In last week’s blog post I recommended you to go through your pantry and get rid of all the tempting and unhealthy foods. Now I want to share some tips for filling your cupboards with foods that support a healthy body and mind and help you plan your meals.
What you eat is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Food is fuel! It is your energy source. If you need to make improvements to the way you eat please read this carefully.
Here’s the thing. It IS possible to implement long-lasting behavioral changes and the beginning of a new year is the perfect time to do it! Really any time is a good time so if your reading this at a later date don’t wait to begin. The only thing that’s necessary to create change is that you take action and follow through on your plans.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, mindfulness is defined as: the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. Or, a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.
Mindfulness is transformative. It’s easy to become, and remain, caught up in the routine stress and consumptive patterns you experience on a daily basis. Part of supporting a healthy immune system involves being mindful of your mind, body, spirit and the space you physically and emotionally occupy. It’s incredible how shifting your focus to just one healthy habit can have a domino effect on your body, mind and life!
In addition to mindfulness, getting the proper amount and good quality sleep is critical for maintaining immune health. There are many benefits of a good night’s sleep. It is one of the most overlooked ways your body regenerates its immune system.
Adequate sleep helps T cells in your body fight infection. T cells play an important role in the immune system by killing virally infected cells. Sleep has the potential to improve the function of T cells. If you do not get adequate or good quality sleep, stress hormones may inhibit the ability of your T cells to function as effectively.
Strive to consistently get 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night in order to maintain a healthy body and mind and promote a state of overall wellness. A short midday nap can recharge the immune system too!
Sleep is as important to your overall health and wellness as proper nutrition and exercise.
For additional tips on immune system support, click here to get my guide, 4 “natural” ways to support your immune system. And, if you haven’t yet, subscribe to the blog here.
