10 Habits to Stay Healthy this Fall
Alas, summer has come to an end and the earth begins to transition into the new fall season. The cool crisp morning weather takes over the hot sunny days, the leaves start changing into the brightest of oranges and yellow, and the bountiful stone fruits and veggies come alive. Along with these beautiful changes in our weather and surroundings, we forget how easy it is to become susceptible to allergies, colds and flus. There are natural healthy ways to steer clear of the usual suspects, so here are my top 10 ways to stay healthy this fall!
Weekly acupuncture treatments to strengthen your immune system and digestion. Did you know that 75% of your immmune system is actually located in your gut(intestines)? Acupuncture helps to stimulate the intestines for optimal function.
Take your prescribed Chinese Herbal formula as directed and consistently. This practice is preventative and will help ward off those pesky little bugs (bacteria and viruses).
Exercise for life! I'm not talking about joining the gym or hiring a personal trainer, I'm talking about incorporating a physical activity that makes you happy and doing it every day, even if it's only for 30 minutes. This is enough to get your Qi free flowing and gives you added benefits like decreasing stress, anxiety, depression and irritability!
Always dress appropriately during the cold season, this means wearing a hat, scarf and gloves especially when the weather is cold and windy.
Drink plenty of water- at least 64-80 ounces per day. Drink hot tea with lemon and honey. Lemons are astringent and cleanse the liver and the honey helps to soothe sore throats and also helps improve immune function against allergies.
Eat 7 fruits and vegetables per day the colors of the rainbow. I personally like to add a whole chopped apple to my morning oatmeal with some walnuts and a smidgen of honey. For lunch, I will eat a nice big leafy green salad with protein and a mix of cucumber, tomato, red bell pepper and shredded purple cabbage. My dinners usually consists of steam broccoli, carrots, and a roasted sweet potato and a 4oz. portion of roasted chicken! Sounds yummy and easy right? This is the perfect way to incorporate your 7 fruits and veggies daily to help guard your immune system against any cold or flu this season.
Take at least 2 grams of fish oil per day or eat 4 oz. of Salmon, tuna, trout or other white fish thrice per week. For you vegetarians or vegans, you can add a daily dose(at least 1 tbs.) of chia seeds, flax seeds, and nuts to your diet. The omega fatty acids will help lower inflammation in your body and improve collagen production in your skin. This helps with wrinkles ladies!
Begin a meditation practice. I know, this sounds hard, but really all you have to do is just sit quietly for 5 minutes where ever you feel safe and sound. It helps to focus on your breath.
Limit alcohol intake to 2-3 total drinks per week.
Knowledge is power so the more you read the more you know! There are plenty of books out there that'll tell you what to do in order to achieve perfect health, but you can just bypass that and simply read my blog which breaks it down to an easy to understand no nonsense way! As my Ma used to say, enjoy the seasons change in good health!