Top Ten for Diet & Lifestyle Changes - January 2012

Top 10 Inspirational Ideas for a New Year - 2012

By Raina Dawn Lutz

10) Eat “alive” and thrive!

9) Send love out to the universe every day.

8) Fight the good fight.

7)Dance in the rain.

6) Play more music.

5) See beauty every day.

4)Grow something.

3) Let nature run its course.

2) Obsess less.

1) Take time every day to breathe and be present, if only for a few moments.

1) Take a moment every day, even if you remember while you’re writing an email – to just pause and feel your aliveness – your “Being-ness.” This will calm you and your nervous system down, put you in your place, enhance relationships with the people around you, and aid your digestive system especially if done right before meals.

2) Obsess less about the one thing you know you spend too much time worrying about. Financial problems? It’ll all work out. And if you have to go into debt in the meantime, it’ll all work out. Relationship problems? Question whether that relationship serves you and go from there. Career problems? Do what you love. Work hard, and you shall receive. Too much of a hardcore foodie? Change your perception to enjoying food rather than worrying about the cleanliness, purity or health of it all the time. You’ll absorb more nutrients if you don’t worry while you digest.

3) Let nature do its thing! Spend a bit of time on weekends preparing ferments for the week, such as fermented tea or a batter for bread. Fermenting is easy because nature does most of the work. Share tips with friends about fermenting your own food, and share starters and tools. Putting more “good” bacteria in your gut is important to strengthen your immune system, aid digestion and help your body as a whole.

4) Grow something  - anything that applies to you. Grow your fingernails, grow your hair out long, grow a vegetable garden, grow herbs, grow your muscles (try a yoga class if you haven’t!) or grow in your self – pick up a spiritual or worldly book and free your mind. We all need to grow with our bodies and minds – keep these active so they’ll keep up with you as you expand and grow as a person.

5) See beauty in yourself. Our bodies’ times of society’s perceived “beauty” are fleeting. Our times of real beauty are forever. Children don’t look in mirrors and see everything that’s “wrong” with them. Don’t’ trust your adult flaws mirrors – pick out what makes you happy rather than what you think you should change.

6) Open your eyes to new types of music – maybe the ones you thought you hated. Learn to hear the beauty of the sounds rather than letting man-made judgements play a part in who or what you should be listening to. Play music during meals if possible, quietly and something calm and relaxing.

7) Exercise - like dancing - is fun and a stress relief. It enriches your life by allowing you to participate in a centuries’ old tradition: celebrating being alive! It also encourages good digestion by stimulating peristalsis.

8) Ignorance is bliss. Life is simpler when you are unconscious about the world around you – but it can be healthy to get involved in issues that you believe in. Read and get informed, and write letters to your government or corporations - or participate in protests that you feel right about. Occupy your mind - occupy the world! If you can change your brain, you can change the world. Change one thing about the way you see the world and everything around you begins to evolve.

9) In contrast to the previous resolution about fighting the good fight– “Peace in your mind, peace in the world.” We need to be spending less time giving negative energy out and more time sending out thoughts of love and happiness. It really works. Experiment and play with your personal balance between fighting good causes (stressful) and being loving (happy!)

10) Last but not least, keep up any good habits you’ve developed in the last year regarding your food and strive to improve as you would with anything in life. But we don’t want food to be an enemy, food is your friend. Simply remember to eat natural, alive, good quality foods most of the time, and your golden! Eat alive to thrive – fermented foods, dirty foods (freshly picked!), fresh, organic and local!

Wishes of a happy New Year to you!

Raina Dawn's Bio: Raina Dawn's Bio: Raina Dawn Lutz grew up in Osoyoos, B.C. and attended the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. She is currently living and practicing in Penticton, B.C. and is completing the CAHN-Pro Apprenticeship under the direction of her mentor, Lisa Kilgour. She graduated from CSNN (Canadian School of Natural Nutrition) in early 2011 with a diploma in Holistic Nutrition and has spent her time writing articles for various publishments as well as a blog, working in a yoga studio and living, breathing, talking (and eating!) food. For more information on nutritional consultations and her online long-distance consultations please contact Raina Lutz, RHN by visiting - Raina Dawn Lutz Website - Email