When it comes to health and wellness, there's a lot of jargon floating around. Superfoods, clean eating, and so on - it can be hard to sift through all the buzzwords, let alone make realistic changes! Today, we’re breaking down all you need to know about the current trends in health and wellness.

 

 

1) Superfoods: Let's start with superfoods! These are a variety of different foods that are packed with tons of nutrients and health benefits. These foods act as a mini multivitamin for your body - you can get all the vitamins and minerals you need in one convenient package. 

But if you find yourself staring down a list of superfoods and don't even know where to start, we know the feeling. Sometimes this category can be totally overwhelming, which discourages taking action in the first place.

Instead of stressing about how to get more seaweed in your diet, try these tips:

- Smoothie up! Get a superfood SMASH early in the morning. Berries, yogurt/kefir, and a good greens powder can make one tasty and antioxidant packed smoothie.

- Make a rich and tasty snack. You may already love avocados in your guac, but do you know just how versatile this food really is? Because of its creamy consistency, avocados can blend up with cocoa powder, maple syrup or honey, and a little bit of non dairy milk to make a decadent and inflammation fighting pudding.

- Simple swaps. Swapping out white or gold potatoes for sweet potatoes can make for a really easy way to increase your nutrient density. If you want the tastiest sweet potato fries of all time, check out this recipe. Not only do you get baked sweet potatoes that taste like they're fried, but superfood garlic makes an appearance as well. Not to mention, the olive oil will help you absorb the high vitamin A content of sweet potatoes - it's a win/win/win dish!

- Shots! Shots! Shots! Superfood shots are all the rage, and for good reason! Normally hard to stomach ingredients come together for a warming, high octane boost of immunity that only takes seconds to consume. Try out this wellness shot recipe and get ready for better mornings.

 

2) Mindful eating: There are a million and one diet types out there. Even though there is something for everyone, the restrictive nature of dieting can make them incredibly hard to follow or adhere to. Instead, look to mindful eating. Mindful eating is all about being aware and conscious of your food, taking the time to enjoy each delicious bite and noticing how it makes you feel. It's a great way to create a healthier relationship with food and avoid both restriction and overdoing it. You can start your path to mindful eating with these tips:

- Pay attention to your body's hunger cues. Think you're hungry? Take a minute to imagine eating something savory. If your body responds, you may truly be hungry. But if you can only imagine yourself eating something sugary sweet, it may actually just be a craving or a need for a boost of energy. If that's the case, go get a glass of water. That's right - dehydration can sometimes signal as hunger instead of thirst!

- Eat slowly and savor your food. Take the time to appreciate the texture and flavor of each bite. Getting yourself into a parasympathetic state before eating can increase not only your enjoyment of your food, but your digestion as well. Take 5-10 deep breaths before beginning, and you will be amazed at how clear your mind feels.

- Avoid distractions while eating. To keep that parasympathetic state, avoid distractions while eating. It's not easy to walk away from our desks or to enjoy dinner without scrolling on our phones, but being intentional when you're eating retrains your body to understand it as a key part of your day, not as a means to an end.

 

3) Self-care: Self-care is all about taking some time to do stuff that makes you feel good. Whether it's having a mini spa day, going for a nature stroll or cuddling up with a good read, it's all about taking care of yourself. But the number one excuse we all like to make? We're too busy for self-care. We challenge you to fight back against that with these tips:

- Establish a morning routine. There are no specific steps you need to involve, but we recommend not starting with checking your inbox. Instead, have a moment to brew a coffee, check out the sunrise, or meditate before you put yourself into the go-go-go of your day.

- Set a daytime alarm. What is something you forget to do during the day because you're too busy working? Stand up? Take a walk? Go outside? Drink water? Whatever it is, set an alarm for it! We always have the best intentions during the day, but with the hustle and bustle it is understandable that we sometimes slip up. Setting a consistent alarm can help mitigate that.

- Take a bath instead of a shower. At the end of a long day, you might be inclined to jump into a quick shower before sitting down for the night. Instead, take a bath! Add in some relaxing aromatic scents and epsom salt and you've just unlocked a whole new state of zen.

Have more questions about all things wellness? Join our online community! Get tips, make friends, and be supported. We are also launching an upcoming 6-week challenge with cash prizes if you want to keep yourself accountable!