Came across this and thought it would be beneficial for caregivers (or just about anyone!), so I’m republishing it here at ElderCaring.
Week One
1. Cut Your Caffeine Intake
Caffeine is a strong stimulant that can affect mood and energy cycles and therefore aggravate depression. If you drink coffee or other forms of caffeine, try going cold turkey for two full days to see if you have a withdrawal reaction such as fatigue or a throbbing headache. If you notice that you are indeed dependent, you need to cut it out altogether. Try swapping coffee for oolong tea, which has less caffeine, and diet soda for sparkling water with lemon.
2. Cut Out Artificial Foods
Foods that are refined, processed and manufactured promote inflammation within the body, which can lead to chronic disease and also impair mood. Avoid packaged foods, especially all the snack stuff like chips and cookies. Today’s supermarket shelves are stocked with tons of healthy and unhealthy foods. To make the right choices when walking the aisles, opt for fresh and whole (you know, the stuff that comes from a farm vs. a factory).
We’ll continue with the rest of Dr. Weil’s recommendations in the days ahead.
all my best,
Karen Cameron
www.IndependAid.com & www.Memoir-Maker.com
