By Joy Stephenson-Laws, JD, Founder

Now is the time of year when so many people throw their hands up and say, “Forget it. I will wait until the new year to start healthier habits.” Then, when the new year arrives, those resolutions are discarded.

Reportedly, 91 percent of Americans will not achieve their new year’s resolutions!

We clearly need a different approach.

Goal setting can be great and inspiring, but I think we have to detach from this notion that there is an ideal time to begin healthier habits. The ideal time is NOW. With all of the holiday parties and family gatherings that are occurring, I know you may feel discouraged. The truth is that there will always be temptations. This is why focusing on consistency and not perfection is key.

To give you some guidance and perhaps some much needed motivation, here are 10 proactive things you can do to make the best out of the remaining days of 2022:

• Get a nutrient test. Start by knowing whether you are nutritionally balanced. Why? Your body functions best if it has the right amount of water, minerals, vitamins, fats, proteins and carbhohydrates. Imbalances can lead to disease, weight gain and feeling unwell. You have to test, and you have to test regularly. Undergoing routine comprehensive nutrient tests should be a regular part of your healthcare. You could have a deficiency but not show any symptoms until the deficiency finally takes a toll on your body. If the test determines you are not nutritionally balanced, a competent healthcare professional can assist with helping you make the necessary changes which may include quality supplements or even a nutrient cocktail. You can read about the benefits of these vitamin cocktails here. 

• Consider doing home blood pressure checks. If you are 50 or older or have existing health issues such as diabetes or hypertension, monitoring your blood pressure at home should be mandatory! It can be life-saving. It is also not difficult or expensive to do.

• Watch the alcohol. Many people drink heavily and then participate in dry January. If you enjoy drinking, especially around the holidays, consider moderating your alcohol use. Alcohol is a neurotoxin and depletes the body of essential nutrients. It also contributes to inflammation and increases the risk of developing dementia, cancer and depression. If you drink, you should replace those lost nutrients quickly. Specific nutrients may restore, replenish and rehydrate your body. For example, pH Drip Lab offers "The Morning After" which includes 1 liter of normal saline for added hydration, B1 (thiamine) which plays a vital role in nerve, muscle and heart function, B12 for proper brain and nervous system function and five other critical B vitamins (B2, B3, B5, B6, B9) which play key roles in hundreds of metabolic pathways. It also has magnesium which regulates over 800 enzyme actions in the body as well as Zofran for nausea relief. 

• Just move. I don’t care if you start off with just five minutes of walking a day. If you currently live a mainly sedentary lifestyle, do not wait until 2023 to get moving. Start moving now.

• Clean up your sleep hygiene. A lack of sleep and a lack of quality sleep are known to contribute to weight gain, stress and other health issues. One of the best things you can do for self-care is ensuring a good night’s rest by limiting screen time before bed and doing relaxing activities such as meditating, taking a bath or reading a book you enjoy.

• Add therapeutic massages to your routine. Technology has significantly improved the delivery and effectiveness of massages. There are now state of the art modalities which enhance the benefits of massages traditionally delivered by the hands. Massages may promote physical relaxation, improve circulation, provide relief for tight muscles and pain, release nerve compression, provide greater flexibility & range of motion and enhance energy and vitality. We have identified two modalities which provide these benefits: Star T-Shock and Icoone.

The Star T-Shock utilizes a specialized wand to deliver cold and warm temperatures during a massage. Alternating cold and warm temperatures delivers a useful involuntary exercise made by contraction and relaxation. This accelerates muscle recovery as well as improves muscle tone. Muscle relaxation is achieved by administering cold and warm temperatures multiple times in sequence. 

The Icoone uses patented microstimulators that move in a range of different targeted motions over the body to enhance the proper flow of bodily fluids. A series of micro-massages  stimulates the capillaries, encouraging the proper drainage of liquids from the tissues.

• Try to add a veggie to every meal. If you are eating pizza, pair it with a salad.  Vegetables contain many nutrients such as minerals and vitamins which are necessary to keep us healthy. Every meal is an opportunity to include a veggie. Having a smoothie in the morning? Add some frozen kale. 

• Focus less on body weight and more on your body fat. Excess body fat creates numerous imbalances which may reduce your chances of remaining healthy. Generally, women need at least 12 percent body fat for normal physiological functioning. Men need around 3 percent. Any body fat above those amounts is considered “nonessential fat.” In terms of acceptable ranges for good health, women should shoot for 20–32 percent, and men 10–22 percent. Believe it or not, body fat is usually a better predictor of overall health than the more well-known BMI measurement.

• Take the time to learn about credible wellness modalities such as red light therapy. Red light therapy is a clinically approved treatment for certain conditions. It is said to work by stimulating the “power plant” in your cells called mitochondria. With added energy, other cells  do their work more efficiently. This includes repairing skin, increasing new cell growth and enhancing skin rejuvenation.

  The light is absorbed by the skin and can stimulate the production of collagen, elastin and other molecules that are important for healthy skin. It can also help reduce inflammation and promote blood flow, which can aid in the healing process.

• Take care of your bones and joints. Optimal joint and bone health is necessary to perform physical activities. Many of us wait until we are in pain before becoming concerned about our musuloskeletal health. Lately, I became aware of a supplement from Designs for Health (TRF 350) which can be used by healthy individuals as an alternative for optimal bone and joint health. Scientific research suggests that it provides benefits to the joints in as little as seven days. The key ingredient is Cyplexinol which helps to support healthy bone density, promotes regenertion of joint and bone tissue as well as encourage a healthy inflammatory response. Educate yourselves about these supplements that are supported by credible research. Do not wait until you are hurt and just rely on pain medication to ease the pain. Address the underlying issues before you get hurt or even after you are hurt to increase the  chances of ridding yourself of the pain forever.   

There you have it. Consider doing some of these items today. Do not wait until 2023 to get healthy. Our health is our greatest wealth, so why would we wait? Start investing now, and you will be thanking yourself at the top of the new year.

Enjoy your healthy life!

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult with your doctor or another competent healthcare practitioner to get specific medical advice for your situation.       

The pH professional health care team includes recognized experts from a variety of health care and related disciplines, including physicians, attorneys, nutritionists, nurses, and certified fitness instructors. This team also includes the members of the pH Medical Advisory Board, which constantly monitors all pH programs, products, and services. To learn more about the pH Medical Advisory Board, click here.