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By Samantha Frances - Voices Wellness
Smart Tips to Make 2022 Your Healthiest Year Yet
This year, we’re bidding farewell to fad diets and rigid workout regimes. Instead, we’re all about embracing a smart and healthy approach to living and eating well in a way that’s flexible enough to suit our busy lifestyles. This means sustainable meals that fuel us all day instead of crash diets, and planning workouts according to what our body needs, instead of burning out from overexercising. Eat the Rainbow What eating the rainbow really means is to incorporate fruits and vegetables of different colours into your diet daily. As plants contain different pigments or phytonutrients, colourful plants offer higher levels of specific nutrients. A 2021 Neurology study also revealed that those who regularly ate from a full colour spectrum had a 20 percent lower risk of cognitive decline, compared to those who ate less. The next time your meal looks a little dull, why not add in some avocados, blueberries, and peppers?
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Exercise correctly, not exercise more
Soothe your Mind and Body
While it’s great news that more people are adopting regular workouts in the new year, this newfound enthusiasm can lead to overtraining. Exercising too much without adequate rest and recovery can lead to more stress and injuries. Instead of pushing yourself too hard, focus on exercising correctly by including a balanced mix of strength training, cardio workout, and flexibility exercises. Always start at a lower intensity before working your way up.
Relaxation can feel like a luxury when work and life get in the way but knowing when to rest does wonders for the mind and body. Hoping to make meditation a part of your life? Try apps like Calm, Headspace, and Unplug. Other mindful ways of relaxing include soaking in a warm bath, listening to music, and simply taking slow, long breathes wherever you are. To ease into your bedtime, try enjoying a warm beverage that doesn’t have alcohol or caffeine in it.
Roast your Vegetables Find your Tribe It’s no secret that roasting not only coaxes out delicious, caramelised flavours but is also one of the healthiest ways to cook and eat more vegetables. Using dry heat to soften vegetables doesn’t require added butter or oil, which both add large amounts of calories and fat. Roasting at high temperatures of 200-220 degrees gives them a crisp texture, without stripping the heart-healthy fibre and vitamins within.
Les Nouvelles Esthetiques no’87
Your closest friendships and relationships can affect your mental health more than you think. In the new year, rethink which ones are worth investing your time in and distant yourself from those who leave you feeling worse about yourself. Find your tribe— people who support and love you for who you are. Looking to meet new people? Trying a new hobby is a great way to start.
