Eating a healthy diet can make up for the occasional indiscretion, experts say. (CU Independent file/Morgan Hofmann)
As seasons change, midterms approach, college junk food remains easy to obtain and parties surpass sleep on the to-do list, staying healthy is both more important and more challenging than ever.
However, there are simple ways to keep a body running smoothly and help a person maintain a healthier day-to-day lifestyle.
Imetai Henderson, acupuncturist and owner of Source Medicine, said getting adequate amounts of sleep is paramount.
“Rest is the king of all remedies,” Henderson said. Henderson said to keep naps to 30-45 minutes or 2.5-3 hours long, otherwise they may actually have an exhausting effect by interrupting sleep cycles.
“Going to the rec center for a swim and a steam can feel good, too,” Henderson said. He also recommended taking alternating hot and cold showers, which opens and closes pores, keeping skin elastic. Scrubbing with a rough cloth in the shower until your skin is pink is good for stimulating and exfoliating the skin, which is the body’s largest organ.
Ted Spence, writer for online health blog chetday.com, said taking “detox baths” with half a cup of Epsom salt, sea salt or baking soda for 15-20 minutes helps remove toxins and heavy metals such as mercury and aluminum.
In terms of diet and nutrition, high alkaline foods are great, and vitamins, antioxidants and probiotics work wonders for good health.
“If you eat really well once or twice a day, your body can handle that 4 a.m. pizza,” Henderson said.
Many students say they are aware of how to eat healthy but this doesn’t necessarily mean they always do so.
“Eat healthy, and make sure that you don’t eat fatty, greasy foods, no sugar,” said Levi Gentry, a senior finance major. “I don’t live by this but I would if I was trying to detox. Make sure you’re constantly hydrated, constantly passing fluids. Keep your mind clear.”
“Cook your own food; too many people eat out,” said Chris Bottom, a senior finance major.
Bottom said he does workout routines and lifts weights to eliminate stress.
“It’s better to run to the gym and run back,” Bottom said.
According to www.altmedicine.about.com, consuming one tablespoon of ground flaxseeds in water or sprinkled on meals is a great way to incorporate healthy fatty acids into your diet, which also aid in detoxification. Olive oil, nuts and seeds, fruits, veggies and whole grains should be eaten frequently, and drinking at least eight glasses filled with 8 ounces of water each is imperative to the body’s ability to detoxify on a regular basis.
Kelly Kehoe, a sophomore integrated physiology and psychology major, said she can relate.
“I’m actually allergic to wheat,” Kehoe said, “and sometimes, if I eat a lot of it, I need to detox, so I drink a lot of cranberry juice, water, hot water with lemon and flaxseed.”
Some vitamins, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E, work as antioxidants. These help cells neutralize free radicals that would otherwise cause disease. When a diet doesn’t provide enough of these, supplements are not a bad idea, and relatively affordable bottles can be purchased at stores such as Pharmaca and Whole Foods.
Herbal teas and supplements help boost immunity and are especially important right now for avoiding the H1N1 epidemic.
“Unlike goldenseal, it is almost impossible to overdose on echinacea, so that is a good one,” Henderson said.
According to the writers at nutrition.hotexercise.com, chamomile is good for the liver, and parsley and ginger can help cleanse the kidneys. To make ginger tea, cook fresh ginger root for about 15 minutes (or longer for stronger tea), being careful not to let it boil. Drink it with lemon, honey, and if you like, a little cayenne pepper.
Healingdaily.com says probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidus can aid in digestion. Some foods can help replenish these bacteria as well, including garlic, bananas and onions.
After a long night of drinking, symptoms of a hangover can be greatly reduced in time and intensity by some basic practices that help detoxify the body. Almost everyone knows dehydration causes hangover headaches, so again, drink as much water as possible. According to alternativemedicinedirect.com, fruit and vegetable juices can help eliminate alcohol and provide antioxidants as well. As tempting as it may be, avoid caffeine, which can make dehydration worse. Instead, drink fizzy mineral water to re-oxygenate the blood.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Anna McIntosh at Anna.mcintosh@colorado.edu.
