Winter has come and gone, the mornings are getting brighter, and the weather is getting warmer. Normally allegories and "spring cleaning" are the two most common words when talking about Spring, check out below our top 5 Health tips for getting the most out of the upcoming season!
1. Get Clean
•Attempt one area at a time. Don't expect to hit every room right away - take it drawer by drawer.
•Dump anything that you don't remember buying or that has an expiration date.
•Check ingredient lists of your products. A number of chemicals in thousands of cosmetic and personal care products have been linked to numerous health issues - skin irritants, endocrine disrupters, even known carcinogens. It's impossible to keep track of them all, but for starters, try to avoid a few of the most commonly used chemicals and get rid of anything that contains: parabens, (SLS or SLES), triclosan.
2. Get Dirty
Again, getting dirty for spring goes beyond mud baths! There's no better way to ring in spring than by getting outside and digging in the dirt. Enjoying the outdoors by gardening - whether mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, or hauling mulch - is known to brighten moods and burn calories. About 250-350 calories an hour, to be exact! Gardening is a great way to keep active, but it has also been proven to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as reduces stress and depression. Not only will your landscaping benefit, but so will you.
Invite your kids, grandkids, or neighbourhood kids to join you. Allowing children to get dirty is good for them, as well. Gardening, or simply playing in the dirt, is a great way to expose them to common bacteria. With regular exposure to common bacteria, vitamins and proteins are produced that help immune and gastrointestinal systems to properly function.
3. Get Fresh
Think about farmers markets or local growers -Adopt the Mantra of "Think global, shop local". How good is it to know exactly where your food is coming from, or know that it is grown as close to natural without additives or chemicals!
Spring brings with it a beautiful bounty of fruit, veg, flowers and other produce. Think about all the colours that come with spring fruit and veg - those beautiful vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. This season also allows us to move on from all the comfort food we have been eating for the past few months and how fresh salads, grills, light meals, full of tastes and colours.
4. Get Going
Consider Becoming an Early Bird. Studies have shown that people who wake up earlier are healthier than those night owls who snooze the morning away. Taking advantage of the morning light will also give you a good dose of needed vitamin D. And you'll get a leg up on symptoms of depression.
Get a spring in your step this season is by ditching your old sneakers. What better motivation to get active than a brand-spanking-new pair? Here are a few sure signs that the time has come for a replacement.
•The mid-sole is compressed. Take a look at the side of your shoe. Look at the lighter, softer material between the sole and the upper leather. If there is visible wear, such as creases, crinkles or pockmarks, the midsole is beginning to wear out. The more compressed the midsole, the more strain on your feet and lower legs.
•The upper part of the shoe is worn out. Look at your shoes from the top. Is the fabric gaping or bunching? Are there obvious holes or tears? Does the shape of the shoe look like the shape of your foot? If so, it is likely that the upper leather has stretched out and isn't providing the proper support.
•The treads are worn out. The sole tends to last longer than the rest of the shoe, so if they are worn down, it is a tell-tale sign that it's time for a new pair. Save those worn out sneakers for the gardening
5. Get Rest
What's better than laying your head down after a long day of cleaning, gardening, cooking, and enjoying the Spring weather? Laying your head down on a fresh pillow! It is important to note that studies show that after approximately five years, up to ten percent of a pillow's weight is made up of bacteria, pollen, fungi, mould, and dust mites. That thought is anything but restful and will make it harder to get up early in the morning feeling fresh and ready to attack the day!
An easy step to protect yourself from these allergens is by changing out your pillows every three to five years, most now come with an expiration date. In the meantime, keep pillows fresh with protective covers that seal out allergens, and wash pillowcases with hot water weekly.
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