Improve Your Family’s Wellbeing
There are many details in our daily lives that we seem to
cope okay with, but over time, these things combine to
wear away our health and destroy it. A few practical,
manageable ways in which we could combat this and
improve our loved ones’ wellbeing follows:
Water
Every cell needs water for our body and brain to work
effectively. Studies show that drinking water improves
children’s ability to concentrate. Drink water on rising
and throughout the day. Often, what we think is hunger
is actually thirst. So it’s a good idea to reach for a glass
of water before having that snack we think we want.
Go Raw!
Raw foods contain enzymes and nutrients destroyed by
cooking. Many people find that eating a raw, organic,
plant-based diet does wonders for their health and
wellbeing. Summer is an excellent time to introduce
more raw foods to your menu by including a salad with
each meal. Enjoy the vibrant colours, crunchy textures
and the different flavours.
Chew
This won’t cost you a cent! Chew your food (and your
drink) properly, at least 32 times before swallowing. It’s
that simple but the more you chew, the better the food
is broken down and mixed with saliva rich in digestive
enzymes. We are what we eat but we are also what we
can digest and absorb.
Move
We are made to move, we have 360 joints which enable
us to do that and movement has a host of benefits for
our mood, circulation even pain. Stretch, walk, kick a
ball around with the kids, dance, swim, run, yoga, do
the chores to music – whatever you enjoy and can do
safely but keep moving.
Avoid Toxins
Our modern world is overloaded with substances
that our ancestors didn’t have to deal with. Plastics,
ingredients in body care and cleaning products, byproducts
of drugs that get into our water, things that in
small concentrations may not have immediate effects
on us but over time and accumulatively, act adversely.
Avoid as much as you can. Buy things in glass bottles
instead of plastic. Use waxed fabric instead of clingwrap
for school sarmies.
Take small steps, choose one habit you want to
change and focus on that until it becomes
second nature. Then, tackle the next. What
will you choose to change this summer?
By Dr Estelle Moys M.Tech.(Hom.)
084-820-3920 | stellieg@telkomsa.net