March Observances Made Healthy
By Brandi Goodman
Plenty of observances take place in March. Nutrition Month, Kidney Month, and more make up the 31 days. Learning how to experience these occasions in healthy ways now can provide you with healthy habits to carry with you for life.
Nutrition Month
Nutrition Month encourages everyone to eat more nutritious foods and get the healthy meals they need to fuel their bodies and minds. It may be best if you start simple. Don't throw out everything in your house and start from scratch. Nor should you deprive yourself of the foods you love and have been eating -- limiting yourself to nothing but vegetables all day.
Start slowly by adding a vegetable or fruit to your typical meals. You can then try a new recipe with healthy ingredients that sounds appealing. Switch out your white bread for wheat. Grab a flavored water from the gas station instead of a soda pop. Making some simple switches can help you learn to develop some better habits that stick.
Frozen Food Month
Frozen foods are popular buys. It's easy to throw some nuggets in the oven or pop pizza rolls in the microwave for something quick to eat. These options are not healthy for your mind and body, though. Plenty of easy-to-make frozen foods exist that actually offer nutritional benefits. Buy a bag of frozen vegetables to add to your meal or get a large bag of frozen chicken breast that can last several meals instead of just one. A bag of frozen berries works great in the blender to create a smoothie. Plenty of healthy frozen choices exist that are worthwhile.
Kidney Month
Kidney Month encourages people to learn about keeping their kidneys healthy and working well. One of the best things you can do for these organs is to stop smoking. You may experience high blood pressure if you smoke. This will undoubtedly slow the blood flow to your kidneys and make it more difficult for them to filter your blood as needed. You will also worsen your kidney disease if you have it.
Do what you can to start quitting this month and learn better ways to keep yourself occupied. Turning to healthy snacks could help, such as sucking on frozen grapes when you get the urge to put a cigarette to your mouth.
Try to observe the occasions most important to you in the healthiest ways possible. If you're celebrating St. Patrick's Day, for example, opt for a turkey bacon and cabbage dinner instead of the typical cut to keep your sodium down. You can continue to enjoy the things you like. You just need to learn how to do so in healthier ways that promote wellness.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Roseville, Calif.