A healthy lifestyle is an accumulation of small actions that add up to vitality and longevity. Sometimes we know what changes we need to make in our lives but have a hard time getting around to doing them. And sometimes we know we need changes but aren’t clear about what to do. These tips from a professional psychotherapist will help you clarify goals, stop procrastinating, and start thriving.
“You can’t heal what you don’t acknowledge,” says Elenora Molnar, master therapeutic counselor.
It’s helpful to understand why you developed the unhealthy habit in the first place, so you can replace it with a healthier habit that fulfills the same need, says Molnar. If your mornings are hectic because you look at your phone for an hour before getting out of bed, it may be because you want to delay the start of the day without having to think or problem-solve.
“Make a plan to start off your day without looking at your phone for one hour,” suggests Molnar. Instead of looking at social media, replace that time with a quick yoga video or walk around the neighbourhood. This gets your body active, while also letting your mind rest and gear up for the day.
You may want to try a digital detox. Set some firm boundaries around screen time, consider deleting certain apps from your phone, or take a break from social media for a designated amount of time.
“Start overriding your bad habits with new routines,” suggests Molnar. For example, if you want to start jogging, overwrite being sedentary in the evening by taking an easy jog at the same time you would usually be sitting down.
If you’re trying to stop eating junk food at night, instead of turning on the TV, work on a puzzle, read a book, or do any activity that you don’t associate with snacking. Start with small steps that slowly become your new habits.
It’s great to have ambitious goals, but if you’re unrealistic at the beginning, you’ll have trouble meeting them. This can cause you to give up completely. “It’s great to have goals, but give yourself permission to say that goals can change. Always have a plan, but know you can change your plan,” says Molnar.
Experts say that one of the surest ways to keep with your physical or mental health goals is to find a support group of likeminded people looking to accomplish similar goals.
Explains Molnar, “When you’re in a group where everyone is focused on the same thing, it’s really powerful because you can be compassionately witnessed by those people. I’m thinking of therapy, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be therapy. It could be a running group or a gardening group.”
By Stephanie MacDonald
Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine
Daily living exposes us and our environment to an increasing number of foreign chemicals and byproducts, often called xenobiotics. But our body is equipped with a complex system of detoxification processes that work to expel these foreign substances. Supporting this amazing system is key to good health.
The term xenobiotics includes a number of substances that are foreign to animal biological systems, such as drugs and pollutants.
Many xenobiotics have been linked to negative health effects, including hormone-disrupting effects (xenoestrogens), neurological and immunological effects (heavy metals), and carcinogenic effects (alcohol, tobacco, nitrates, pesticides, and heterocyclic aromatic amines from charred food).
In addition to reducing potential exposures, detoxification involves enhancing the safe elimination of these products through the body’s internal systems of biotransformation. The detoxification pathway is divided into two main steps, phase I detoxification and phase II detoxification.
When our detox and biotransformation processes don’t function optimally, it may be due to genetic factors, environmental overload, and/or nutrient deficiencies.
A healthy diet, of course, influences beneficial effects on our body’s detoxification functions. A whole foods diet that includes a rich variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy proteins contains many phytonutrients and amino acids that enhance phase II enzyme activity. Research continues to uncover the complexities of specific food-derived components to the complex processes of biotransformation.
Fad detox programs beyond count have been popularized over the years. Unfortunately, many of these are unlikely to achieve long-term benefits. Given the pervasive ongoing nature of xenobiotic exposure in our world, a more consistent, comprehensive, and sustainable approach to detoxification is best.
There’s a long tradition of spring cleanses or fasting periods in many cultures. This speaks to the wisdom of enforcing periods of time dedicated to cleaning up one’s diet and lifestyle. Additionally, it may be necessary at times to adopt ongoing changes to sustain long-term health improvement, particularly when it comes to nutritional strategies.
According to Dr. Philip Rouchotas, ND, in general, components of a successful detox program should include the following elements.
Eliminate highly processed foods, sugars, alcohol, and excess caffeine; emphasize green vegetables and sufficient water intake. Check for food intolerances.
Diet and supplements such as probiotics, bitter herbs, or magnesium can help with this.
Regular physical activity promotes mobilization of stored toxins from fat and the lymphatic system (a circulatory system made up of lymph vessels that includes the tonsils, spleen, lymph nodes, and lymph vessels).
Always check with your primary care practitioner before trying a new supplement. Some commonly utilized natural health products include:
By Dr. Heidi Fritz, MA, ND
Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine
Have you ever tried to do a detox or cleanse that left you feeling weak and irritable? You might not have had your nutritional basics in place!
