Health tips for January from Hazel Courteney

• Natural sunlight helps to suppress production of the hormone melatonin, which is produced by the pineal gland at night. This is why we tend to feel more depressed and sleepy during the winter months. therefore, get out into the daylight as much as you possibly can, especially in the mornings, and if you work in an office without full spectrum lighting make sure you use full-spectrum light bulbs at home and where you can at work. Try using Real Sunlight lamps, available at several specialist clinics in the UK. The harmful frequencies of UVA and UVB have been filtered out, making this sunlight safe.
  
  
• If you are suffering from a winter sore throat immediately take Homeopathic Aconite, along with Echinacea and Golden Seal capsules 3-4 times daily. Also take Garlic capsules and gargle with a little Tea Tree Oil in some luke warm water. Increase vitamin C to 3 grams daily with food and suck zinc lozengers. You need to eat really healthily for a couple of days avoiding all dairy and sugar and get some sleep – a great immune booster. You can also try crushing fresh sage into a tea, allow to cool, and gargle. Sage is antiseptic and eases the soreness. If your throat is really sore, soak a cloth in the sage mix and apply to the throat area.
  
  
  If you have a cough eat pineapple to help loosen up mucous and make breathing easier. Fresh pear juice is also good for easing coughs. Tea made from fresh thyme can help ease the cough.
  
  
• If you are craving white foods and comfort foods that tend to be high in fat and sugar – start making biscuits and cakes using Xylitol, a sugar substitute, which has a low glycaemic index. Spread Raw organic coconut butter on your bread- it's one of the only saturated fats that gives you energy but will not cause weight gain. It also helps control blood sugar, is good for your heart and lowers HDL the 'bad' cholesterol. Great in cakes and for cooking.
  
  
• If you have given up smoking this January try eating organic porridge every morning. Oats are a nerve tonic which helps to reduce addictions. Soak in an Epsom-salt or sea-salt bath, which helps remove nicotine through the pores.
  
  These tips are from "500 of the Most Important Health Tips You'll Ever Need" by Hazel Courteney