10 Healthy Habits for a New Year’s Resolution

Many of us start the New Year with a resolution to become healthier. These 10 Healthy Habits for a New Year's Resolution are an ideal way to detox our bodies, and build stronger immunity. But don't wait until January...Start Now!

Eat more fermented foods:
Fermented foods such as yoghurt, kombucha, tempeh, miso, sauerkraut and other fermented vegetables contain beneficial bacteria that help you maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in your gut. Eating fermented foods is one of the best ways to boost your digestive and immune health this new year.

Practice mindful eating:
Prepare your food with love and care. Eat when you are relaxed and sitting down, chew your food properly. Take the time to think about what you put in your mouth and what it is doing for your health.

Don’t skip breakfast:
You’ve heard it many times before, that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but still over 50% of Australians choose to skip eating in the morning. Skipping breakfast leads to unbalanced blood sugar levels and increases the likelihood of overeating and poor food choices throughout the day. Skipping meals also slows down your metabolism and can lead to weight gain. Some nourishing choices for breakie include natural muesli with natural yoghurt, raw nuts, seeds and fresh fruit; organic eggs with avocado grainy toast with a side of sauerkraut or baby spinach; protein smoothie with natural protein powder, banana, LSA or chia seeds; or coconut chia pudding with berries.

Give sugary foods the flick:
Eating too much sugar will not only make you put on weight but it will increase your risk of type-2 diabetes, obesity, tooth decay, and infections. Eating sugar to excess will weakened your immune function and can increase inflammation in the body. Foods to watch out for include processed foods, soft drinks, fruit juice, breakfast cereal, savoury biscuits and sauces, and yoghurt and muesli bars.

Cook more at home:
Getting take-out might seem like the best option when you're busy and getting home late from work. Unfortunately a lot of take-away choices are unhealthy and high in calories and damaging fats which can promote weight gain and heart disease. Start the new year on a healthier note by preparing nutritious dishes on the weekend to freeze and have during the week. Or cook a little extra so you can take leftovers for lunch. Keep some frozen veggies on hand, and find some quick and easy healthy recipes to give you some inspiration.

Drink less alcohol:
If you’ve overindulged over the Christmas period this is a good time to give your liver a much needed break. Alcohol is not only high in calories and will promote weight gain, it's also damaging to your liver and health. Go alcohol free for a month and then enjoy a drink in moderation. A few red wines week is a good choice that is rich in antioxidants.

Support liver detoxification:
After Christmas give your poor overworked liver a helping hand by increasing foods and nutrients that support liver detoxification and function. These include brassica veggies like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and kale, which are rich in sulfur compounds important for liver detoxification. Enjoy a few green teas (try Bodhi Organic ViridiTEA) daily is another great way to support liver function. Use turmeric and ginger when you can in cooking, veggie juices, and in teas (try Bodhi Organic ZesTEA). Swap your morning coffee for a dandelion root coffee. Dandelion is a liver tonic herb which helps stimulate liver detoxification (try Bodhi Organic PuriTEA). Don’t forget to drink plenty of water daily to flush out toxins from your body.

Up your antioxidants:
Antioxidant-rich foods are a vitally important part of our diet. They help prevent oxidative damage in the body, reduce the risk of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease and premature ageing. Some of the best antioxidant foods include berries, red and orange fruits and vegetables like pomegranates, mango, beetroot, tomatoes, dark green leafy vegetables like kale, turmeric, green tea, raw cacao, rosehip tea (try Bodhi Organic LongeviTEA).

Get juicing:
Juicing is a fantastic way to nourish, rejuvenate and energise your body. Fresh vegetable juices are rich in vitamins, minerals, living enzymes and antioxidants, which are essential for good health and prevention of disease. Choose organic vegetables when you can so your juice is free from pesticides and bursting with flavour and optimal nutritional goodness.

Boost your digestion:
Taking apple cider vinegar (ACV) before main meals is an excellent way to give your digestion and metabolism a boost. ACV is a thermogenic food, so it’s helpful for enhancing fat burning and assisting with weight loss. It will also help improve digestive issues such as reflux and indigestion, and prevent bloated distended stomachs. Try 1tsp-1Tbsp of ACV diluted in a little water around 15 minutes before eating. ACV can also be used in salad dressing. Including bitter foods like rocket and endives with meals. Having lemon in water first thing of a morning, or on salads or fish is a great way to give your digestion a boost.