My Wellness Toolkit: Fiona Lamb
Celery juice is a morning must-have. I jumped onto the celery juice trend late, but I haven’t looked back since. I start each morning with 500ml of this green, salty juice, and the results have been transformative. My skin looks and feels more hydrated, and I’m less bloated, too – celery juice increases digestive enzymes, which helps with gut health. I recently invested in a slow-pressed juicer, which I couldn’t be without now. If you haven’t heard of The Magical Medium – aka Anthony William – he’s worth reading up on. He’s the man behind the celery juice craze and believes celery is the number one superfood everyone should be eating more of. He recommends drinking celery juice on an empty stomach first thing in the morning for best results.
Smoothies are a great way to pack in nutrition. If I have a busy morning, I’ll make a smoothie for breakfast, which always features a serving of Huel, blended with a banana and a generous handful of spinach for extra iron. Huel is a nutritionally complete powdered food – i.e., a meal replacement – which combines oats, pea protein, brown rice protein, flaxseeds and sunflower oil with coconut fat. When mixed with water, it contains your daily recommended intake of vitamins and minerals alongside sensible amounts of protein, fat and carbs. It’s much more than just a protein powder.
My diet is mostly plant based. During the recent lockdowns, with more time at home, I found cooking a great way to unwind in the evening. Mindful Chef’s recipe boxes make cooking simple and with so many vegan and vegetarian recipes on offer, it’s a good choice if you’re looking to cut back on your meat content but aren’t sure where to start.
Whole Foods is the ultimate wellness destination. You’ll find me in my local Whole Foods at least two or three times per week. I always stock up on their frozen wild blueberries – which contain more antioxidants and fibre than their non-frozen counterparts – which I add to smoothies. I also regularly buy Dulse seaweed, which is a rich source of iodine, magnesium and calcium. On the beauty front, Whole Foods also stocks a great range of magnesium creams, which are helpful for aches and pains.
The majority of your immune system lies in your gut. Therefore, looking after your gut health is vital. If your immune system is weak, this can manifest in skin flare-ups, especially during that time of the month. I try to eat half a large tub of coconut yoghurt daily and find this really helps with my complexion – in fact, it appears to be more effective than a probiotic. If you feel your immune system is low, consider adding Ester C to your diet, which is a more easily absorbed version of vitamin C.
Vitamin D can also help with immunity. And increasing number of studies have suggested vitamin D can have a positive effect on the immune system. Here in the UK, we tend to not get enough sun, so taking vitamin D daily is important to help your body’s overall functioning, including your immunity, mood and bone health. Try a spray version, as these are more absorbed quickly into the bloodstream.
NEOM
Omegas can help with cognitive function. I take an omega supplement, which contains omegas 3, 6 and 9, daily, and have noticed a real difference in my mental clarity as well as my skin, hair and nails. Studies show omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients that, among other benefits, help build your brain’s structure and regulate its ability to perform.
If you struggle with your sleep, look to reduce your stress levels. Insomnia is almost always triggered by anxiety. For short-term use and relief, try Kalms tablets – take them throughout the day to reduce stress and anxiety. St John’s Wort is also a natural antidepressant and a good option for those who don’t want to turn to prescription medication to boost their mood. Lemon balm is also worth trying – it calms the nervous system and can be taken through periods of stress. Remember that when you are stressed and hold tension, this can affect your digestion – it’s all linked.
Magnesium is a powerful muscle relaxant. If I’m feeling stressed or sore from exercise, I’ll put a generous amount of Epsom salts in my bath, and often take it dissolved in water before bed. It’s also great if you ever get twitchy muscles.
Hypnotherapy and meditation use the same brain state. They both help to relax the body and can enhance brain power. When we are in a relaxed state, our ‘theta’ brainwaves – which typically occur when you’re sleeping or dreaming – are more open to new ideas. Hypnotherapy can also enable you to take control of your thoughts on a deeper level and use your imagination in a more productive way. My mind is very creative, so hypnotherapy helps me focus and boosts creativity.
Self-care is a big part of my routine. I couldn’t live without my Neom Wellbeing Pod, which I often have on throughout the day. In the evening, I switch up the essential oils for one of their lavender-rich blends, which makes the house smell like a spa. I also love Neom’s Bedtime Hero Candle for my evening yoga sessions. I also recently invested in an infrared sauna blanket, which helps to release toxins and boosts circulation and lymphatic drainage. I use it two to three times per week for around half an hour.
It’s important to look after your mind. Products aside, the biggest part of self-care for me is being aware of the words I am saying to myself. Our automatic response can be to criticise or judge ourselves, but this never helps and is never productive. Having time away from a screen and away from work has also never been more important – I try to have down time away from my business to be creative in other ways, such as painting or drawing. Floatation therapy is next on my list.
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