Bloating, fatigue, and dull skin don’t have to linger as the seasons change. With a few simple diet and lifestyle tweaks, you can refresh your body, boost your energy, and feel your best. From smarter food choices to quick-fix remedies, this guide has everything you need to reset and glow from within.
Spring is approaching, and many of us begin to think about warm weather, sunny days, cute new outfits, and how to get rid of that spare tire you might be carrying around the middle—trying to cover up the past couple of months.
Perhaps you are looking in the mirror and feeling a little winter-weary. You feel tired, notice puffy eyes and dry skin, and sense that your body could use some TLC. All of these symptoms can be countered with a few changes in your diet and lifestyle. Bloating, dryness, and weight gain are often caused and perpetuated by the same dietary culprits: consuming too much salt, hard, dry baked foods, refined sugar, and carbohydrates. Just add a little bad oil, and you’ve got yourself a belly—not to mention the emotional baggage that accompanies low self-image.
The good news is that by making a few simple diet and lifestyle changes, you can embark on a path to improve your condition. Health is not stagnant but rather a direction. When you begin to move towards good health, you will start to experience positive results. The more you continue on the path of wellness, the better you will feel.
Here are a few things you can begin to think about and hopefully act upon. If you are already doing a number of these things, great! But remember, no one is perfect, so there is always room for learning.
Beat the Bloat, Lose a Few Inches, and Enhance Your Skin, Hair, and Nails
- Reduce or eliminate processed foods. Choosing better food quality is an important lifestyle practice, not just for weight management but to optimize overall bodily function.
- Go through everything in your pantry and read the labels. Ask yourself:
- Is the food organic?
- What type of fat is in the product?
- Does it contain salt or sweeteners? If so, what kind?
Many store-bought food items and snacks are filled with unhealthy ingredients such as seed oils, simple sugars, and “natural flavors.” What the heck is “natural flavor”? My advice: if you want to get healthy, throw these foods out because they are not serving you well.
- Moving forward, buy foods with good ingredients: organic, non-GMO.
- Use high-quality oils such as extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil, and avocado oil.
- Opt for real food sweeteners such as fruit sweeteners, brown rice syrup, and pure maple syrup or sugar.
- Be mindful when eating out. I personally try to avoid fried foods because of the poor-quality oils used and prefer restaurants that use better ingredients and offer plenty of fresh vegetables.
Moderate Your Salt Intake
- Choose good-quality sea salt.
- If using miso, soy sauce, or other condiments, ensure they come from a company that follows traditional food processing and fermentation practices.
Avoid Baked Foods as Much as Possible
Baking brings out the fat in foods, which is one reason we are so attracted to it. The process of baking exposes foods to heat from all sides, contracting the food and squeezing out the fat and moisture. These same foods, when consumed, energetically do the same to our skin, causing dryness and/or breakouts. Baked sweets, which contain both fat and simple sugar, are major contributors to weight gain, skin problems, and even hair loss in some cases.
Eat More Real Foods
- Vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and fruits.
- Fresh and lightly cooked vegetables contain more moisture, keeping our bodies naturally hydrated.
- Whole grains and beans are the best sources of complex carbohydrates. They break down into complex sugars that your body can store and use as needed, providing more energy, steady blood sugar levels, and emotional stability.
- Include seasonal fruits and nuts. They are a good source of fiber and protein and make for healthier snacks.
Implement an Exercise Routine That Works for You
- The best gauge is whether it increases your appetite for good foods or junk foods.
- If you crave junk after a workout, make adjustments to your meals or your workout routine.
- Try to get outdoor activity as much as possible.
- In cold weather, this helps burn more calories.
- Breathing fresh air cleans out your lungs.
- Walking outside is naturally balancing and strengthens digestion.
There is always hope! The more you do to improve your health—even small changes—the better you will feel. Your body wants to be healthy, and good practices cultivate more good practices. Good practices lead to positive results, so stay the course!
Quick “Beat the Bloat” Fixes
For exercise, the simplest and most effective thing you can do is walk outside as often as possible. Walking is naturally balancing, strengthens digestion, and makes you feel more positive. Plus, it’s a great way to enjoy the warm spring weather!
Here are a few “Beat the Bloat” Quick Fixes guaranteed to put a little spring in your step:
- Cucumbers: Light, refreshing, hydrating, and a natural diuretic.
- Quick-steamed leafy greens with fresh lemon: A good source of fiber and minerals. The lemon helps make the nutrients more bioavailable.
- Fresh vegetable juice combinations: Naturally refreshing, a good source of sweetness, and helpful for eliminating excess salt.
- Dried shiitake mushrooms: Shiitake has numerous benefits, including immune-boosting, fat metabolism, reducing inflammation, supporting a healthy gut, and being a good source of vitamin D—especially sun-dried shiitake mushrooms that soak up all those good nutrients.
- Green tea: A natural antioxidant that helps metabolism, blood sugar regulation, weight loss, heart health, and cognitive function.
- Fresh-squeezed orange juice: A great source of vitamin C and a natural pick-me-up.
Start small, stay consistent, and enjoy the benefits of a healthier, more vibrant you!
-Susan Waxman
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What is macrobiotics? Macrobiotics is a system of holistic principles and dynamic practices that guides choices in nutrition, activity, and lifestyle for physical, emotional, mental, social, and environmental health.
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