Without sufficient key nutrients from foods, the body can’t fully recruit its own pathways of metabolic detoxification. When this happens, our detoxification organs—mainly the liver, kidneys, colon, and skin—can’t do their jobs to the best of their ability.
Compared with doing a three-week crash diet, regularly eating foods rich in nutrients that naturally activate detoxification pathways is far more effective for keeping the body’s toxic burden low and overall well-being high.
More commonly known as metabolic detoxification (or “detox”), biotransformation is the process of converting toxicants from the environment and from the body itself into compounds that can be safely mobilized and excreted from the body.
A properly functioning detoxification system maintains a proper balance of hormones, metabolizes medications, and processes harmful substances from the environment to ensure overall health and well-being. An accumulation of toxins is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Since our regular food choices affect the activity of detoxification pathways to help with toxin biotransformation, they also affect the body’s sensitivity to toxic substances.
The glymphatic system provides the brain and central nervous system with a deep cleaning of metabolic waste. Impaired glymphatic function has been associated with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Since the glymphatic system is most effective during sleep, consider prioritizing sleep as a key pillar for supporting full-body detoxification. Resist binging on your favorite show and instead cultivate a calming bedtime routine to make sure you clock enough hours.
Always ask your health care practitioner before trying a new supplement, to make sure it’s right for you. Likewise, always check with your health care practitioner before embarking on any cleanse or detox program.
Here are a few supplements that may help support our bodies’ natural detoxification systems.
By Dr. Cassie Irwin, ND
Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine
As a new season approaches, it’s common to turn our minds toward rejuvenation—detoxifying ourselves from what’s not serving us and refocusing on what nurtures us.
Tea, both true tea—made from the tea plant Camellia sinensis, including green, white, and black teas—and certain herbal infusions, can help in the physical process of detoxification by supporting the body’s metabolic and natural detoxification processes. These teas can also work to detoxify our mental state by helping to clear away stress, anxiety, and emotional blocks that may be weighing us down.
Guided by Jude Wang of Cultivate Tea, we take a deeper look at how tea helps to detoxify and refocus the mind and body to enhance overall well-being. Wang explains that, while certain teas may be particularly helpful to physically detox, sometimes it is more about giving your body the space and time to carry out the self-care that it has been designed to perform.
“Sometimes detox is about doing less,” says Wang. “These days, detoxing our mind and soul can be so much more important to think about than physical detoxing.” That’s where the ritual of tea comes in.
Wang points out that our fast-paced, modern culture can often treat tea with a transactional attitude. “We have a tendency to think of it in terms of what it can give to us: tasting notes, health benefits.”
Wang believes that tea provides the opportunity for a more nuanced experience: a chance to slow down, declutter the mind, acknowledge emotions, and nurture meaningful bonds with others. Time out to tune in.
Sitting down with Wang to share the ritual of tea is a fluid experience that is tailored to the tea being served and the person, or people, he is sharing it with. Wang notes that it doesn’t so much matter how your tea ritual is conducted but rather the spirit in which it’s carried out.
From experiencing the look and smell of the leaves, watching them unfurl as they steep in the water, exploring the taste and mouthfeel—and how it evolves through multiple steepings—Wang values the meditation that tea provides.
Research shows that tea ceremonies enable participants to share common emotions, capture a sense of personal progression, improve concentration, and increase feelings of mindfulness. Further, the act of preparing and drinking tea has been found to help curb stress and boost psychological well-being.
Wang suggests that, if you come to tea with an open mind, its power can be transformative and its contribution to daily life invaluable. “It’s something so simple. It’s just tea leaves. But at the same time, it has so much behind it.”
Article courtesy of Alive Magazine
Without getting all doom and gloom, the unavoidable truth is that our environment is way more toxic than it was when our great-grandparents grew up. And that’s changing what we need to do to keep our bodies unburdened.
Our food is sprayed with pesticides, our municipal water is chlorinated, and our air and soil are marred by persistent organic pollutants. Many of these compounds are fat soluble, meaning they accumulate in fat cells over time in a process called bioaccumulation. Since we’re all exposed to environmental toxicants, supporting natural detoxification is key for reducing our toxic burden and improving overall well-being.
Detoxification is the body’s built-in system for minimizing the harmful effect of toxicants, toxins, hormones, pharmaceuticals, and supplements, by transforming them into stable, water-soluble compounds that can be excreted from the body. While intestinal bacteria and body tissues including the skin and kidneys perform local detoxification, most detoxification reactions take place in the liver.
While it’s true that our food and lifestyle choices can enhance detoxification, we don’t need to do a juice cleanse or embark upon a rigorous fast to do so.
