TIPS FOR A HEALTHY, HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON – VOLUME 12, ISSUE 8 – DECEMBER 2020

/
dinner (1).jpg

It's clear that the holiday season is going to be different this year - an understatement, you may say!

Perhaps there will be a few silver linings, especially if we focus on creating them. I think that more than ever, we need to focus on keeping our immune systems strong and, as you know, good nutrition and less stress are very important. I'd like to discuss a few ways we can make this a happy, healthy holiday season despite the pandemic.

Focus on optimizing your immune system.

See our newsletters of April 2020 and October 2020. In the October 2020 newsletter, we discussed the benefits of several supplements that can help you to optimize your immune system, including:

  • Vitamin D3

  • Vitamin C

  • Zinc

  • Colostrum

  • Olive Leaf Extract

  • Probiotic Eleven

  • Zambroza

  • Turmeric Curcumin

  • Vitamin B Complex

Enjoy a nutritious holiday season.

Remember that sugar depresses your immune system. This is not to suggest avoiding all added sugars but do keep in mind that consuming excess sugar depresses the immune system for several hours. Perhaps with fewer and smaller gatherings this year, it will be easier not to indulge in too many sweets.

Choose unprocessed, whole foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils, good quality cuts of meat, chicken and fish. Avoid chemicals, preservatives, trans fats, MSG and dyes. Less-processed foods and fewer ingredients in prepared products will generally mean you're eating healthier food.

Reduce holiday stress.

I hope that fewer, smaller gatherings will also result in less stress related to the holidays. I realize, however, that the pandemic brings its own stresses. We need to focus on being kind to ourselves, and on self-care (see our newsletter of July 2020).

Not being able to see family and friends due to government restrictions may be depressing but remember that you can connect with extended family and friends virtually. I'm sure you're aware that you can use video conferencing to call friends and family, e.g. Zoom, FaceTime or Skype.

Get enough, good quality sleep.

It is very important to get enough, good quality sleep to maintain a healthy immune system, as well as make it easier to avoid over-indulging in holiday food and drink. Enough sleep is also essential for maintaining a positive outlook and handling stress with relative ease.

Maintain a good level of physical activity.

Regular walking is an excellent form of physical activity and a great way to get outdoors. There are many ways to exercise at home, e.g. yoga, stretching exercises and using a treadmill if you have one.

Practice gratitude.

A good rule of thumb this year is to focus on what is available rather than what isn't. Expressing gratitude is one of the most important things we can do to remain healthy. Gratitude can have a wide range of psychological and physical benefits, including:

  • increase your personal happiness,

  • help you get better sleep,

  • make you healthier,

  • increase your energy,

  • help you relax,

  • improve your mood.

We wish you a very happy, healthy holiday season in spite of the situation. Please stay safe and healthy!

Featured Nature's Sunshine product: Zerenity

Helps quickly ease nervousness and promotes feelings of relaxation and calm. Non-drowsy. NSP's formula contains supporting nutrients not commonly found in other formulas. Offers safe, non-habit-forming relief.

How It Works: Zerenity is formulated to help those experiencing acute stress and nervousness to find quick, temporary relaxation and calm. Zerenity is formulated around the patented botanical ingredient known as Zembrin®, or Sceletium tortuosum, a South African herb with more than 300 years of documented indigenous use to support the nervous system and produce feelings of calm and relaxation in healthy people. NSP's Zerenity formula also contains the amino acid L-theanine, vitamin B1, magnesium, and zinc as supportive ingredients.

Recommended Use: Dosage (adults): Take one capsule once daily with food. Take a few hours before or after taking other medications.

Ingredients: Medicinal Ingredients: Each capsule contains L-theanine 52 mg; magnesium (citrate) 40 mg; Sceletium tortuosum (sceletium) herb top 25 mg of a 2:1 extract; vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate) 5 mg and zinc (gluconate) 1 mg.

Supplements

There are a number of supplements that would help you to maximize your health. You can find information about these products and purchase them in our online store:

  • Vitamin D3

  • Vitamin C

  • Zinc

  • Green Tea Extract

  • Solstic Energy

  • Zerenity

  • Melatonin Extra

References:

  1. Optimizing your health during challenging times. Newsletter April 2020. https://www.ramilas.com/news/2020/4/15/optimizing-your-health-during-challenging-times-april-2020.

  2. Optimizing your immune system. Newsletter.Volume 12, Issue 6,October 2020. https://www.ramilas.com/news/2020/10/15/optimizing-your-immune-system-volume-12-issue-6-october-2020.

  3. How can you boost your immune system? Newsletter Volume 8 Issue 7, October 2016. https://www.ramilas.com/news/2016/10/26/how-can-you-boost-your-immune-system-volume-8-issue-7.

  4. Self-care benefits and practices. Newsletter Volume 12 Issue 3, July 2020. https://www.ramilas.com/news/2020/7/8/self-care-benefits-and-practices-volume-12-issue-3-july-2020.

  5. The holidays during the COVID-19 pandemic. November 11, 2020. https://integrisok.com/resources/on-your-health/2020/november/the-holidays-during-the-covid19-pandemic.

  6. Deliee M. We can still have happy, healthy holidays in 2020. November 6, 2020. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/we-can-still-have-happy-healthy-holidays-in-2020/ar-BB1aKWML

Disclaimer: The suggestions and recommendations in this newsletter are not intended to be prescriptive or diagnostic. The information is accurate and up to date to our knowledge, but we are not responsible for any errors in our sources of information.