10 Life Hacks That Will Make You Healthier

10 Life Hacks That Will Make You Healthier

I am a big fan of life hacks that improve the way we live. If those new found habits can make you healthier, all the better.

Below are 10 of my favourite life hacks that will make you make healthier!

1. Morning Mineral Cocktail

I recently read Aubrey Marcus’ book Own The Day, Own Your Life.

The book has a ton of great ideas on how to improve your level of fitness and well being. One of my favourites is his Morning Mineral Cocktail.

Aubrey’s version is as follows:

  • 12 ounces of filtered water
  • 3 grams of sea salt
  • 1/4 lemon, squeezed

However, I tweaked it a bit and noticed a nice spike in my energy since drinking the concoction first thing in the morning:

  • 1 litre of water
  • 1 teaspoon of sea salt
  • 1/3 lemon, squeezed

Bonus Tip: Drink through a straw as the lemon could hurt the enamel on your teeth.

2. Meditation

This was game changer for me. I have always been a “Type A” Personality. I have a hard time relaxing always looking for the most productive thing to do at any one time.

But sometimes the most productive and healthiest thing to do is to take a step back and do nothing. I took a number of stabs at meditation but I just couldn’t relax while doing it.

I finally found a form a meditation that worked for me: Emily Fletcher’s Ziva mediation.

The great thing about Emily’s meditation is she eliminates the need to feel that you have to meditate a certain way. Many health benefits can be derived from setting aside 15 minutes twice a day.

3. Ice Cold Shower 

I’m a huge fan of ice cold showers. Some of the reported health benefits include accelerated fat loss, an improved immune system, lower stress levels, revitalized skin and increased testosterone.  Personally, I have experienced a big improvement in my energy levels and it has enhanced my mental toughness.

I recently read David Goggins’ book — Can’t Hurt Me — and he talks a lot about a callused mind. I think a lot of health benefits can be gained from developing mental toughness. Ice cold showers are uncomfortable at first, but that discomfort creates emotional strength that will carry into other areas of your life. Laying off that sugary desert or pushing yourself at the gym will become that much easier.

4. Daily Walks

It’s more or less indisputable that walking is healthy. I  personally don’t see it as exercise, but I do think it has a whole host of health benefits. In the spring and summer I love going for a morning walk as a way to wake up my body.  The dose of morning sunshine increases Vitamin D, which has its own slew of health benefits. I include daily walks as part of my morning ritual which includes an ice cold shower, followed by a mineral cocktail, meditation and a 10 minute walk. 

You’ll be surprised at how much easier it is to tackle you inbox when you follow this protocol.

5. Human Charger

The Human charger is a very unique gadget. It is a bright light therapy device which shoots light into your ears via a set of ear buds. It requires only 12 minutes and I often combine it with meditation on days when the weather is not conducive to a morning walk.

6. Journaling

You might be asking: how is journaling a health hack? Ten years ago I would have asked the same question. But after taking the concept of journaling for a test drive, I realized it offers significant value. People who journal are more likely to achieve their goals while increasing memory and comprehension. Not only that, but journaling is a great way to strengthen your self discipline. Expressive Writing is a form of journaling where you pour your thoughts on a piece paper and then rip up the paper. Expressive Writing can be a great technique to deal with emotional and physical pain. Dr. David Hanscom, a world-renowned back surgeon, discusses this strategy in great detail in his book Back in Control.

I’ve tried it and it is a surprisingly powerful technique.

7. Posture Brace

John Paul Catanzaro, one of the leading fitness minds in North America and one of my personal fitness gurus, hooked me on to the idea of wearing a posture brace to enhance your level of fitness. No, this is not something out of a Seinfeld episode and there are a bunch of them on the market. Some health benefits include improved circulation and reduced back pain. People with good posture just look healthier and more confident.

8. Blue Light Glasses

Finding different ways to enhance my sleep is always high on my radar. Devices such as cell phones and computer screens emit blue light that affects the level of melatonin your body produces — a chemical that helps us sleep at night. Essentially, blue light tricks your body into thinking it is daytime.

Swanwick Sleep came up with a fashionable pair of glasses that block blue light. These glasses are a great way to look slick and enhance your sleep.

9. Matcha

I used to really love the high I received from my morning espresso or ice brewed coffee. The problem is that I didn’t enjoy the post caffeine crash  and the caffeine from the coffee was hurting my joints. I haven’t found a lot of research on the correlation, but I have talked to a number of post 45 gym goers who have experienced a similar phenomenon. I found Matcha to be a great alternate to the caffeine I was missing from coffee, as it creates a calm alertness. www.breakawaymatcha.com hits the nail on the head when describing the feeling you get from Matcha: “There are no spikes and crashes, it just comes on gently and leaves just as gently.” As a side benefit, it is better for your teeth and breath than coffee — a nice benefit for any close takers :). I like my Matcha with MCT oil as dynamic duo that can really up your mental alertness on the job or at the gym.

10. Oil Pulling

This ancient Ayurvedic dental technique is a great way to improve your oral health and give you that million dollar smile.  The process involves swishing a tablespoon of oil such as Coconut or Olive Oil in your mouth on an empty stomach for around 20 minutes. The purported health benefits include killing harmful bacteria in your mouth, eliminating bad breath, preventing cavities, enhancing gum health and I have even found that it whitens my teeth.

There you have it. Ten health hacks to make you a better, healthier version of yourself.

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