Fantastic diet and great excerise routine but still not feeling strong?
Then maybe there are some non-food sources of nourishment that you haven’t considered. The below aspects of health are arguably more important than the food we eat.
So why didn’t I start with this in my last blog you may ask??? Because I wanted to give you a lovely immune supporting recipe to start trying!
Giving equal importance to diet AND lifestyle is where my work as a health coach is so interesting. My point of view is that it’s all about balance: you can eat the most perfect, healthy diet in the world but if you are not living well day-to-day (if you are overwhelmed by daily life, hate your job, are in a bad relationship etc) then you are never going to feel energised or be truly healthy. Obviously eating well is key to good health, but we have to consider off-the-plate nourishment as well.
Now, back to 2 crucial elements of our health:
Stress
This is one of the first things that could be affecting your immune system. You may think you have everything all under control but perhaps you are overlooking the daily stresses that can build into one major stress-filled reaction which causes your immune system to be less effective. Chaotic daily schedule means you’re on the go non-stop? Ridiculously long to-do list? Dealing with issues of other people in your home and family? Tip: try journaling to help work out the stressors that could be in your life that you didn’t even realise were such a problem. Once identified you can start to work through them slowly to help reduce the impact on your immune system.
Sleep
Many of us struggle to get an adequate amount of sleep every night. Did you know that the average adult needs between 7-9 hours of sleep every night? If you’re barely getting 7 hours of undisturbed sleep daily, a slight adjustment to your schedule might be necessary. When you sleep, your body is in “healing mode.” Not getting enough sleep shortens the time your body is actively working to repair itself and so lack of sleep means your immune system is not functioning properly. This is a subject I have researched more deeply into as I personally suffer with sleep. When something is not right in my life then my sleep is always affected and I really feel the negative impact on my health and my mood (my family will confirm that I am not so nice to be around when I’m tired..).
Tip: Having trouble falling asleep? Boil 2 organic bananas with the peel on for 15 minutes in a small pot of water. Drink the liquid 1 hour before bed. The magnesium in combination with the potassium will react in a similar way to a sleeping pill, aiding in getting a good night’s sleep. However, banana tea is natural and avoids introducing your body to foreign chemicals such as the ones found in sleeping pills! Give it a try! After you’ve done that you can do your journaling which will also help you to ’empty’ your mind, leaving you in a more relaxed state, ready for sleep.
Want to keep updated with seasonal tips and tricks? Here are some options:
Sign up to receive my newsletter by joining my Guest list!
Follow my Facebook page here
Girl sleeping in a garden (!) photo by Alina Smit
