5 Things that I Personally Feel Make me a Healthier Person
I don't claim to be the healthiest nut in the world, but I live a pretty healthy lifestyle if I do say so myself. Of course I have a few bad habits and things I could be doing better, but as experts suggest, I never fall victim to "diets". Instead, I see every aspect of my daily life as an opportunity to be my best, and most healthy, self.
I frequently have people ask me about my regimens for diet, exercise, skin, hair, and even sex! I used to believe I didn't do anything special until I realized that we all live very different lifestyles and come from very different backgrounds. Where we come from, our values, beliefs, and so much more, all play a huge part in our overall wellbeing. Thus, just making one small change in your daily routine is sure to yield satisfying results.
Because I am a firm believer in self-improvement and an advocate for sharing experiences, below are 5 things (that I do routinely) that I personally feel make me a healthier person.
1. I Limit How Much I Use the Microwave
I once worked with a Croatian woman - who for her age looked very well - and she just so happened not to own a microwave. Upon discovering this about her, I was curious to know how I could benefit from using my microwave less - if at all (which would prove to be difficult for me personally). So, for the next three months, I only used my microwave once a week! And until this very day, I use my microwave a lot less. Now whether or not exposing myself to less "micro-waves" is actually prolonging my life is up for scientific debate. But, I for sure eat less frozen and processed foods, which have been scientifically proven to deteriorate health.
As a woman on the go, this can be challenging, but meal preps and the will to live my best life certainly help out a lot.
2. A Glass of Water as Soon as I Wake-up!
I'm a coffee girl, and a former coffee freak until I realized how many negative side effects I was experiencing from too much caffeine. Anyhow, on a quest to limit my caffeine intake, I read somewhere that drinking at least one glass of water in the morning before you eat or drink anything else will hydrate the body while aiding digestion and metabolism - jumpstarting your system. Which for me, meant no more upset stomachs if I didn't eat right away, or if I drank coffee before I ate or drank anything else.
3. Light Yoga Twice a Week
There are two types of people who don't work out; those who simply don't like working out, and those who don't make it a priority. I'm the later. While I live a more active lifestyle than the average person, with my busy schedule, it's hard finding time to get in a good sweat. So for me, the next best thing is yoga!
At least twice a week I do some form of yoga. Sometimes that means a five-minute stretch before I get out of bed, other times it means a 90-minute hot yoga class. Whatever the case may be, yoga has many benefits, including but not limited to;
Cardio and circulatory health
Increased energy and vitality
Increased flexibility
Better posture
Protects spine, and promotes healthy bones
Prevents cartilage and joint breakdown
Increases blood flow
Boosts immune system
4. I Don't Buy Meat for My House
Notice the emphasis on "for my house"? ... I cut pork from my diet in 2012, and since then my body has been less and less tolerant of meat period. Not that I don't crave it, because sometimes I do, but it's almost never worth it (there are a few exceptions).
It has been well known for some time now, that eating meat is bad for you in more ways than we can count. But in 2015, The World Health Organization sent many people over the edge by declaring processed meat a "carcinogen" that increases your risk of colon or rectum cancer by 18 percent! And if that doesn't make you want to stop eating meat, watch one of those horrid videos that talks about how those poor animals are treated prior to being consumed.
One way I curb my carnivorous cravings is by simply opting out of buying any meat products from the grocery store. As previously mentioned, I meal prep, so not buying meat when I go to the grocery store makes room for me to enjoy Wing Stop on the rare occasion that I eat out (I am also cheap).
5. I don't Smoke Blunts...
...but I used to. In fact, I smoked a few Black & Mild's back in my younger days - the wood-tip, wine flavored ones to be exact. But those days are far, far behind me. While blunts still remain the most popular way to consume cannabis, they are the least healthy way to do so!
Even when you've cleaned all of the guts out of the cigarillo, you are still inhaling trace amounts of tobacco, and depending on the brand, many toxic chemicals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 70 of the 7,000 chemicals produced by tobacco smoke are “known to cause cancer in people or animals.” Not only do these chemicals physically deteriorate health, they also take a toll on your mental. There have been several studies done that link the combination of weed and tobacco to "cannabis dependency". Additionally, smoking these products can cause acne and they stain your gums and teeth.