Nourish Yourself - Naturally!

January 2009

by Matthew Irvin and Melissa Dowty, Supplement and Body Care Department

The beginning of the year brings many changes, some of which can challenge our ability to cope with day-to-day life.

• Don't forget the basics such as proper diet, sleep and exercise.
• Hydrate inside and out. Dehydration is often associated with the hot summer months, but remember to drink enough water during the winter months too! For dry skin, Open Harvest has a variety of unique lotions, creams and body oils available.
• Chill out! There are a number of different ways to keep your cool: a soothing bath with bath salts, aromatherapy using calming essential oils such as lavender or homeopathic and flower essence blends such as Bach's Rescue Remedy.
• The shorter days spent indoors mean less sun exposure. Fight the blues with a full-spectrum light bulb such as "Blues Buster". Making sure you are getting enough vitamin D is also important during the winter months.
• Supplementation can help body and mind keep up during times of stress. A common place to start is to choose a good multi-vitamin-mineral complex when considering supplementing your diet. B-complex vitamins can help with nervous system support, energy production and may be helpful for alleviating depression and anxiety. Magnesium deficiencies are thought to contribute to depression and insomnia. Natural Vitality's "Natural Calm" is a magnesium powder that mixes into warm water.
• Herbs known as adaptogens have traditionally been used to help the body adapt to change and increase resistance to stress. Ashwagandha, ginseng and ginkgo are a few examples of herbs that have been included in this category.

It may seem like there just isn't time to take care of yourself, but you might find that when you are functioning at your peak, there are more hours in the day than you thought.