New Year, New You

It's that time of year again when we are all making new years resolutions (some of which you may have broken already!). One of my new years resolutions is to write on this blog more often and to offer helpful nutritional hints to keep you all happy and healthy in 2011.

So what better way to start than providing some tips on how to shake off the post-Christmas blues and start a fresh for the new year.

Here are 5 tips on how to start the new year in a healthy and nutritious way:

1) Drink hot water and lemon in the morning - I find this to be better than the most expensive cleanser! This drink will kick start your liver and help with detoxing those Christmas excesses
2) Eat your 5 a day (at least!) - aim for more vegetables than fruit where you can. Fruit is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals but often comes with the addition of sugar. Stick to lower sugar fruits such as apples, pears and berries. Dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, rocket, savoy cabbage, leeks (the list is endless) and root vegetables such as Jerusalem artichokes and sweet potatoes, will provide your body with not only the necessary vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy but also fibre to help cleanse you from the inside out.
3) Oil up - essential fatty acids such as omega 3 and 6 are essential not only for healthy skin and hair but also healthy brain function. Experiment with salmon, mackerel and fresh tuna as well as nuts and seeds - almond, walnut, cashew, Brazil, sesame, pumpkin and sunflower. Keep the portion sizes to a small handful of nuts and seeds once a day and you won't pile on the pounds
4) Go wholegrain - white, refined foods such as white bread, rice and pasta break down to pure sugar faster in your body, potentially leading to weight gain. Swap to wholegrain pasta, bread and brown rice for a slower releasing energy fix to keep you going through the cold days.
5) Keep caffeine and alcohol for special occasions only - boring I know, but it's an excellent way to give your liver a break after Christmas. Top tips to reduce alcohol include alternating alcoholic drinks with soft drinks. Swap coffee and tea for non-caffeinated herbal or fruit teas. Green tea does contain caffeine but the antioxidant properties it contains out way the caffeine in the healthy states, so try one of the many flavour varieties now on offer - green tea with jasmine is my favourite!

I hope you find these tips helpful. If this has sparked your interest and you would like to learn more please get in touch with me at info@juliasimmsnutrition.co.uk. My new website will be launching very soon so watch this space!

Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2011.

Julia