Eating and Living Whole

Beauty from the inside out is the best way to go! Fuelling our bodies with good nutrition at this age will allow us to reach our full potential, and in turn boost our self-confidence and drown out those negative influences that creep into our lives. Here are a few tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle; enjoy! 

1.             Listen to your Body; ultimately you know yourself better than anyone, so when it comes to food it is best to become in tune with your bodily routines. Basically, if you’re hungry: eat, if your truly not: then don’t (or have something light). True health comes from getting to know how YOUR body works. We are all very different and so are our bodies, therefore, we must attune ourselves to work FOR instead of against our body. For example, certain foods maybe beneficial to some, while others not so much. It’s all about heightening our awareness and truly getting to know ourselves. Ask yourself questions after eating certain foods; “Do you become bloated when you consume wheat products”? Do you break out when you drink milk”? The observations that you make about your body will impact greatly on your overall health so, listen to your body! (Activities such as yoga and meditation help with this.)
   

2.        Eat Whole, Unprocessed and as close to nature as possible; we have all heard the saying that “less is more” and this is true when it comes to food. Eating from the earth is the best way to ensure optimal nutrition and health. We are designed to eat simply, it is the best way our bodies can recognise process and utilise food.  This way of eating can be referred to as “Whole Foods” which is eating foods in its most natural state with minimal ingredients added. Whole foods include; fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, meats and dairy foods (Foods that have not been altered by humans). Basically, anything that will go bad in a matter of days. Foods that should be avoided or reduced in the diet are the foods that wreak havoc in our system. These foods include sugar, all junk foods, processed foods, fast food etc. Funnily enough these types of foods are not actually recognised as ‘food’ in the body, therefore your body begins to panic and try’s to eliminate it in various ways such as acne, inflammation etc.  Whilst of course it is not good to deprive yourself, moderation is key, so follow the concept of the 80/20 (80% healthy and 20% indulgent) rule and it is ok to indulge once in a while!

3. Cultivate self- love (improve your mood);  remember, your mental health contributes greatly on whether  or not you eat healthy that day, and this can mean the difference between self-love and self-hate. When we eat something that might not be as good for us, we can begin to beat ourselves up about it, when really it is not that big of a deal, so we should just accept it and move on. Unfortunately, this may not be an option for some, so instead of spending hours trying to justify your actions for eating this certain food; go and do something you love and try and not to reflect too much on the matter, this could be watching a movie, listening to music, reading a book or journaling. Anything you like that places you in a positive head space that allows you to be at peace with yourself. 

4.    “work it” (get moving); we are naturally designed to be mobile and active so we should embrace that! Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore, it can be fun and inexpensive; walking is a great way to clear the head, cultivate self-love, and ‘work’ the entire body. Try meeting up with a friend as its always easier to stay motivated if you are with someone. 

5.      Sleep: It is simple, but it’s the single most important thing that will dictate the day ahead as well as your health. Did you know that just one late night can drastically impact our hormones and surge them into a frenzy which can affect our mood, eating choices, energy and vitality. Try to be consistent with the time you go to bed as well as when you wake up. Aim for 8-10 hours of sleep a night and be sure to switch off all electronics at least 30 minutes before going to bed. Before bed can be the perfect time to cultivate self-love; it is a time we should be calming down and reflecting on the day that was. Reading a good book, writing or simply taking a few deep breaths will settle your mind and encourage your body to rest. 

6.   Smile; staying positive is the best form of medicine there is. Smiling increases your mood (as well as somebody else’s), it lowers stress and anxiety and it strengthens the immune system which ensures you are less likely to fall ill. So when in doubt just SMILE  :D !!!