NaturalCounselor Health and Wellness Blog For Women

During the hectic Holiday Season you may be trying: not to catch colds or the flu, to survive holiday stress, and to avoid excessive weight gain. Below are some helpful tips you may want to use to help you feel and look fabulous during the Holidays:

I. To Prevent Winter Colds and Flu:

* Try to eat more fall/winter vitamin C and bioflavonoid-rich foods to boost your immunity and prevent colds and flu.

Immunity boosting foods include: oranges, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, beets, beans, pumpkin, cauliflower, turnips, parsnips, horseradish, garlic, sweet potatoes, kale, lemons, grapefruits, persimmons, kiwi, pomegranates, apples, and pears.

II. To Minimize Winter Weight Gain:

Be a smart grocery shopper in order and avoid buying super unhealthy foods that can suppress our immunity and make us catch easily colds and flu.

* Try to avoid super unhealthy foods including starchy carbohydrates (corn/potato chips) baked potatoes, bread, pasta, corn/potato chips, cooked fats, fast foods, junk foods to avoid excessive weight gain and stress on your system.

Try to drink more filtered water, eat more seasonal detox fruits and vegetables and fiber rich foods to improve your elimination and get rid of toxins.

If you don’t have time for exercise, be creative and use exercise shortcuts such as walking upstairs, vacuuming, sweeping, grocery shopping, ironing, cleaning etc.

III. To Reduce Winter and Holiday Stress:

* Incorporate more whole foods rich vitamins and minerals to reduce stress.

* Don’t forget about Laughter Therapy or Instant Mood Boosters to get into better mood;

* Always take care of your sleep using what works for you best; including a Good Night Kiss.

IV. To Feel and Look Fabulous:

To look fabulous we need more fiber rich foods to improve our elimination, have more sleep, and use beauty remedies and homemade facials for our dry skin at least twice a week.

And of course, breathe, smile and be happy to survive the holidays.

Breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health and Nutrition Counselor and Coach

NaturalCounselorBlog

How much would you like it if you could get through the Holidays and the Cold / Flu Season staying healthy and happy, and without gaining too much weight?

I would like to share with you ten tips to stay healthy and feel and look fabulous:

1. Start your day with a glass of warm water flavored with the juice of ½ lemon. This simple drink will help detox your liver and colon and can help suppress your appetite. As for me, I like to take a glass of warm water with 1 tbsp organic apple-cider vinegar and ½ tsp organic honey.

2. Eat as many high-fiber foods as you can,  My favorite high fiber foods are: fresh fruits, raw green leafy vegetables (kale, collard greens, dandelion greens, spinach, arugula), whole-grain oatmeal, barley, asparagus, beans, cabbage, carrots, garlic, kale, sweet potatoes, cranberries, prunes.

Also, try to consume plenty of foods that are high in pectin, such as apples, carrots, beets, cabbage, citrus fruits.

3. Wash your hands to eliminate germs that can make you sick.  Don’t touch your face if you don’t need to: germs can enter you through your face (eyes, nose and mouth). Its easy to end up touching your face hundreds of times a day; the fewer time the better.

4. Take a break from protein, dairy products, fat and sweets, instead eat more: soups, such as Pumpkin Soup, Mushroom Pumpkin Soup, Butternut Squash Soup, Fennel Soup, etc; grains, such as brown rice, millet, quinoa, buckwheat (especially good for weigh loss); and seasonal vegetables.

5. Drink more water or drink teas with nettles, ginger, clover, dandelion, burdock root.

6. Use detox spices such as turmeric, coriander, cumin, fennel, rosemary, oregano, ginger. Try an Immunity Boosting Spices Mix.

7. Use omega-3 foods daily (walnuts, flax seed oil or freshly ground flax seeds, salmon)

8. Between meals have healthy snacks (walnuts, raisins, almonds, prunes, figs, carrots, celery, etc.)

9. Move your body (also known as exercise) – take a short walk before and/or after your meal.

10. Take time to reduce stress and  relax: listen to music, enjoy nature, spend time with your friend, dance, or maybe have some extra sleep .

Visit my Radio Show for Women for more tips on “Boosting Your Immunity During Cold and Flu Season” with Naturopath and Raw Food Coach Pamela Reilly

And never forget to breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition Counselor, Coach and Relationship Expert