I’ve been reading a lot about stress and our bodies. The response systems we have in place to deal with and respond to outside threats is amazing and complex. But we weren’t created to maintain a constant state of fight or flight. The sympathetic nervous system and endocrine system are so overloaded with our modern fast paced 24/7 world that we have become less and less effective at managing the ravages of stress. Think of a bicycle left on the beach – over time, the sun and the salt water and the sand will begin to oxidize and wear down the metal on the bike leading to rust. Our bodies are the same. Too much of a good thing is bad for us…. When we lean on sugar and caffeine to power our day rather than complex carbohydrates and lean proteins, our insides begin to oxide and “rust” so that we are left with a leaky system. That’s while it so important to monitor diet, rest, exercise and general lifestyle. If I reach for a sweet at 3pm, the odds are my body has been depleted of energy producing nutrients for some time. Similarly, if my mouth is dry, I am already dehydrated. Sounds pretty drastic but really, it becoming clear that with just a few tweaks, I can stay on the path.
Drinking green juice instead of a coffee or a sweet at 3pm
Meditating 20 minutes a day
Eating the rainbow and including veggies in every meal
Moving every day – dancing with the kiddos, jogging 3 miles or vacuuming the house
Keeping a gratitude journal
Here’s a yummy fall juice that I love. It’s not technically green since the beets turn it a deep shade of red but I love the spicy and savory flavor.
1/2 can organic pumpkin puree
1 cooked beet
2 hands full of baby kale and spinach
1/2 avocado
1/2 cucumber
small knob of fresh organic ginger (ground is okay)
small knob of fresh organic turmeric (ground is okay)
1/4 teaspoon organic ground cinnamon
1/2 cup coconut water
1/2 cup alkaline water
1 cup frozen peaches or mixed berries
Add all to a blender or use a wand mixer to pulverize. *I add KungFu drops if there is a cold or virus lurking about
