| By the time the new year rings in, most of us have a | | | | maintaining optimal health during winter is hydration. |
| long list of sweeping resolutions: lose 20 pounds, take a | | | | Warm teas and broths will keep you in top condition. |
| step up in the career ladder, hit the gym 5 to 6 times a | | | | Chamomile tea strengthens your kidneys while |
| week. But don't feel terrible if your resolutions end up | | | | rosehips tea strengthens the adrenals. Keeping the |
| flatter than day-old champagne. According to ancient | | | | adrenals in top shape prevents or improves common |
| healing tradition, winter is not the time to start harsh | | | | health problems including allergies and asthma. If you |
| new changes. Our body's natural rhythm wants to | | | | suffer from bladder infections, uva ursi infusion or tea |
| take it easy during the winter. The cold winter months | | | | will likely cure it. To keep your body looking great, go |
| are the best time for our bodies to rejuvenate before | | | | for yoga or t'ai chi. They promote deep breathing and |
| spring. Winter is time to finish things, not start them. To | | | | soothing movements that won't exhaust your body. |
| help our body end the cycle and prepare for the new | | | | Your Mind Now is the perfect time to not only clean |
| one, we need to remove the physical, emotional, and | | | | out the clutter in our closet and garage, but also the |
| environmental junk we acquired over the past year. | | | | emotional baggage in our mind. Conflicts that gnaw at |
| So instead of making dramatic changes, a gentle | | | | us in the back of our mind only lead to anxiety, anger, |
| detox ties it up and readies us for the rebirth of spring. | | | | or depression. Unresolved feelings eventually take up |
| Your Body A detox is the perfect goal you can | | | | too much of our energy which can be used for better |
| expect to meet instead of a deep cleanse which can | | | | thoughts and emotions. It's time to get rid of emotional |
| wait for the warmer months. During detox you simply | | | | toxins such as behaviours, patterns, and beliefs that |
| reduce your intake of toxins and support your body's | | | | interfere with having healthy relationships and living fully. |
| natural detox systems. Doing this supports your | | | | ** Address your issues when you're ready to come to |
| anti-aging goals. On the outside, we take in polluted air | | | | terms with your emotions. You will feel better for |
| and water and foods like sugar and alcohol. On the | | | | facing the truth. ** Surround yourself with a positive |
| inside, the body reacts by making more free radicals | | | | and loving environment -one that makes you feel |
| which end up damaging our DNA and cells, contributing | | | | relaxed. ** Learn to let go by creating your own ritual |
| to diseases and aging. To help your body get rid of | | | | to release the emotional toxins you've identified. ** |
| toxins, try a detox that removes the excess mucous | | | | Make new choices which include not recreating the old |
| and acid that has accumulated. Elson Haas, MD and | | | | problems you just let go of. It's too easy to relapse, so |
| author of The New Detox Diet (Celestial Arts,2004), | | | | you must commit to creating an intention which honors |
| recommends taking a week off to eat only cooked | | | | your commitment. Go with specific, measurable, and |
| vegetables, brown rice, seaweed, and miso broth while | | | | realistic goals. An emotional cleanse will allow you to |
| incorporating massage, steams, and saunas. Another | | | | feel more alive and rejuvenated. The energy you |
| choice is his three-week plan. He recommends you do | | | | were using to suppress pain is now available for |
| not intake sweets, caffeine, wheat, dairy, and alcohol, | | | | creative choices. This rejuvenation is a process and by |
| and instead consume steamed vegetables and warm | | | | spring you will be more able to implement new goals in |
| broths. After your one or three week detox, build up | | | | full force. Enjoy the gentleness of the detoxification |
| strength by eating more proteins, starches, and | | | | and the peace it brings into your life. You will definitely |
| seasonal foods including sweet potatoes, pumpkin, kale, | | | | be living an anti-aging lifestyle if you take care of your |
| and winter squash. Fresh, local foods have more | | | | body and your mind this season. |
| nutrients. Nettle tea, broths, and small amounts of lean | | | | For a limited time only, natural health expert, James |
| meats keep your body warm during the harshness of | | | | Penn, is allowing you exclusive free access to his no |
| winter. Hearty, nutricious foods such as brown rice, | | | | cost newsletter where he reveals top secret natural |
| garlic, seaweed, miso soup, potatoes, broccoli, kale, | | | | health therapies and remedies to reinvigorate, |
| cabbage, chard, collard greens, cauliflower, and onions | | | | rejuvenate and revitalise your mind, body and soul. |
| replenish your reserves. An often over-looked part of | | | | |