Healthy habits of a Naturopath

In this article, we take a peek into the habits and self-care routines of our Naturopath Kim Wessels, and learn how she stays on top of her health + wellness. We hope this inspires you and gives you some ideas on how you can incorporate some of these healthy habits into your daily life in 2023 and beyond!

Kim has been in the health + wellness industry, including as a practicing Naturopath + Medical Herbalist for nearly 20 years, taking on a holistic + science-based approach.  

If you would like personal health advice, or if you're unsure which product is right for you, call Kim on 0800 88 15 15 for a free 15-min phone consult.

 

1. What are your health goals for 2023?

This year I want to prioritise my exercise routine more. I feel amazing when I get my body moving for 30 minutes in the morning whether it’s doing some Qigong or Tai chi, or going for a jog. I alternate and give myself a rest day between jogs. Spending 30 minutes exercising first thing helps to raise my serotonin levels and stabilise my adrenals which have a tendency to become activated the minute my brains starts thinking about ALL the things I need to do during the day.

2. What does your morning routine look like?

After exercising I drink 750ml of water with a splash of apple cider vinegar to wake my liver up and get my digestion primed. I’m not a coffee drinker anymore so this helps me to make sure my food is moving through and leaving my body daily (if you know what I mean). Then I eat a bowl of chopped fruits and nuts for breakfast. My body doesn’t enjoy animal protein foods (like eggs) or carbohydrate rich foods (like cereal) early in the day, so I eat fruit - rich in enzymes, antioxidants and nutrients, and nuts - for good protein and fats, to keep me going until lunchtime.

3. What do you like to eat to ensure you’re reaching your health goals? 

I choose to eat and grow organic all year round. Spring and summer are the best seasons to do this because the climate is so much more favourable for growing.

When I’m cooking at home I’ve also consciously chosen to make all my food from scratch. I avoid ready-made sauces or gravies, and all-in-one meals which are commonly loaded with ingredients I don’t want to eat like monosodium glutamate (MSG), genetically modified ingredients like palm oil, preservatives, or additives. I do this at home because it’s not always possible to avoid heavily processed food ingredients when eating out.

We’re also big smoothie drinkers in our house with a virtual “plant pharmacy” of ingredients in our pantry and “weed pharmacy” in the garden. It’s a great way to add to your daily quota of fruit and vege. Basically, anything plant based that our blender can handle has the potential to end up in a smoothie. Always water based and usually with a banana added, our smoothies always contain some form of greens whether it’s, Spirulina, Barley Grass or Chlorella. For work day smoothies I prefer Spirulina because it keeps me and my brain working without the afternoon slump taking over.

P.S. Smoothie bowls are a really nice way to add some whole foods if you prefer to eat your smoothie rather than drink it.

4. Do you have any self-care rituals? 

My self-care routine always prioritises my mental health. I’m a strong proponent of the concept that your mind has the power to make you ill or keep you well. Of course, things like healthy eating, sleeping, and drinking are also a factor. I know when my mental wellbeing is good it’s much easier to live healthy and make healthy choices that serve me. That probably sounds familiar. Comfort-eating is a prime indicator that something’s up for me.

I'm always “in my head” so I’ve needed to find ways to still my mind. I’m what you might call an active meditator, which means I tend to meditate while I’m doing something else - which admittedly doesn’t always get the same results as meditating in stillness, which I also do from time to time.

5. How do you wind down before bedtime to ensure you get a good night of rest?

I have a couple of tricks. I use guided meditations to soothe my mind before bed just for 10 - 20mins. I find that’s enough time to shut down my very busy mind and have an uninterrupted nights sleep. I also turn to Lifestream Magnesium Sleep Switch at the end of high energy days for all over body relaxation. 

6. What are your favourite Lifestream supplements and why?

I’m at the age where I need help with joint stiffness and skin health, and I’m also doing a low level liver detox after indulging over the holiday season. I always take a probiotic of some kind not just for my digestion, but also for my gut health. So other than the greens in my smoothies, I’m also taking:

Collagen Booster – for joint stiffness and skin appearance
Astazan Antioxidant – internal antioxidant, joints and skin health
Vegan Omega 3 – cardiovascular health, brain and joint health
Probiotics Metabolise – to support my gut and liver to metabolise fats and carbs for healthy weight

7. If you could choose only one supplement to take, what would it be?

At the moment it would have to be Spirulina. The more I learn about it the more I’m impressed with its ability to provide so much energy and highly absorbable nutrients in such small amounts, so quickly after taking it.

 

If you would like further health advice, or if you're not sure whether a supplement is right for you, call Kim Wessels on 0800 88 15 15 for a free 15-minute consult.