4 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Health
By Shondell Varcianna
May 30, 2014
Lifestyle
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Spring is not just the time to clean your home from top to bottom; it is also the time to rid your body of toxins. Toxins are harmful substances that come from the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. When we do not eat the right food and do not get enough physical exercise, they accumulate in our body and make us feel and look unhealthy and can even cause diseases over time.
Here are 4 tips for spring cleaning your health:
1. Exercise: The best way to spring clean your body is to exercise regularly. But you don't need to sweat it out for hours every day. Too much exercise can, in fact, be counterproductive. Exercising moderately for 10 to 15 minutes every day can make a huge difference. Studies have shown that jogging one to 20 miles per week at a normal pace (just a little faster than walking) can lower the risk of dying by more than 20 percent. Exercising should be fun and can be enjoyed by all. There are also Special Olympic programs at local sports clubs that you can check out.
2. Finish off your exercise with a fruit smoothie: Fruit smoothies are packed with vitamins and supplements to replenish your body after an exercise. Fruits contain a variety of vitamins and minerals that include vitamin C (boosts your immune system), potassium (supports heart function and helps maintain blood pressure), folate (promotes healthy cells), beta carotene (helps your vision and immune system), manganese (keeps your bones, nerves and thyroid glands healthy) and antioxidants (flushes out harmful oxidants and free radicals from your system). Consider making your own smoothie at home to get the exact ingredients you need.
3. Substitute juice with water: Since our body is made of water (45 - 70 percent in an adult), we need to drink lots of it every day (up to 8 glasses for adults) to maintain a healthy water level in our body. Water helps maintain a normal body temperature, lubricates and cushions our joints, protects your spinal cord and other tissues and helps flush out wastes through perspiration, urination and bowel movements. Juice has lots of vitamins and minerals, but drinking juice all the time does not give your body enough water. If you are in the habit of drinking juice, try substituting it for water.
4. Have at least one serving of vegetable a day: Studies have shown that people who eat vegetables every day have a much reduced risk of chronic diseases. Vegetables contain many vitamins and supplements including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, folic acid (folate) and dietary fiber that are good for our body. Eating a vegetable-rich diet every day has been known to reduce the risk of strokes, heart diseases, type-2 diabetes and cancer. Fresh vegetables in the spring can include carrots, asparagus, beets, garlic, onions, scallions, lettuce, potatoes, peas, radishes and turnips. To properly spring clean your system, eat at least one serving of vegetable a day.
What do you do to stay healthy?
Photo by Anja
Here are 4 tips for spring cleaning your health:
1. Exercise: The best way to spring clean your body is to exercise regularly. But you don't need to sweat it out for hours every day. Too much exercise can, in fact, be counterproductive. Exercising moderately for 10 to 15 minutes every day can make a huge difference. Studies have shown that jogging one to 20 miles per week at a normal pace (just a little faster than walking) can lower the risk of dying by more than 20 percent. Exercising should be fun and can be enjoyed by all. There are also Special Olympic programs at local sports clubs that you can check out.
2. Finish off your exercise with a fruit smoothie: Fruit smoothies are packed with vitamins and supplements to replenish your body after an exercise. Fruits contain a variety of vitamins and minerals that include vitamin C (boosts your immune system), potassium (supports heart function and helps maintain blood pressure), folate (promotes healthy cells), beta carotene (helps your vision and immune system), manganese (keeps your bones, nerves and thyroid glands healthy) and antioxidants (flushes out harmful oxidants and free radicals from your system). Consider making your own smoothie at home to get the exact ingredients you need.
3. Substitute juice with water: Since our body is made of water (45 - 70 percent in an adult), we need to drink lots of it every day (up to 8 glasses for adults) to maintain a healthy water level in our body. Water helps maintain a normal body temperature, lubricates and cushions our joints, protects your spinal cord and other tissues and helps flush out wastes through perspiration, urination and bowel movements. Juice has lots of vitamins and minerals, but drinking juice all the time does not give your body enough water. If you are in the habit of drinking juice, try substituting it for water.
4. Have at least one serving of vegetable a day: Studies have shown that people who eat vegetables every day have a much reduced risk of chronic diseases. Vegetables contain many vitamins and supplements including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, folic acid (folate) and dietary fiber that are good for our body. Eating a vegetable-rich diet every day has been known to reduce the risk of strokes, heart diseases, type-2 diabetes and cancer. Fresh vegetables in the spring can include carrots, asparagus, beets, garlic, onions, scallions, lettuce, potatoes, peas, radishes and turnips. To properly spring clean your system, eat at least one serving of vegetable a day.
What do you do to stay healthy?
Photo by Anja