New Year Resolutions

I can’t believe it is 2010! When I was young, that was a date that was never going to arrive, and yet here we are. I love the New Year because it always feels like a new start. Every year I make a list of resolutions that I am convinced I will definitely stick to but rarely seem to. This year is going to be different though because I’ve ensured I’ve only made a few, and I plan to tackle them one by one rather than all at the same time.

My first resolution is to give up fizzy drinks and caffeine altogether. That means no coffee or even tea. I will replace fizzy drinks with water or squash, and coffee and tea with herbal teas and fruit teas.

My second resolution is to find a sport that I really enjoy. It is important to get lots of exercise, but it is best if it doesn’t feel like a chore. That is why I am heading down to the local sports centre to see what classes are available.

Finally, I am going to develop my interest in aromatherapy. I have always practiced it and I have a good basic understanding, but I want to learn more and find out everything there is to know. I have found it to be an effective and powerful tool for combatting a variety of symptoms such as stress, anxiety or insomnia, but I know there is so much more to learn.

I am hoping that by keeping the list short and sweet, I am going to see success in my goals. Committing publicly to a a task is a good way of making sure it happens. Why don’t you write your resolutions below. You might just find them easier to stick to if you publicly declare them.

Protect yourself from Flu this winter

Winter is upon us once again, only this year we have seen a rather rampant and dangerous flu reeking havoc across the globe that although has simmered down now, could potentially rear its ugly head again in the future. Although health care professionals in the UK seem confident another bout could be dealt with efficiently and risks kept to a minimum, there are a few natural things you can do to protect yourself and decrease the chances of catching any flu, swine or the plain old seasonal variety.

Solid deep sleep, plenty of exercise and a diet packed full of fruits and vegetables is the number one step to take. This will ensure your immune system is working at its peak performance levels which is important when battling illnesses and disease. Berries, beans and green tea are especially good for your immune system.

Try and get at least 8 hours of deep uninterrupted sleep each night. Instead of watching TV until 11, go to bed at 10 with a book and you will find yourself dropping off in no time. Watching TV tricks our bodies into thinking we are not tired, when really we are. For exercise, spend at least 30 minutes each day doing something that raises your heartbeat just a fraction. Even just hoovering the house is enough, no one is asking you to train for a marathon!

Introduce more garlic into your life if you really want to fight the flu! Studies have shown it is not just vampires that it wards off, but also cold and flu symptoms. You could make some really garlickly salad dressings, or make a healthy pizza with masses of garlic sprinkled on top. Yes, you may smell a little, but that is still better than catching a cold or even worse the flu.

Have any of you got any ideas of how to ward off colds, coughs and the flu? Send in all your comments below including any top tips you have.

Tea and Coffee Substitutes

Drinking too much tea and coffee is not something that is recommended by doctors and nutritionists as not only does caffeine dehydrate us, it also interrupts our sleep patterns and plays havoc with our bodies. To many of us however, going without that first cup in the morning is not something that can be given up easily.

There are a number of alternatives to these caffeine filled drinks. Coffee substitutes that are designed to taste and smell like coffee are readily available. Lima Organic Yannoh Coffee Substitute is a very good one to try. Another great alternative to coffee is a cup of Cotswold Roasted Dandelion Root Coffee.

Chicory root that has been roasted and dried is another popular coffee alternative, and in fact it has been this root that people have turned to throughout difficult periods in history such as war time when money for coffee, or coffee itself was not available. The root has a strong flavour and after roasting the taste is similar to that of coffee, yet with no caffeine. Furthermore, chicory has many positive health benefits for organs such as the liver and even helps cleanse the blood.

If you want to drink less coffee for medicinal or health reasons, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world as there are some excellent alternatives available that are likely to offer a host of benefits that caffeine laden drinks cannot.

Do any of you drink coffee substitutes? Have you tried roasted chicory root? Send in your comments below.

Rid yourself of fatigue

If you are feeling a little less than sparkling at the moment there are a few things you can do to perk yourself up. Fatigue effects millions of Britons a year. With long working hours, families to care for and to-do lists a mile long, it is not surprising that at times we all feel a little, well.....exhausted.

I thought this week I would provide a quick list of the things we can all do to revive ourselves quickly and easily.

• Give your diet an overhaul. If you take a very close look at your diet it is likely that you can find areas of improvement. It may be that simply swapping the afternoon biscuits for a handful of grapes will do the trick, or it might be a more thorough change of eating habits is required. Either way, ensuring the majority of your diet is made up of fruit and vegetables will go a long way to cure day long fatigue. Beans, pulses, nuts and seeds in particular provide your body with a good boost of energy. Try some infinity whole foods for a while and see if your fatigue goes away.
• Drink herbal teas. Sad it may seem, fizzy drinks and other caffeine filled, sugary beverages need to go if you want to feel at your best at all times. These drinks are loaded with sugar that will rot your teeth and leave you feeling exhausted. Try delicious herbal and fruit teas instead. Green tea in particular is excellent for waking us up.
• Remove caffeine altogether. We automatically reach for a cup of coffee when searching for some va va voom, but it in fact has the opposite effect in the long term. It is particularly bad to drink caffeine filled drinks at night as it causes our sleep to be interrupted making us groggy in the morning. Herbal teas like nettle, lemon balm and peppermint are an excellent substitute and will ensure your overall health improves too.
• Give up smoking. Smoking causes all sorts of havoc for the body not least of which is poor sleep. If you want to give up smoking but cannot do it on simple will power alone, why don’t you try a hypnosis CD to give you that added helping hand.
• Go to bed earlier. This may seem a little obvious, but instead of watching TV until late, why not go to bed a little earlier and take a great book with you? Reading is much more conducive to sleep whereas the TV simply zones you out and keeps you up when you could be in the land of nod.

I can guarantee that if you put all or even some of these ideas into practice you will soon feel revived and back to your old self. To find out how Baldwins products can help, visit out site. If anyone has any other ideas on how it is possible to rid yourself of fatigue, send in your comments below.