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5 Healthy Habits To Start

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle isn’t as hard as it may sometimes seem, especially when you pick just a few healthy habits to start at a time. The real trick is to create new healthy habits and replace or modify unhealthy habits. The average habit usually only takes a couple of weeks to fully implement, so stick with it. Below are 5 healthy habits to start today that may just change your life:

Healthy Habits To Start

1 – ADDING HEALTHY FATS TO YOUR COOKING ROUTINE

Olive oil is what we like to call a good fat. Coming from a crop of the Mediterranean Basin, olive oil is filled with health benefits like Omega-3 and vitamins. Not only could this help balance out your cholesterol, but there is a significant decrease in blood pressure and blood clotting linked to eating olive oil on a regular base. Don’t be afraid to trash your vegetable oils for a fresh and healthy substitute. Just be sure to store it in a dark glass bottle, and don’t heat it over 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Your body will thank you for sneaking this into your diet.

2 – EAT ANTI-INFLAMMATORY FOODS

Anti-inflammatory foods are extremely important to overall health. One of my personal favorite foods in this category is dark chocolate. The key to chocolate being healthy though is the ingredients and its percentage rating.

What does the percentage on a chocolate bar mean?

That number tells you what percentage of the delicious chocolatey sensation comes straight from cocoa beans. The other percent? SUGAR. Milk chocolate most times comes in small percentages, most commonly seen as 40% and below, meaning it’s mostly sugar or other ingredients.

However, dark chocolate is typically never less than 55%, sometimes even reaching 100%. Don’t be afraid to give your body the sweet cravings it desires but do yourself a favor and ditch the milk chocolate. Stick with bars that are 75% or higher. The higher the percentage the more anti-inflammatory properties you’ll get.

3 – BREATHING DEEP DAILY

If you feel overwhelmed and too busy to take one minute of time for yourself, then you are in the right place, and this habit is for you. Sometimes the best thing you can do during a chaotic day is to just stop.

Every day is a good day to practice short deep breathing exercises. It is simple and relaxing, and everyone, including you, has the time. Complete this two to three times a day. You could try once in the morning just as your day is starting. Once at lunchtime, and once in the evening as you’re coming home from work.

You won’t believe what a difference 60 seconds makes. Try the 4-count box breathing. Breathe in for 4, breathe out for 4, breathe in for 4, breathe out for 4. Reap a few times in a row if you can. If you really feel up to it, try doing an 8-count box.

4 – TAKE 5 MINUTES FOR YOURSELF

Implementing a 5-minute rule into your life can become completely game-changing. Taking 5 minutes to yourself at least once a day, should not only be a bonus but a non-negotiable.

  • Take five minutes in the morning to sit in silence before your day begins.
  • Take five minutes in the afternoon during lunch to soak in some sunlight.
  • Take five minutes in the evening as you finish your day to just relax and reflect on the day. (Don’t dwell on it.)
  • Take five minutes to just lie down and do nothing.

Doing this allows your body to release pent-up energy, readjust, and come back in a more zen mood. This simple break can shift how you interact with your partner and children. How you care for and nourish your own body. And how you feel throughout the day.

Healthy Habits To Start

5 – REPLACE ITEMS IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD WITH A NON-TOXIC OPTION

There are around 45,000 chemicals currently registered with the FDA in active status, meaning they are considered okay to use in products sold to consumers across the US. The unfortunate part is the vast majority of these chemicals have never been tested for safety for humans or the environment.

We as consumers live with the belief that if an item is sold in the stores in the US that it has been tested and found to be safe to use or consume. This is NOT the case. Many chemicals used in everyday products are hazardous to our health and the environment. Because of this, it is important that we become aware of the types of chemicals to avoid, and read the ingredients of products like food, beauty, cleaning, and personal care. To learn more about this, check out my non-toxic living course found here.

Conclusion

We should all find new healthy habits to start. The five listed above are a great place to start but don’t stop there. There are always small improvements we can make day after day. Getting healthy is not a destination it’s a continuous journey.

Xx,

~Nika

References

  1. Extra virgin olive oil linked to lower blood sugar and cholesterol https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-diet-olive-oil/extra-virgin-olive-oil-linked-to-lower-blood-sugar-and-cholesterol-idINKCN0QP1RW20150820
  2. Effects of Olive Oil on Blood Pressure: Epidemiological, Clinical, and Mechanistic Evidence https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7352724/

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