Decrease Inflammation and increase energy this winter

February is a tough month for a lot of people. Especially here in the midwest its just an ugly month. The magic of the holidays has worn off, but the lbs have stayed with us. Most of the fun holiday decor has been taken down, the skis are gray and the ground is slippery but sludgy. It can be really tough to stay motivated towards those lofty New Year’s resolutions or even to stay active and healthy without a specific goal you are working towards. I know my energy plummets this month, sometimes it seems like the whole family's mood is a little low and so we've come up with some tools to help boost our wellness and make it a fun Feb. I wanted to share the tools my family uses and give some extra tools I recommend for others. Depending on the age and circumstance of your family you may find some of these more helpful than others. My family primarily works towards increasing energy and maintaining a positive mood. But I know for a lot of people that goes hand in hand with reducing inflammation and losing the extra holiday weight. 

Boost your energy with these tips

• Try to get outside every day, even for a few minutes. Fresh air does wonders to lift the spirit
• Move every day. It doesn’t have to be an hour long sweaty workout, it can be a walk, a stretch, dancing, whatever makes you feel good and gets the blood pumping. 
• Cold showers. Yep, they are awful but the way they clear our lymphatic system and move blood throughout the entire body, leaves you feeling clear and ready to take on the day!
• If where you live has short, gloomy days this time of year, consider getting a ‘happy light’ and using it as you get ready or eat breakfast every morning. It mimics the sun’s light to tell your brain to wake up and be happy! There are many brands to choose from, we’ve always used Verilux in our home.
• Drink plenty of non caffeinated fluids. You can definitely drink caffeine too, but it won’t help you towards this goal. Being dehydrated, even slightly, makes your body work on overdrive and can lead to fatigue and brain fog. Staying hydrated even when its cold out is very important to maintain energy levels. Shoot for 64 or more ounces of water or herbal tea a day.
• Fill in nutrient deficiencies. Its still super important to eat fresh, whole foods as much as possible. I know produce isn't technically as fresh during this season but we still need those plant nutrients for our bodies to function efficiently. We up our supplements this month to protect from illness and boost energy. MineralRich and Solu-C to get plenty of minerals and vitamins that help improve energy and feed the immune system.

Reduce Inflammation with these tips

• Increase antioxidants. Solu-C if full of antioxidants from 5 different vitamin C sources, bioflavonoids, green tea and rutin. All of these have anti-inflammatory properties!
• Eat more omegas. Find trustworthy sources, organic and local are best. Fish is what everyone thinks of but you can also eat foods like pomegranate and flax, or supplement. 
• Cut out processed food, sugar and red meat as much as possible. Red meat in moderation, mixed with a clean diet otherwise can be ok for the general population, but processed food does no good and only leads to increased inflammation in the body. 
• Work on stress reduction. Find some activities that help your mind and body unwind. Meditation, walking, family time (without screens), praying, laughing. Something where you are present but not something too demanding. What makes you happy and feel light instead of heavy and weighed down?
• Focus on consistent, quality sleep. Make a bedtime routine that encourages a calm feeling and lends itself to quality sleep. Make sure you are getting enough hours of sleep for your body as well.  
• If you are dealing with inflammation that’s leading to pain, talk to your medical professional about chiropractic, acupuncture or homeopathic care

Try our a few of these tips and we hope it helps lead to a fun February and a super spring!