- Many people like to use the new year as a fresh start to their health — and you can too.
- To get your health back on track or simply increase your already-existing health journey, we have the perfect products for you.
- Dr. Christian Gonzalez, N.D. gives his top 5 essentials for starting 2021 off right.
Did 2020 leave you feeling let down? With the arrival of the new year, you may be looking to start fresh in several ways. Whether you’re looking to get more in touch with yourself, get back in shape or start to care for your overall health differently, the time is now.
But how can you get started improving your overall health? Dr. Christian Gonzalez, N.D., an expert in integrative oncology, environmental medicine and mind-body medicine, is here to tell us.
These are the 5 essentials you need to start the new year with, below.
Why do people typically want to start fresh in the new year?
Are you someone that starts every new year off with a resolution? Some people do and some people don’t. More often than not, people like to try to start fresh to prepare for the next 12 months.
“The reason why people want to start fresh in the new year is the same reason people want to start their routine on Mondays,” Dr. Gonzalez says, “It is a mental approach to starting anew by leaving behind old habits and things that don’t serve you such as eating poorly, mental hardships and emotional wellbeing. It signifies a newfound time and opportunity which the majority of people utilize.”
What are the essentials to start a new year with?
When it comes to starting fresh in your health journey, there are a few things that can greatly benefit you along the way. According to Dr. Gonzalez, these are the 5 essentials you need in order to get back on track and boost your overall health.
1. Take Vitamin B
If you’re not already, it’s important to incorporate vitamin B supplements into your routine. There are many ways this supplement helps our bodies:
- Vitamin B directly impacts our energy levels
- It also aids in our brain function
- B vitamins boosts our cell metabolism
“A B vitamin is important because it is implicated in almost every single reaction in the body,” Dr. Gonzalez says, “These vitamins are essential because a lot of us are deficient in at least one B vitamin.”
If you’re not already, we recommend trying out these: Vitamin B Complex capsules or the liquid form.
2. Use a mineral complex
Do you use a purified water filter? If so, you may be missing out on the minerals that your body needs to stay healthy, strong and resilient.
“Use a mineral complex, particularly if you have a purified water filter,” Dr. Gonzalez explains. “A mineral complex is going to be very important to remineralize your water, giving your body the exact minerals you need to make energy, detoxification, to boost your heart health and to impact your cells.”
If you’re looking to support your body’s detoxification, you can also try Liposomal Glutathione. Glutathione is one of the body’s most powerful weapons when it comes to detoxifying. It supports a healthy immune system while also neutralizing a broad spectrum of free radicals.
3. Support your adrenal gland
Your adrenal gland — small glands that produce hormones in your body — helps regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure and also your response to stress. And trust us, the last one is important. With a new year, you want to make sure you can handle whatever comes your way.
“Because of the stressful state of the world, I’d recommend taking something for the adrenal gland — like an adaptogenic herb — which helps modulate or helps your adrenal gland react to stress. This can help reduce excess cortisol and inflammation in the body.”
4. Add in an anti-inflammatory
Next, Dr. Gonzalez suggests considering adding an anti-inflammatory to your day-to-day life.
According to Harvard Health, research has shown that chronic inflammation is associated with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
“An anti-inflammatory is really important. A lot of us are inflamed — without knowing — particularly from diet and exposures that we have every single day. A really nice anti-inflammatory like Meriva, turmeric, ginger, Boswellia and Bromelain are natural anti-inflammatories for the body.”
5. Get the right amount of vitamin D and magnesium
If you really want to start the new year strong, get strong with the right amount of vitamin D and magnesium. By taking vitamin D, you’re supporting healthy immune function and a healthy cardiovascular system, as well.
When it comes to magnesium, there are so many reasons to have it in your life. It can help fight depression, boost your exercise performance, lower blood pressure and so much more.
“I’d always recommend taking a vitamin D and magnesium supplement,” Dr. Gonzalez says, “But after that, you can also try taking a mushroom complex: reishi and shiitake are good to help support and boost your immune system. Chaga is a good all-around mushroom for energy and protection from radiation. I think just having a go-around of different medicinal mushrooms can be incredible for your health.”
What is the best advice for someone trying to restart their health journey in 2021?
If you’re looking to start fresh in the new year, get your health journey back on track or just up your game, Dr. Gonzalez has one last tried-and-true tip for you.
“Get close to nature, go back to nature. Take your feet to the ground and spend the most amount of time you can outside. If you live in a cold place, exposing yourself to the elements of cold weather and then a hot sauna can be great,” he recommends, “Getting exposed, seeing sunlight, breathing in nature and forest bathing are all wonderful for you. Above all, be communal. Understanding that you have like-minded people around you, who are supportive of you is in my opinion, the most important intervention to overall health.”
