Do we have good health habits?
What does health habits mean to you? Some of us worry about not only our physical health, but our mental health as well…Well, one might say Health 360. We have to be worried about our health in total. Body, mind and spirit–so to speak to find balance. Not one aspect can be overlooked. What can help us stay balanced and keep this balance? Good health habits. What does this mean really? Can it be done?
Acceptance is not giving up. I need to accept what I could do and what I can over do that causes me triggers. Yes, I can work 48 hours without sleep. Yes, I can skip my meds and do whatever I wanted to for weeks on end. I can eat like a pig. I can do whatever I want… it was my choice. But these bad health habits took a negative toll.
- Without sleep my schedule was off, my work backed up, the pressure and stress was extreme and I became very irritable.
- Missing my medication (I believe in medication treatment for my wellness treatment, you may choose a different form of treatment or wellness plan that works for you. For me– meds work, so I take them.) I was slipping into a depression.
- My diet went off the scale… I was eating non-stop to cope.
This was not healthy, so how to change it?
Good health habits can start small
Exercise helps many manage their emotions in positive ways. Of course before starting a new exercise routine, it would be wise to consult your personal physician. And don’t be worried about the word “routine,” it’s not a bad word. In fact, “routine” is want we want to start. Routines bring stability. By just starting to positively think that you can and stick to are steps in the right direction… Did you know: it is said that IF you keep a routine more than 18 times… you have a good chance of keeping to the routine. So eighteen is that sweet-spot. Don’t give up on anything until it passes the 18 day mark. If it’s still too hard to keep up with after the 18 day mark, then you probably won’t keep that routine. That can apply to quitting to smoke, to going for walks,
Remember, It’s best to start small. For me– I started by removing soda from my diet. Now the very taste of it is nasty to me. I also remove red meat from my main diet. Now, I only treat myself once and while. Still what we eat can have an effect on our mood.
Healthy foods to boost your mood:
- Chocolate: eating dark chocolate (1.4 ounces of it, to be exact) every day for two weeks reduced stress hormones, including cortisol, in people who were highly stressed,…
- Fruits & vegetables (and other whole foods): studies have shown that antioxidants in fruits and vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids in fish are associated with lower risk of depression. Folate, a B vitamin found in beans, citrus and dark green vegetables like spinach, affects neurotransmitters that impact mood.
- Fish: Eating oily, fatty fish (salmon, tuna, sardines, rainbow trout) and mussels will give you omega-3s—a key mood-boosting nutrient
- Coconut: When you’re stressed, the scent of coconut may blunt your natural “fight or flight” response.
- Tea: Fuzzy brain? Drinking caffeinated black, green or oolong tea may elicit a more alert state of mind.
- By ‡Brierley Wright, M.S. R.D 7 Foods to Boost Your Mood Naturally
‡Brierley Wright, M.S. R.D. (2016). 7 Foods to Boost Your Mood Naturally. Retrieved on March 29, 2016, from http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/mind_body_spirit_center/7_foods_to_boost_your_mood_naturally