It’s a New Year! And thank goodness, because 2020 was a doozy! If you’re like us, you’re excited to start 2021 with a fresh perspective, new goals, and high hopes.
Getting healthy is at the top of our list, and a strong immune system and healthy gut go hand-in-hand.
A healthy gut is also connected to optimum mental health – a cause we’re very passionate about here at Hope Foods. We would love it if you would join us on our quest to get as healthy as possible in the year 2021. We make it easy to choose nutritious, organic, and non-GMO snacks and meals with our delicious and healthy cashew and almond dips, guacamole, and hummus. Here’s our game plan to health:
1. Eat Whole Foods
There are so many diets out there. It can be tough to stay on top of them all or find the right one for you. From Keto to the Mediterranean Diet, to low-carb and everything in between, it seems there are a million new ways to lose weight and get healthy. There is one thing for sure that we know – all diets aside: eating whole, real foods is a good way to go. Fillers and food made with ingredients doused in pesticides aren’t good for anyone – no matter what your goals are. It can be tough to get started eating more whole foods. Here are a few tips we’re keeping in mind to reach this goal:
Read Ingredient Labels
When you’re shopping, take a look at the ingredients on the back. Avoid items with ingredients you can’t pronounce or those filled with food coloring (food coloring has been linked to various kinds of cancer and hypersensitivity in children. Yikes!). Also avoid foods with fillers such as olestra or cellulose (cellulose is made from wood pulp – which humans can’t digest, and olestra may interfere with our body’s ability to absorb key nutrients). This is why we focus on real, simple ingredients for our hummus, guacamole, and nut dips (you can pronounce and recognize all the ingredients in all of them).
Trade-Up
Our bodies are meant to move. Movement is vital to the health of our lymphatic system, and our lymphatic system is essential for our immune system. Our cardiovascular system benefits from movement as well. Thankfully, you don’t have to run a marathon or climb Mt. Kilimanjaro to get the benefits of exercise and movement. Here are a few of our favorite ways to move our bodies:
Eat More Veggies
It’s easy to say you want to eat more veggies, and even plan to. But, if you don’t have a roadmap in place those veggie plans will go by the wayside. A few of our favorite ways to get extra veggies? Throw some cauliflower rice or spinach in with your morning smoothie. Or, try buying precut veggies and roasting them on the weekend, and having them for lunch the rest of the week. Grab a tub of our new Avocado Lime Hummus and dip your favorite veggie – raw or unroasted. Here are a few more of our tricks for getting more vegetables into your diet.
Thankfully, you don’t have to run a marathon or climb Mt. Kilimanjaro to get the benefits of exercise and movement.
2. Move Your Body
There are so many diets out there. It can be tough to stay on top of them all or find the right one for you. From Keto to the Mediterranean Diet, to low-carb and everything in between, it seems there are a million new ways to lose weight and get healthy. There is one thing for sure that we know – all diets aside: eating whole, real foods is a good way to go. Fillers and food made with ingredients doused in pesticides aren’t good for anyone – no matter what your goals are. It can be tough to get started eating more whole foods. Here are a few tips we’re keeping in mind to reach this goal:
Go for a Stroll
Walking lowers your risk of heart disease and stroke, reduces body fat, strengthens muscles, and improves cardiovascular fitness, among other benefits.
Go With the Flow
If walking isn’t your jam, try our 7-minute yoga flow in the middle of your day. It’ll get your blood flowing and calm your mind.
Bounce on a Ball
A fun way to boost your mood and move is by bouncing on an exercise ball (this burns calories and can help your core).
Join a Class
If you want a more comprehensive plan, sign up for a fitness program at your local gym or an online program that allows you to work out at home.
To keep it simple, just move your body every day, and you’ll see the benefits in big ways! Moving your body strengthens your immune system, lowers your risk for certain kinds of cancer, and improves your mental health (some studies have shown that exercise “can treat mild to moderate depression as effectively as antidepressant medication.” Pretty cool!)
Keep it simple: Move your body every day.
3. Cultivate a Healthy Mind
There’s not a lot of discussion about how to cultivate mental health, but it’s essential for a healthy life. Here at Hope, we aspire to manifest hope by providing tools that support your mental well-being. We have a whole list of tools you can use, from breath and mindfulness to self-care and gratitude. Here are a few of our favorite mood-boosters:
Take a Probiotic
Did you know that probiotics can “relieve depression and anxiety symptoms”? Try out a few probiotics to find one that gives you the most benefit. Or, eat a few tablespoons of sauerkraut every day (here’s one of our favorite sauerkraut brands out there). Sauerkraut has more good probiotics than yogurt!
Get Outside
Did you know that getting out in nature in and of itself is good for you? You don’t even have to do anything specific – just be out there and let yourself be immersed in the sensory experience of being in a forest. This is called “forest bathing,” a new trend that has many, many benefits for your mental health.
Dance a Little
This might sound a little bit like Footloose, but dancing is a great way to boost your mood (it also helps with your goal of moving more!).
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Work to cultivate good sleep. There are many things you can do to encourage a good night’s sleep: Avoid stimulants and alcohol before bed, avoid screens an hour before bed, and create a calm atmosphere (maybe even diffuse some lavender). Here are some more great tips on how to get a good night’s sleep!
Create a calm atmosphere - maybe even diffuse some lavender!
New Year, Healthier You - One Hummus, Nut Dip, and Guacamole at a Time
Getting healthy doesn’t have to be a chore. When you have tasty food made with real foods (that are organic and non-GMO) like our cashew and almond dips, hummus, and guacamole, making healthier choices is easy. We have over 150 scrumptious recipes to choose from if you’re feeling stuck on what to make for your next meal. From a creamy roasted garlic pasta to chocolate chunk ice cream, you’ll find a yummy (and healthy!) recipe for everyone in your family. Do you have any specific goals for getting healthy this year? Let us know by visiting our Instagram and Facebook accounts!
