Photo courtesy of O’Neill Girls featuring Team B4BC riders Malia Manuel and Sage Erickson
Many people don’t realize how many different aspects of your daily life contribute to your overall health. A healthier you = A lower risk of breast cancer and other illness. You may be up on the latest health trends and get your recommended amount of sleep, but we bet there are a few things out there that you haven’t tried yet. We’ve got some secret wellness tips that only the healthiest of people know! Read up on some not-so-obvious tricks you can use to increase your overall health and reduce your breast cancer risk:
HANG OUT WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE AND MOVER-AND-SHAKERS
Research is starting to confirm what your mother always told you—that the people around you can be good or bad influences. Spend time with folks who have the habits you want!
TAKE A BREAK FROM YOUR MILITANT DIET AND EXERCISE REGIME
If you never, ever indulge, that’s not living well. Take Sunday off and you’ll wake up eager to get back on track Monday morning. And just because you’re taking a break from that diet of yours, doesn’t mean you can’t stay healthy. Our Quick & Clean Salads and Smoothies recipe book offers you tons of AMAZING new options, without the guilt of breaking your routine.
GET BACK TO—OR INTO—NATURE
There’s a reason why apartments overlooking the park are more expensive. Whether we realize it or not, humans have a profound connection with nature. No need to relocate to a hut in the woods, just try walking through green spaces on your way to work or bringing your book to a park bench.
PRACTICE HARI HACHI BU
This is the Japanese practice for eating until you’re 80 percent full, which is helpful because we’ve all heard that it takes about 20 minutes for our brains to catch up with our stomachs. Eating less is not only associated with avoiding weight gain (duh) but also living longer.
DOUBLE YOUR Ds
Vitamin D, that is! Particularly on those dreary winter days, it’s important to get enough vitamin D. Docs used to only think vitamin D was good for bones, but new research has associated it with preventing a host of maladies, such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression. Don’t forget to protect yourself while you’re soaking up that sunshine. Try to avoid slathering your skin with those nasty chemical-filled sunscreens that we see far too often. Check out our blog post on the “Search for the Perfect Sunscreen” to get tips on choosing the best sunscreen out there!
TRY SOME TULSI
Known as holy basil, this herb has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years (mystics believed it fostered personal growth and enlightenment). Usually sipped in tea or taken in supplement form, tulsi is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Even better, tulsi also lowers cortisol, the hormone associated with stress and belly fat.
EAT YOUR ‘SHROOMS
But not the conventional kind. Shiitake, enoki, oyster, and maitake are all types of mushrooms that boost immune system activity and have anti-inflammatory properties. They’ve been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years and are getting more recognition as health-boosters in the West.
Photo courtesy of B4BC Team Rider Leticia Bufoni
HIT SOME HIIT
That’s high intensity interval training, to you. Short bursts of activity have been shown to be even more effective at burning fat than prolonged periods of exercise. That’s really good news for those barely able to find the time to exercise as it is.
KNOW YOUR ‘TRIGGER POINTS’
Everyone has a tendency to overuse certain muscles, whether they’re related to your deskwork or your workout. It’s important to be aware of your trigger points, which can lead to pain, stiffness, and limit your range of motion and use massage and stretching to prevent injury. (Like you needed an excuse to get a massage.)
Source: Well + Good
