Healthy Living: Making a fresh start this spring in Limerick

ARE YOU struggling to get into a routine as spring begins?

Tired mornings, afternoon dips, cravings, digestive discomforts, anger…

These are just the many cries of your system for a much-needed reboot.

Spring is a good time to try to re-establish a routine and support your body to help to get back on track.

Eat early dinners and a good breakfast in the morning.

Throughout the day eat very regularly, focusing on your meals and chew well to help absorption of the essential nutrients.

Have easily digested foods including lots of vegetables, they always help to take the load off your digestive system.

Put away those treats, keep them for the weekend!

Include protein of some sort in every meal and snack to balance your blood sugar levels.

Good protein sources are eggs, fish, lean meat, beans, nuts, ground seeds or their butters and quinoa.

Protein helps to slow down the absorption of natural sugars – giving you longer lasting energy and helping your mood also.

Blood sugar imbalances also interfere with your sleeping hormone, Melatonin, disturbing your refreshing good night cap.
Your liver may need a boost also.

Too much processed foods and alcohol interfere with liver function, which can also lead to groggy mornings and fatigue.

Cruciferous vegetables, Brazil nuts, eggs, beans, and the yellow spice – turmeric are great supports for your filtration system.

You might even want to take a detox herb mix including Milk thistle, Dandelion, Yarrow, and Green tea.

Plenty of antioxidants can revive your whole body – you find these in colourful fruits and vegetables – the more colours the better.

Drink plenty of water to flush your cells – dehydration can affect energy levels and concentration.

Essential fats have been long known to help uplift your mood.

Include oily fish in your diet ideally three times a week, steamed to keep the healing sensitive oils intact.

Snack on nuts or seed butters on oatcakes with sliced apple or banana.

Add avocado to your salads or replace butter/mayonnaise with mashed avocado or home made guacamole.

Don’t be afraid of essential fats, they will not pile weight on you – quite the opposite!

In Pictures: Limerick primary school pupils get camera ready

Switch off all blue lights and go to bed early with a nice book to help you switch off and get a refreshing sleep.

Make time for prayer, meditation, and gentle exercise. These have been shown to increase serotonin and dopamine – our happy hormones.

A positive attitude always helps to get us through tough times.

Smiling and laughing – even with no reason, sends messages to the brain to make happy hormones.

Think of all the lovely days you had and start planning your next holiday to keep you cheerful.