BE Healthy

"People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures." ~ F.M. Alexander

A few small habits I've added to my regimen that have made me feel healthier...

Using a tongue scraper! EWWWW! I know, I thought so too until I got used to it, but I'm telling you your oral hygiene will benefit. Floss, then scrape, then brush and follow up with a quality mouthwash and I guarantee your mouth will feel significantly fresher all day. It only takes a few seconds to do and it can become part of your daily routine. Read more HERE about the connection between dental health and overall well-being.

Adding a serum! Another quick, but impactful addition to your daily routine is to add a serum. After you wash your face and before you apply your moisturizer and sunscreen, dab a few drops of a luxurious serum on your face a decolletage. A serum's active ingredients can really help you target your areas of concern and can also increase the effectiveness of your other products. I personally love them because they add that glow that some of us with dryer skin can really use. Some of my favorites are shown below, but take a sec to chat with a Sephora agent online and he/she can help you find the ones that are right for you.

Incorporating chia seeds! These tiny little seeds are surprisingly powerful! They can help with your blood sugar balance; provide omega-3 fats, iron and zinc (all important for hormonal health); provide calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous - all vital for bone strength; can help lower inflammation, improve circulation and feed your beneficial gut bacteria and...much, much more! They are tasteless and you only need 1-2 tablespoons a day to reap the benefits. Sprinkle them on ANYTHING: yogurt, smoothies, oatmeal, cereal, fruit, or even veggies. An easy add for a big health gain!

Taking One Hundred Steps! There is an old Japanese proverb that says "Walk 100 steps after a meal and you will live to 99". I'm not sure that's a guarantee, but it is certainly worth a try especially since it is so easy to do. 100 steps equates to walking about 260 feet so you can reach that goal by simply walking around your house or going up and back to your mailbox a few times. Walking immediately after you eat helps with digestion, boosts metabolism, and helps with blood sugars. Give it a try and let's hope the Japanese were right!

飯後百步走，活到九十九

Growing Plants!: But, not just any plant- a plant that serves a purpose! Did you know that English Ivy plants remove up to 94% of airborne mold from your home in just 12 hours? Or that keeping a Rosemary plant indoors can improve memory and alertness? Or that keeping a lavender plant in your bedroom calms the nervous system and improves sleep? That's right...plants are medicine too! So check out, the GREEN gifts in BE a Gifter for a great website that sells all sorts of plants. Who wouldn't want a gift of health this Christmas?! (Credit: #naturalsfoodtip)

And just because I love to share great recipes...

BONUS: Soups are the perfect meal for winter nights so I'm sharing two of my favorite recipes. Ina Garten's Split Pea Soup HERE and Ree Drummond's Chicken and Corn Chowder HERE. ENJOY!