
20 Jan Put Your Health First
Whatever is going on in your life, you need to be healthy enough to cope well and enjoy it. To do this you really need to put your health first. Are you forgetting to put your health first?
Good health is an investment for now and for the future. Good health provides immediate returns and insurance for the years to come. It is well worth investing in. So how can you put your health first?
Make self-care a priority
Spend time doing the things you cherish and enjoy – guilt free! Take time out for life’s simple pleasures – have a warm bath, go for a walk in the park, make time for your hobbies, relax and listen to music, time out to read that book or catch up with a friend….
Stay connected
Social connections strengthen your immune system, help you to recover from disease faster, and may even lengthen your life. People who feel more connected to others have lower rates of anxiety and depression.
Find time for regular meditation
It only takes a few minutes. Find a quiet spot and make yourself comfortable. Close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you or focus on your breath. As thoughts come in, let them go and gently bring your focus back to your breath. There are many great meditation apps now that can help.
Improve your diet
Good nutrition is key to feeling well. A Mediterranean diet is well balanced and will suit most people. If you have special dietary needs do some research, find new recipes or get some support from a naturopath or nutritionist. You are worth investing the time to prepare nutritious food to nourish your body.
Exercise
Yes it’s essential! There’s no way around it. It must be daily but it doesn’t have to be grueling. Find something you love, or start with a daily short walk and build up to being more active.
Feel some gratitude daily
Nothing gets you feeling good quicker than being grateful for what you already have. Find 3 things that you are grateful for right now. Make it a daily habit.
Get plenty of sleep
Adults need 7-9 hours’ sleep each night. It needs to be good quality. Avoid late night screen time. Get a good bedtime routine. Make sure your bedroom is comfortable, cool, dark and quiet.
Address any health issues
Don’t put up with feeling unwell. Put your health first and get some support. You need to be your best health advocate, so don’t ignore niggling signs that things aren’t right. Find out what’s going on and be proactive. This doesn’t mean more medication, unless absolutely necessary. There are natural ways to get well. You may need some help to make some dietary and lifestyle changes.
Take your supplements
It’s extremely rare to find anyone who doesn’t need some supplemental support with their health. However, it’s important to ensure you get the right high quality supplements that are specifically for you.
- Vitamins are essential for the normal functioning of the body. They can’t usually be synthesized by the body but occur naturally in certain foods. Insufficient amounts of any particular vitamin results in a deficiency which can lead to disease. Higher or therapeutic doses may be required for specific conditions.
- Minerals are found in foods such as vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, dairy, grains, nuts and seeds. Different life stages have different mineral requirements. Unfortunately due to poor diets, processed foods, soil depletion, over farming and use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, you may be lacking in certain minerals which can lead to deficiencies and ill health.
- Herbal medicine is the oldest and still the most widely used system of medicine in the world today. Herbal Medicines are made from purely plants and can be used to help many conditions. The therapeutic activity of a plant is due to its complex chemical nature with different parts of the plant providing certain therapeutic effects.
Many people are struggling at the moment with anxiety, stress, digestive complaints, immune problems and fatigue…. Acting now can prevent chronic disease in the future. It can be difficult making changes in your life. Do you need some support with this? It may be time to put your health first.
Call for an appointment on 0403 755 584 or book online
Angela McTaggart
Naturopath
Brunswick Naturopathy
www.brunswicknaturopathy.com.au
www.facebook.com/BrunswickNaturopathy