New Year's Resolutions for a Healthier Life

I love the prospects of every new year.  The possibilities, the dreams, the visions that inspire us to take a fresh look at our lives.  Here are some recommendations I came up with to help you to make your New Year’s resolutions.  I left out the obvious like lose weight, exercise more and organize your life.  These resolutions can help you live a healthier and happier 2008...and beyond.

Get rid of your Teflon pots and pans 

If you are still using Teflon pans, know that the EPA has recognized that chemicals in Teflon are related to cancers (including breast, pancreatic, testicular and liver), elevated cholesterol, stroke and heart disease.  The Environmental Working Group has a great article on the toxicity.

Replace your aluminum cookware with stainless steel

This includes aluminum foil, baking sheets and pots and pans. Aluminum has a number of know health risks, neurotoxicity is among the greatest concerns.  My favorite cookware is All Clad.  I've had mine for years and they hold up terrifically.  There are less expensive replacements as well but All Clad has a lifetime warranty on their products.  Another choice is ceramic coated cast iron like LeCrueset.  Great but really heavy...good workout for your arms.

Use a Reputable Brand of Fish Oil

Supplement with cod liver oil in the winter months and a good fish, clean fish oil in the summer months.  For the vitamin D, A, E and K as well as for the essential fatty acids such as omega 3 EPA and DHA.  For brain health, improving allergies, reducing ear wax production, reducing anxiety etc.

Get your Sunshine

Vow to get at least 5-20 minutes of unfiltered sunlight to your bare skin without sunblock daily.  (this varies by skin tone, the darker your skin, the more time you will need and by latitude.  The more north you are, the more sun exposure you will need.)  This is for vitamin D.  For more information on why, read this.

Ensure you have regular bowel movements

I can't say enough about how important this is to your overall health.  Your colon is your body's trash receptacle and bowel movements are equivalent to emptying the trash.  To see if your bowel movements are normal, read this.  To find out how to have better bowel movements, read this.

Eliminate nitrites and aspartame from your diet

To start eliminating some known carcinogens (cancer causing agents..e.g. nitrites) and to eliminate the known excitotoxin (aspartame, aka Nutrasweet).  This will help keep your mental edge and reduce your risk of some scary degenerative nervous system conditions like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Improve your self esteem and self acceptance 

This is a major factor in stress reduction.  If you love yourself more, then you will find that others will respect you more and accept you more as you are.  See a therapist, start meditating or just start reflecting on how to improve your own perception of yourself.  Accepting yourself as you are now has no prerequisites.  You don't have to lose 10 pounds, you don't have to get a face lift, you don't need that raise before starting this lifelong project.  Just a little more forgiveness of where you are now will allow you eventually to more easily move toward who you want to become.

Drink green tea

(preferably organic) for the antioxidant value and cancer fighting properties.  One to 3 servings per day, hot or cold.

Check your home water for heavy metals and chemicals

Then put a filter on your drinking and cooking water faucet after you know what toxins or chemicals you are at risk of exposure to.  If heavy metals were found make sure you recheck your water again after the filter was put into place.  Optimal filtering is a reverse osmosis filter or something similar to ensure most chemicals and heavy metals are removed.

Fill your Home with Green Plants

Buy lots of green plants for your home to filter the indoor air pollution that accumulates.  Try to make sure you air out your home regularly as well to prevent build up of benzene, toluene, TCE, formaldehyde in your home.  Ferns and Gerber daisies are great as indoor plants that remove these toxins.  Make sure your home has adequate ventilation and that you open the windows frequently.

Eliminate Parabens from Your Lotions

Parabens have a relationship to breast cancer and are hormone disruptors.  Methyl, ethyl, propyl and butylparabens are all culprits.  Search for body, face and suntan lotions without these parabens.  Things that are certified organic are safest.  Taking the first step by familiarizing yourself with possible toxic compounds in everyday consumer products will take you a long way toward helping your body detoxify and stay healthier.

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