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So you want to be healthier, but you’re not ready to go all the way to gluten-free, sugar-free, preservative-free land; at least not just yet.
That’s ok. I’ve made my changes over several years, and it is a process. I’ll freely admit I’ve never felt better, but I did it by degrees as I learned more about food and other products and about the harmful effects of stuff I thought was either OK or actually good for me. Some of it, I had no clue, and it’s been quite a discovery over several years.
For people who are not ready to swear off pasta and bread, who are not ready to buy organic products, I say “that’s ok!” Start slowly, and integrate small changes at first.
The other day, I was talking to a friend who said she wishes she could drop a few pounds. I told her, “Just eat like I do and you’ll just lose weight without trying.” It’s true. Her response was that she’s not ready to stop eating pasta just yet, so it made me think about how to advise someone to start making changes.
Since our skin is the largest organ we have, and it doesn’t have taste buds or food cravings, the first thing I think is a good idea to implement is a change in what we put on our skin. That takes the form of soap, both shower and hand soap, shampoos, skin moisturizers and lotions, etc. This takes the pressure off as far as giving up favorite foods, but gets you in the mindset of making good changes for your long term health.
Begin by eliminating products with sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate. Once you start to read the labels of the products you’re using, you will be amazed at the things you’ll start replacing.
The use of these harmful ingredients is so prevalent, that I couldn’t believe how much I had to eliminate. Products I thought were good had to go. I make it a point not to buy products that are tested on animals and have always thought this made products a cut above others. Not necessarily. I threw out several items not animal tested that had some nasty stuff in them.
Also, look for products with preservatives like sodium benzoate and methyl and propylparaben; eliminate those, too.
You’ll find that by putting yourself on high alert with this goal as a start, you’ll put yourself in a frame of mind where you’ll want to eat cleaner and healthier. It’s a good road to travel. Start with a short easy stroll.
Helping You Achieve Major Wellness in Your Life!
Cheryl A Major, CNWC
Cheryl A Major lives in Westford and is a Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant. Her TV show, Thin Strong Healthy, airs on WestfordCat and is an offshoot of her blog http://ThinStrongHealthy.com Cheryl offers ongoing information and personal health coaching to help you feel better and be healthier. Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CherylAMajor. She is also a full time residential Realtor with Coldwell Banker with more than 25 years experience.
Her new book, “Eat Your Blues Away” will be available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble in November!
