1. Hydrate yourself with 1 – 2 liters of water when you wake up in the mornings.
This is a refreshing way to help your body detoxify. Being fully hydrated before you break your overnight fast is one of the best ways to prevent your colon from getting clogged up by undigested food and metabolic waste. It sure beats having to get manually cleaned out (colonics), which can disrupt the natural ecosystem in your gut. Wiping out your “friendly” bacteria can contribute to weight gain, autoimmune conditions, and more seasonal sniffles.
2. Take cold showers.
Immersion in cold water activates brown fat, which is a “good” body fat that burns off unsightly white and yellow body fat, keeping you lean. Practicing cold water immersion can also increase your basal body temperature and help you feel warmer during cold Winter weather.
3. Never eat high fructose corn syrup, agave nectar, or fruit without its natural fiber.
All three of these items contain fructose (agave contains more fructose than high fructose corn syrup, despite having a lower glycemic index than white sugar), which gets metabolized by your liver in much the same way as alcohol. Fructose has been shown to cause metabolic syndrome, cirrhosis of the liver (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), and abdominal adiposity (belly fat). Most fruit only contains small amounts of fructose, and the natural fiber in fruit helps slow down the absorption rate. However, removing the fiber from fruit produces a beverage that will not only spike your insulin, hemoglobin A1C, and triglycerides, but will put you at risk for developing cirrhosis. Watch this video for more info: Sugar: The Bitter Truth
4. Get more protein from red meat, poultry, eggs, and fish and less plant-based protein (soy, wheat gluten, beans, grains).
There’s an old myth floating around that protein — especially animal protein — leeches calcium from bones, puts stress on the kidneys, and contributes to osteoporosis. This is actually the opposite of what all the evidence suggests. High intake of animal protein increases bone mineral density, while low intake of animal protein (and high intake of vegetable protein) increases bone loss. Increased calcium intake does not seem to offer any protection.
5. Sleep with your pillow underneath your feet instead of your head.
Ancient and modern yogis understand the benefits of inverting in headstand, shoulderstand, and other poses which place the head lower than the heart. These positions provide restorative and anti-aging benefits, help cleanse the lymphatic system, and enhance glandular function. To get the most out of your sleep at night, it is best to slightly elevate your hips and feet higher than your head or at least lie completely flat. Elevating your head does not allow for complete relaxation and deep sleep. It can also contribute to occasional or chronic neck pain, headaches, and stiffness in your upper back.
