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RISING WOMEN EXPERT
ADVICE...
How can people “thrive” during the winter
season, rather than just “survive”?
Thriving in the winter requires a combination of regimes that one must do in
order to get out of the “survival” mode. Thriving means “energy”!
The first regime is to consume “warming” foods. When you live in a climate
that has four seasons, with the winters being excessively cold, “warming”
foods must be eaten in order to keep your body heat up. Some of the warming
foods that your can eat, depending on your body type, are whole cooked brown
rice, quinoa, millet, barley, steel-cut oats, large flaked oats and stews,
either vegetarian or with meat, squash, baked potatoes, etc. These foods
have high amounts of complex carbohydrates, protein and fiber. The fiber
helps to balance the blood sugars, and the proteins and carbohydrates help
to nourish the whole body.
The second regime is to consume enzymes. These are very important for
keeping our up our energy level. Cooked foods virtually have no enzymes in
them because the enzymes become denatured with heat. The best way to get
enzymes is through raw foods such as raw sprouted seeds including alfalfa,
broccoli or chick pea, plus any bean and raw vegetables of any kind. This is
a great way of supplying the enzymes needed to assist you in the digestion
of your cooked food during the winter months.
More often than not there are times when “supplementing” with enzymes is
just as important to keep your energy up, even when eating raw foods. One
way to determine if you need enzymes is to see what your energy level is
really like after you eat your food. If it goes down immediately after
eating, then supplement with an enzyme product. Often, the broad spectrum
ones, with a slant for carbohydrate digestion, are needed in the winter
because people eat more carbs in these cold months. When you take the needed
enzymes, you will notice an energy increase within 30 minutes or so of
taking them.
The third regime is also supplement with Vitamin D, Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs),
and use a Seasonal Affective Disorder Full UV Spectrum lamp daily. These
three things will keep your mood up.
The fourth regime is connection. Connect with other positive people
regularly over the winter months and share your warm food and merry mood
with them! All these regimes will help you to THRIVE!
Monica is a certified herbalist specializing in colonic irrigations.
She may be reached at 403.276.5756. Visit her at
www.hiraihealth.com
to learn about all her services. |
