In a world in which prescription medicines offer a pill for every ill, it’s good to know that there are alternative approaches when it comes to preventing or healing different diseases. Most of these may seem obvious, like sleeping well, eating nutritious food and taking regular exercise. However, it seems the origins of this advice can be traced back to healthcare systems that were implemented thousands of years ago, such as Ayurveda.

Although the cold season is in full swing, that does not mean that the whole family has to suffer and spend the whole season in bed. First of all, it is important to start by eating well, keeping active, breathing in fresh air on a daily basis and lastly, taking good care of all parts of the body.

Detoxify your body

A seasonal detox is a good way of eliminating toxins from the body, speeding up your metabolism and enhancing overall health. A good way of starting this process is to reduce the amount of sugar you consume.

Drinking a tall glass of water with the juice from half a lemon each morning promotes digestion and re-hydrates your whole body. Tea is also a good source of antioxidants and research shows that people who drink at least three cups of tea a day have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease compared with non tea drinkers.

Avoid overeating, and make colourful plant foods the main focus of your diet. Fruit and veggies provide a host of vitamins, minerals, antioxidant polyphenols and other phytonutrients, are low in calories and high in fibre to fill you up and support weight loss.

Try acupuncture

When it comes to relieving pain, there are many creams and gels and oral pain killers available. Alternative medicines can offer real benefits, too, particularly acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient practice that involves inserting needles in certain points of your body. This complementary therapy aims to restore balance in your body, unblock and improve the flow of energy and can eliminate the symptoms of the many common ailments.

Even though there are many causes of joint pain, PainScale can help you find the root cause of such issues. Some of them are genetic, while others might appear at any stage of your life.

Consider losing weight

Excess weight is a major factor in many health problems. Keeping fit allows you to maintain a healthy balance between your mind and your body and move freely at all ages. Losing excess fat will also improve your confidence and self-esteem, and can  change your whole perspective on life. The process of losing weight can take time, but the end results are more than worth it. Losing even a small amount of weight can lower a high blood pressure, improve your cholesterol balance and glucose tolerance to protect against type 2 diabetes. Some other advantages of losing weight include the ability to improve your mood, ward off inflammation, and keep your joints in perfect working condition.

Stay positive

One of the most important keys to staying healthy is having a positive outlook on life. When you’re happy, everything becomes a lot easier. Smile – it’s hard to feel down when you’re smiling, and it’s contagious, too. See how many people you can smile at, and get to smile back today. Aim to do things you enjoy and which make you laugh, as this will enrich your spirit and make you love your life.

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