I know many people like New Year resolutions. I am not one of them. This is because I personally find the deep darkness, cold and post Christmas dip of January to be less than conducive to anything other than cradling a hot chocolate and curling up in front of a cosy fire. However, if you are one of the many who plans to sort out your life / diet / exercise program etc this month, then I am here for you. Do make a booking.
If you are like me and find this month rather hard after all the sugar, spice and all things nice in food; the lack of sleep; the alcohol; the parties and the fairy lights of the last month, and you do not feel like making new years resolutions - well I am here for you too. Change (and helping yourself to come around into the spring with a spring in your step) does not have to be hard, and does not need any major commitment to a full "new you" to be gently transformative.
A few easy additions to your diet and lifestyle can really help at this time of year, and get you ready to make bigger changes as the year progresses. I have tried a multitude of different things and combinations over the years and distill the ones I have found best, below.
When you have tried some of these and feel your are on the up - well, please do make a booking so we can journey together in the bigger changes later in the year.
A Sunrise Lamp - if you don't have one and struggle with dark mornings, I urge you to invest. Personally I have a Lumie brand one which I would recommend highly - have had it for 15 years with no issues and the white light quality is very good
A Sun Lamp - if you really find your energy levels or mood low at this time of year - despite a sunrise lamp - then 20 mins a day of a SAD light is amazing.
Vitamin D supplements - there is currently debate on dose, and whether it is better with K2 or by itself - That is not the subject of this blog. For most adults anything from 1000 - 10000 units a day seems to be generally safe (although if you are on any long term medications it is worth checking with your GP) and will help energy, circadian rhythm and mood.
Vitamin C - I will only ever recommend pure Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) powder as so many of the more readily available forms contain sugars, sweeteners, and significant quantities of bicarb, fillers etc. If you are using pure Vitamin C powder then most functional medics seem to consider doses from 3-8g a day as giving the maximum benefit - with some saying to take up to 10g daily if you can tolerate it. This will mop up all those nasty free radicals that are left from the excesses of the end of year, and leave you feeling spritely and sparkling - a bit like the powder itself.
Salsa Verde - For this I credit my friend Ashvy Bhardwaj, one time semi-finalist on Masterchef and absolute food health guru. The recipe is simple: A large bunch of each of Mint, Basil, Parsley, a few cloves of garlic, a handful of capers, a couple of anchovy fillets (if liked, but do add nutrition and a nice saltiness), olive oil, cider vinegar. - chop all the solid ingredients up together nice and small - place in a jar and top up with olive oil and vinegar - the quantities, consistency and ratios are totally up to you, but however you do it it can be added to salad, topped on a steak, used as a drizzle over potatoes etc and will really boost your micronutrient intake. Ash's video for making this is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNITSfA3B5A
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