Our modern world has many conveniences that make our lives easier. Nowadays we don’t have to leave home to buy groceries, get takeaway, or even to work. We walk less and move less. Everything is at our fingertips. But, when we stop and think about it, these conveniences alone come with an enormous cost to our health.

Cars, delivery services, and home-based employment can cause problems that we don’t always recognise.

Here are 5 simple health practices to reduce stress and nourish your body and mind.

1. Drink more water 

The human body is around 70% water.  This primary element assists the liver and other organs to move toxins through its systems and send them out of your body.

Adults should aim to consume approximately two litres of water (eight glasses) per day. But, if you exercise regularly, increase your water intake to ten glasses per day.

To gain full detoxifying benefits, it’s best to drink filtered tap water at room temperature throughout the day, e.g., when you wake up, in between meals, early evening, and two hours before bed.

2. Sweat it out

Sweating cools our bodies when we are hot, and it is also a natural way to remove toxins.

It clears our body of heavy metals and environmental toxicants such as bisphenol-A (BPA) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are found in our water supply, soil, and many food products. These toxins can directly affect our central nervous and endocrine systems, potentially causing short- and long-term damage to brain and body functions.

Hot Yoga, running/jogging or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) are effective sweat sessions. Alternatively, you can ‘sweat it out’ in a steam or infrared sauna.

3. Eat anti-inflammatory foods

These foods naturally support the neutralizing and elimination of toxins and inflammation in the body.

When your body recognizes anything that is foreign, such as allergens, microorganisms or chemicals, your immune system activates an inflammatory response. Periodic inflammation is a healthy bodily function but, when inflammation persists day after day, even when nothing foreign is entering your body, it can lead to major health problems including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, and Alzheimer’s.

Foods that fight inflammation contain natural antioxidants that neutralize foreign chemicals and oxidative stress in the body. Natural inflammation-repelling foods include:

• tomatoes
• olive oil
• green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, cabbage)
• almonds
• walnuts
• fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines)
• fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges

4. Reduce your toxin intake

It’s also a good idea to be aware of and try to reduce the toxins that enter your body.

Taking a rest from everyday toxins such as sugar, alcohol, and processed foods, even for only a couple of weeks, can have a significant impact on your health. And your body will thank you for the much-needed break.

5. Digital detox 

Being connected in the digital world is a part of our everyday life. Recent studies report that adults spend an average of 11 hours each day listening to, watching, reading, or interacting with media. Temporary reduction of ‘screen time’ helps you let go of the anxiety that stems from constant connectivity.

While people often feel that they can’t imagine life without their tech devices, research shows that technology use contributes to stress. One Swedish study https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-11-66> conducted found that heavy technology use among young adults is linked to:

• sleep problems
• depressive symptoms
• increased stress levels

Take a break from your tech devices (phones, computers, tablets), social media sites and even TV. ‘Detoxing’ from digital devices, even for a few hours each day, is a great way to remove distractions, focus on real-life social interactions, and reduce stress in your life.

While the ‘convenience’ of technology does save us time, it’s important to be aware of the potential repercussions on our physical and mental health. Exercise, good nutrition, and activity that nourishes our body and mind, is vital to our wellbeing.

Contact Connect Chiropractic for an effective, natural, drug-free alternative. Book a consultation on 03 9512 5882.