you truly want to feel amazing, water needs to be part of your daily holistic health habits. Our bodies are 60% water (on average) and replenishing that water is SO good for you. Most people walk around a little bit dehydrated. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, reduced mental clarity, and even weight gain as some people confuse thirst for hunger. Lately, this water bottle has been helping me to drink more water. It’s 32 ounces, so I have one bottle in the morning and one in the afternoon. I also drink a glass of cold water at breakfast, with lunch, and at dinner. 5. SPEAK LIFE AND POSITIVITY Since your body is 60% water, and using positive, loving language about yourself and others is SO important. Dr. Masaru Emoto did several experiments on water. Cups of water were spoken over with loving words and prayers or hateful, angry words, and then placed in the freezer. Check out how the water changed from the thoughts and words directed at it: https://www.youtube.com/embed/EIOx7i7MkY8 A positive, optimistic attitude is also important for managing stress, which in turn will improve adrenal function. 6. GO ORGANIC Of all these healthy habits that will help you feel like a super hero, this one will take the longest to FEEL the difference. And by longest, I mean that it usually takes a few weeks. Removing the pesticides, chemicals, and genetically modified foods from your diet will help to fuel your body with the nutrients it needs and was designed to consume. Typically, when people go organic, they notice better energy levels, tastier food, more restful sleep, and often lose a little weight. 7. SWAP YOUR MORNING COFFEE FOR THIS SUPERFOOD Really want to feel so good that you could almost fly? This is it! Trading for your morning coffee for a morning maca blend can make you feel amazing all day long! Unlike coffee, which can push your adrenals hard and leave you with an energy crash a few hours later, maca is naturally supports the adrenal glands and your hormones for gentle, steady energy for hours without the subsequent crash. Quick heads’ up– maca is caffeine-free, so if you’re used to your morning cup of java, you might want to gradually decrease your coffee consumption over the course of a few days when you start your morning maca. 8. PAMPER YOUR HAIR, SKIN, AND NAILS WITH BONE BROTH Bone broth is fantastic for your health, and you’ll get model-worthy hair, skin, and nails from drinking 8-16 ounces of bone broth a day. Bone broth is full of beauty-boosting collagen and gelatin, which support healthy, strong, and shiny hair, skin, and nails. It may even reduce the appearance of fine line and wrinkles, cellulite, and varicose veins. Added bonus– drink it at bedtime to promote those 7-8 hours of restful sleep (also good for skin!). And it can count towards your daily water intake! 9. GET GOOD GUT HEALTHY WITH THIS DELICIOUS DRINK Kefir (and other fermented foods) are full of amazing, good bacteria that can promote a healthy gut environment. More and more studies are coming out showing how our gut microbiome plays a significant role in our overall health. Kefir is usually 99% lactose free, so it even works for most lactose-intolerant people. The best time to drink kefir is at bedtime. That gives those good gut bacteria plenty of time to implant like they should. 10. ENJOY EXERCISE IN MODERATION To wrap up these 10 tips for a healthy lifestyle, you should include some moderate exercise in your weekly routine. Vigorous exercise can lead to or exacerbate adrenal fatigue, so consider sticking to some moderate exercise at least 3-4 times a week (and maybe sneak in some daily stretches or yoga). Personally, I love the Trim Healthy Mama Workins program and T-Tapp for exercises that will morph you into Wonder Woman with speedy workouts that won’t stress your adrenals! 10 TIPS FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE These 10 Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle are the perfect place to start to add some spring to your step and health back into your day. Small steps and changes can add up to huge health gains before you know it! Kate Winslet Previous ArticleWhy You Should Eat Your Antioxidants Next ArticleThese 5 Exercises Will Help You With Hip, Knee or Foot Pain November 9, 2020