By Page Mitchell
Spring is right around the corner! In the next month or two, we will begin to enjoy more time outdoors. Gardening projects will be under way, bikes will be pulled out of the garage, and intramural softball teams will kick off their seasons.
In order to be our best physically, mentally, and emotionally as we shift into this season, ensuring we’re taking in enough vitamins is crucial. Vitamins help our bodies produce red blood cells, reduce bad cholesterol, prevent cell damage, strengthen our bones, and a provide a host of other benefits.
Maintaining a healthy diet is the first step in getting essential nutrients. Here’s a shortlist of nutrients you should be incorporating your everyday diet:
● Carbohydrates from whole grains to boost energy
● Protein from meats, eggs, nuts, and legumes to build and mend tissue
● Fats from cooking oils, avocados, seeds, and nuts for backup energy
● Water—eight to 12 cups a day—for vitality
● Vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables to strengthen your immune system
Our diets should provide the necessary vitamins to our system, but for many of us, this is not the case. You may have to take additional vitamin supplements to get enough nutrients.
When considering taking vitamin supplements, it is important to discuss your intentions first with a doctor. They will be able to help you determine the proper dosage and discuss any impacts they could have on other medications you are taking.
Another way to protect yourself, in addition to ensuring you’re meeting your nutritional needs, is to maintain a clean home. When ongoing maintenance goes by the wayside, our health can be dramatically impacted. No one wants to be breathing air that is full of dust or drinking contaminated resulting from dirty HVAC systems. One easy way to cover your bases is to get home warranty HVAC coverage.
This is one of the primary reasons, too, that spring cleaning is so important. It’s a time to declutter and truly embrace the adage, “Out with the old, in with the new.” Our lighter clothing comes out of storage, fridges are fully purged, carpets undergo deep cleanings. Windows are opened and stale air gets pushed out of the house.
Merely taking a broom to the kitchen floor and beating rugs in the front yard is not going to cut it. Now is the time to really dig in and tackle all the things. Steam clean the carpets. Get rid of the cobwebs. Scrub down the baseboards. It is important to check the appliances to ensure they’re
safe, switch out the storm windows, and to welcome the longer days and increased sunshine. For those of us who are deficient in vitamin D, sunshine is extra important to our health.
There are so many benefits that come with the changing of the seasons. We’re more physically active, our mental state often improves, and it’s a general time of renewal in all areas of our lives. By treating ourselves to a healthy diet, getting the proper amount of vitamins, maximizing our energy, and maintaining a clean environment, we are gifting ourselves with the best life can offer.
So, as you move into spring, be good to yourself and your home. Give both the respect they deserve. You will have less stress and more excitement as the warmer months approach. Here’s to a season of fresh starts!
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