My Five First Steps to Living Better

People often ask me...

-How they can feel better? 
-What they should do to be healthier? 
-How they should start on the road to being brighter, slimmer and more vital?

It is not realistic to do everything and suddenly be perfect; far too much effort, probably a bit depressing and potentially disastrous. 

I have put together my five top tips for getting on the road to feeling how you are supposed to feel.


1. Green Smoothies.

I cannot sing the praises of green smoothies enough.  They truly are the best choice you can make.  They are the most readily absorbed way of getting a wonderful blend of live enzymes, vitamins, minerals and fibre in one delicious gulp.  Every cell of your body will be singing with delight if you have a green smoothie once or twice a day.

http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2010/09/surrender-to-smoothies.html

2. Raw Foods.

Raw food is such an effective way of getting live enzymes and fresh vital vitamins into your body.  Salads, snacks or elaborate raw recipes, all do a tremendous amount of good.  Add some raw food to your day and enjoy the result.  With raw foods you find the more you eat, the better you feel and as a result, the more you crave (this is the only way it is similar to vodka jelly).

3.  Superfood Powder Support.

Superfoods are a bit of a buzz these days and that is because we have such busy lifestyles that anything that takes time puts us off.  Superfood powders are a very do-able, fast way of getting a fast injection of nutrients into the body.  We should try not to depend on these for all our nutritional needs, but they are a great way to support a hectic lifestyle where optimal nutrition is harder to acquire.

4. Fermented foods and pro-biotics.

We often hear about 'pro' and 'pre' biotics and there is definitely a place for them in a good nutritional profile.  Our digestive systems rely on a good balance of bacteria to function effectively and absorb nutrients efficiently.  So natural pro-biotics such as sauerkraut, live yoghurt regularly, or a supplement if your digestive system feels a little out of balance, is a great idea.

5. Juicing.

This is a commitment, but it is one worth making.  Once you have the system in place it can just be part of your daily routine - one that will make your body scream with thanks.  An instant injection of nutrients and enzymes to support and nourish your body through tough times.

Try these tips as a stepping stone to feeling brighter!

Josie 

How to sustain your energy levels throughout the day...

An average day for most of us is pretty hectic, bustling here and there and everywhere, including getting to and from work.  We often wake up with an alarm before our body is ready and drag it around all morning.  We then push it midday onwards and flop aimlessly when we get home.  We spurt back and forth from pushing and flopping and rarely have a balanced settled day unless it is a day off (and then we usually push ourselves to have as much fun as possible in this window of freedom, only to return to work flopping even further). Ok, you know what I mean. 

So the question is... how do we support our bodies through these highs and lows? And perhaps an even bigger question is... are our highs and lows created by our diet rather than our schedule?

Blood sugar changes throughout the day and the type of food we eat as well as the times and conditions in which we eat it make a massive impact on the way our body uses the energy in our food. 

My five top tips to keep your blood sugar stable...

1. Choose complex carbs which are slowly released into the system rather than simple refined carbs which will give you a sudden high followed by a sudden low, leading to food cravings and sugar rushes (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2011/08/wholewheat-or-white-facts.html)

2. Eat good fat foods such as nuts which are loaded with protein.  They are high in energy and release slowly (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2010/10/fatit-not-all-bad.html)

3. Moderate your meals, having snacks throughout the day and never leave too long without eating.  Try to get a good breakfast with slow release carbohydrates that will keep you going all morning.  Snack on bananas and nuts if you feel an energy slump mid morning (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2011/04/binge-eating-you-are-not-alone.html)

4. Raw Food is a great way to take away cravings for empty foods like bread and cake.  Try to snack on raw fruit and vegetables as often as possible to cut those useless cravings (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2011/01/raw-food-lets-cut-to-chase.html)

5. Drink plenty of water.  Staying well hydrated is so important to keep your brain sharp and your energy levels up, keep a bottle with you at all times (http://therealfoodcoach.blogspot.com/2010/11/water-you-know-it-makes-sense.html)

So, do you think it is your schedule or your diet making your life rollercoaster each day?  Work out which one it is and try and address it to create a little more balance in your life.  After all, we only get one body in this lifetime and it would be a shame to wear it out too soon if we can avoid it.

Good Luck

Josie