Happy December! Instead of writing about the Twelve Days of Christmas, this month I am giving you twelve healthy tips to finish off 2009 with. If you begin them now, you will be well on your way to a happy and healthy New Year.

May you and your family have a safe, happy and healthy holiday season and a prosperous New Year! Love and Blessings!
 
Yours in health, Dani
Danielle Devenie, C.N.C.



Twelve Healthy Tips

1. Lemon and warm water -   Upon waking, drink the juice of 1/2 a fresh lemon (preferably organic) in 8 oz of warm water. This aids in liver detoxification and supports healthy elimination. For extra health promoting benefits add a dash or two of cayenne pepper. This is my morning tonic. Also adding fresh lemon or lime slices to your daily drinking water helps regulate the body's Ph and keep you slightly alkaline.
2. Eat a wide variety of foods- This gives your body a broad spectrum of nutrients to choose from for optimum health and well being. Don't eat the same foods every day. You could be missing key nutrients and getting a surplus of others.
3. Eat with the seasons- I say this all the time! There is a reason why watermelon grows in the summer and root vegetables are abundant in the winter. Mother nature has provided us with the blueprint on what to eat and when. Eating with the seasons and locally will give your body what it needs in times of heat and freeze.
4. Drink plenty of water - I am continually surprised at the number of people who don't drink enough water. Human adult bodies are 55-60% water on average. Drinking water flushes out toxins, provides oxygen to all the body's cells, keeps the complexion clear and skin elastic to name a few.
5. Do not drink with meals- If you drink water, tea or any other beverage with your meal, you effectively dilute the digestive juices that are needed to break down the food, preventing it from being properly digested. Drink fluids between meals- at least half an hour before or after eating. If you find that you are thirsty after eating, you may be consuming too much salt or sodium in your food.
6. Move more- Exercise is important, we all know that, but being active is not necessarily the same as exercising. If you are active throughout the day (climbing stairs, doing yard work, picking up children, walking the dog, vacuuming etc) you will require less "exercise". Our bodies were designed to move so get off the couch and behind that computer screen and get moving!
7. Eat less meat- Contrary to popular belief, vegetables and whole grains contain adequate amounts of protein. Make meat your side dish instead of your main dish. The way meat is raised and processed now is more harmful than beneficial. Choose meats that are grass fed, free range and raised humanely. Have a "vegetarian day" to get yourself accustomed to eating a plant based diet, which is the healthiest way to eat in my opinion.
8. Improve sleep- Sprinkle just-washed sheets and pillowcases with lavender water. The scent has been shown in studies to promote relaxation, which can lead to better sleep.
9. Get some sun- On average, people living in the Southern United States can get enough vitamin D by getting about 10-15 minutes of sun exposure on their arms and face a few times a week - as long as they don't use sunscreen, which blocks some of the UV rays necessary to make the vitamin. It may be necessary to supplement vitamin D depending on your age, skin pigmentation, state of health and geographical location.
10. Manage stress- Stress is most likely the underlying cause of most diseases, along with inflammation. Keep a positive attitude, get adequate rest, find and incorporate relaxation techniques into your daily life and seek counseling when needed
11. Consume garlic daily- The American Dietetic Association suggested that in order to obtain the potential health benefits of garlic, one must take 600 - 900mg (about 1 fresh clove) per day. Garlic helps lower cholesterol, triglycerides and high blood pressure. It inhibits the development and progression of breast, colon, stomach, esophagus, prostate and skin cancers.  Other studies also show that garlic exhibits antibiotic and anti-fungal effects. *Garlic supplements are blood thinning so be careful if you are taking blood thinners like aspirin, warfarin etc.
12. Limit sugar consumption- Watch that sweet tooth! Sugar is rampant in the American diet and is the cause of a lot of health ailments such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. Refined sugar supplies you with empty calories and suppresses the immune system. It is also the favorite food of candida albicans, a single-celled yeast organism in the body. When levels of candida yeast are high in the body, it can manifest all kinds of ailments and exacerbate underlying health problems.