On the other hand, it’s a misconception that we don’t need to do anything to support the body; many detoxification pathways require essential nutrients we can only get from the diet.
When the bowels aren’t emptying regularly, we reabsorb our toxins and estrogen through a process called enterohepatic recirculation. Once you’ve ensured your routes of elimination are working well (starting with plenty of fiber, water, and exercise), then you can incorporate targeted food, vitamins, and herbs to enhance natural liver detoxification.
What we eat consistently has a more profound impact on detoxification than an annual week-long “detox.” Here are some foods and nutrients to incorporate in your diet.
Supplements that may help support your body’s natural detoxification include:
Always check with your health care practitioner before starting a new supplement.
Article courtesy of Alive Magazine
Check out our NEW products this week!
Everyone has jumped on the “bandwagon” about needing not just clean oral care habits, but also clean oral care products! We always look for organic or natural, but we don’t always look for the other key words that our found in our featured products below; such as fluoride free, triclosan free, alcohol free, and no artificial flavors or coloring. What we should be keeping an eye out for are words like sustainability, detox, natural, organic, and pure.
But good news is, there are always new products and formulas that are changing to be cleaner, bigger, and better. Check out these brands and see why we love that they’re on our shelves!
As gross as it sounds, when you rinse (spit) out the Wild Forager Mouthwash, you can actually see all of the gross particles that came out between your teeth! The Detox Toothpaste contains bentonite clay which clings to all the gross germs that get stuck in between your teeth. Not only is it clean but it doesn’t hurt if you swallow them too- the bottles even say to swallow a certain amount of times per week to get the detox effects. Refreshing, harmless to swallow, and contains echinacea and silver for added benefits- you can’t go wrong!
The company is a buy-one-give-one company who supports numerous organizations when you buy their products. They are vegan, wild-crafted, and multi-purpose.
“This is the best mouthwash I’ve ever used! I finished the bottle and ran out to get a brand new one that day!” -Sarah L.
The Coconut Oil Toothpaste was made to be a comparable alternative to conventional toothpastes while also incorporating the idea of oil pulling off the germs in your mouth- that’s why they use coconut oil! Coconut oil is a detoxifier and leaves a protective barrier on teeth and gums. The xylitol that’s in their formulas also act as a cavity fighter to prevent bacteria from sticking. The Whitening Pen also contains xylitol and coconut oil which helps remove the stains from that pulling action they focused their brand on.
“The coconut mint flavor is AMAZING and it doesn’t leave my teeth feeling gritty like some name brand toothpastes. I’ve been nervous to try any whitening pens but I just need to try theirs because I love their toothpaste!” -Nicole I.
The Earth Paste is made from redmond clay which is used as a cleanser and a digestive aid support. Not only does it keep your teeth clean and refreshed but it counteracts the acid in your mouth to help prevent the formation of cavities. The xylitol in their formulas helps prevent bacteria sticking to your teeth. Each formula contains their own flavors and benefits. For example, the charcoal type focuses more on teeth whitening while the lemon flavor type focuses on overall oral health.
“Their lemon twist flavor is great. I can’t believe that I used to use toothpaste that didn’t have clay in it.. I’m hooked!” -Kate A.
The darker box contains charcoal and bentonite clay which helps detox and pulls the junk out from between your teeth. The charcoal inside is a huge whitening benefit. The lighter box also helps detoxify and cleanse your teeth from the bentonite clay inside, but it also helps soothes your gums and mouth due to the inflammation benefits contained in turmeric!
“The turmeric one is AWESOME! My gums were always so swollen after brushing and I felt like I never got a really good cleaning until I used this product!” -Anthony R.
Oral Essentials Whitening Toothpaste uses coconut oil, sage oil, and lemon peel oil in order to help whiten teeth without any of the sensitivity that comes from using conventional whitening toothpaste. The Kids Formula Toothpaste is certified non-toxic, is enamel friendly and lightly flavored with strawberry to get kids hooked to brushing their teeth! Not only does the xylitol in it help prevent cavities but also gives a little sweetness to the flavor.
“My son is in LOVE with the kids formula toothpaste – he refuses to use any other kind!” -Lindsay C.
Regardless of what toothpaste you use, make sure you tell us how much you’re in love with your product! Leave us a note, email us, or tell us in person! #basilbandwagoncares
Stay tuned for complete results from two Basil Bandwagon employees and their journey with Oral Essentials Whitening Kit!
The Blue Lagoon Smoothie: just the summer getaway you need. At Basil Bandwagon Natural Market only for the month of July. Get it while you can!