5 Daily Health Habits for the New Year
Posted by Dr. Della Parker on January 8, 2016
Looking for healthy goals to set for the New Year? Stop setting yourself up for failure with goals you already know are not realistic or maintainable. Dedicating yourself to a New Year’s Resolution that will improve your health doesn’t need to be a major time commitment or include expensive equipment or memberships. Learn about Dr. Tanda Cook’s 5 Daily Health Habits of a Naturopathic Foodie below.
#1 I drink lemon water
Ok, I’m gonna be honest here. I don’t like water. I think it’s kinda boring, but when I add citrus it’s a whole different story. I fall in love with it.
So not only does adding lemons (organic please…obvi) to my water add eye appeal, but it makes it taste super awesome so I actually drink the stuff.
And lemons are one of the livers favorite foods. The citrus helps the liver detox and flush toxicity out of the body.
So we’re winning all ‘round.
#2 I give my face an ice bath
I read about this on the Skinny Confidential and did it one day out of curiosity and haven’t stopped since.
Every morning, whether I shower or not, I dunk my face in a bowl full of ice water.
Why?
Well, it wakes you up to start, but also, when the body is exposed to COLD everything vasoconstricts (tightens up) so if you have issues with puffy eyes, (as I did for a month after Miss Dell passed) it reduces the puffiness instantaneously.
Don’t believe me? Go try for yourself.
#3 I drink apple cider vinegar in the morning
I just heard some of you groan with this one. This is one of the best tricks in the book. I drink apple cider vinegar straight outta the bottle right after I brush my teeth, I feed the dogs, and then I make breakfast.
Why?
Welp, apple cider vinegar is great for many things, but in this case what it’s doing is “waking” my stomach up and preparing all the gastric juices for food so I can digest properly.
We digest PROTEINS in our stomach and need the proper acid and enzymes to break it down. When our stomachs are turned “off” due to stress levels, the food choices we are making, not chewing our food etc, and then we dump a bunch of protein in it, the stomach can’t break them down and then many of us get acid reflux because of it and then we take an ANTI-acid like say, TUMS.
Grrrrr, this makes me bananas. Think about this…if we NEED acid to break down protein then why are we taking ANTI-acids????
It makes NO SENSE. Most likely what’s going on is that you have TOO LITTLE acid in your stomach and the food is just sitting there fermenting, causing burning in your esophagus.
We need to focus on turning our natural stomach acid back on so you can properly digest your food and feel awesome.
So try the vinegar.
I drink about a tablespoon straight outta the bottle. But I’m weird. So for those of you who are beginners, try putting some in a little water.
And if it BURNS it most likely means your stomach is inflamed. No worries, just good information. So instead of DRINKING the ACV just smell it for a few weeks before you try again to drink it.
Si?
#4 I heart kombucha
I friggin’ LOVE this stuff. Kombucha is a fermented tea made with a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast called a starter/or mother/or scoby. It is full of BENEFICIAL bacteria (aka probiotics) and is super good for our gut health and immune system. Here’s why.
I discovered it in medical school and have been addicted ever since. My favorite brand is G.T.’s (pictured above) and I’ve also made my own. The “starters” look like something from another planet and freak some people out, but I encourage you to try either the store-bought versions or making a batch yourself.
(this is the “starter”)
Kombucha tastes a bit vinegary and I’ve even used it in place of vinegar with making homemade dressings.
It’s the bomb, really go try it.
#5 I play
Most of you who know me would agree that I’m really a large 5 year old. I never lost the ability to imagine, play, make up games, jump on beds, and laugh til my sides hurt almost daily.
The cool thing is…neither did you. Most of you have just forgotten.
This is the #1 thing you can do to add HEALTH to your body and your life.
When I ask people what they do to play and they can’t answer me, I ask them what they loved to do as a kiddo. Get in touch with THAT.
When I was a kid I had no interest in Barbie, I had model horses and barns and big toy farms with tiny cows and pigs and horses. I played outside pretending I had my very own horse to ride.
I would also dream of being a veterinarian, and I get that that didn’t happen, but the rest is pretty spot on.
I’m giving you permission to get in touch with your inner kid.
So go play. It’s the best thing you can do.
Doctor’s orders.
As a Holistic Doctor, Dr. Della Parker is able to identify what is causing a health problem, find out why, and supply what is needed to restore balance. If your goal is to optimize your health and restore balance to body contact Dr. Della Parker today at (503) 344-6631.
SRC: Read more from Dr. Tanda Cook at: https://www.drtandacook.com/what-we-do