As the days get longer and sunnier, our habits change as well. We switch up our wardrobe, incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into our diet, and become more active.
While we often associate new beginnings with the New Year, spring is also a perfect time to change habits that aren’t making us healthier or better.
Here’s how you can bring balance into your life this spring:
1. MODERATION
Moderation in eating, drinking, and sun exposure. Stay moderate when buying complex skincare routines and supplements you don’t fully understand or need.
If you found yourself in all of the above, don't worry. We are all prone to exaggeration and the solution isn’t isolating ourselves from the overwhelming choices around us.
The first step toward a more moderate lifestyle is understanding our needs, where they stem from, and what we’re trying to hide when we tend to go overboard.
Take overeating, for example. Often, when we feel sad or bored, we turn to food. Instead of feeling guilty for eating 100 grams of chocolate instead of an apple, it’s better to ask yourself how you’re feeling and what you can do to feel better, rather than overeating.
Moderation is something you practice and develop, so give yourself time, but don’t give up on moderation, even when it feels difficult at first.
2. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET
Before we explain the principles of an anti-inflammatory diet, let’s start with how inflammation works. Although it’s often seen as a negative, inflammation is a healthy response from our immune system to external factors like bacteria, viruses, allergens, or injury. If we sneeze to get rid of allergens or experience swelling as a warning to be more careful, it means our immune system is working properly.
However, inflammations that last for a long time are a problem because, with their prolonged action, they create a system in which inflammation has become established. Sometimes genetic factors are involved, and sometimes lifestyle, stress, high-calorie diet cause the chronic presence of inflammation in the body.
Sometimes, genetic factors are to blame, but often, lifestyle, stress, and a high-calorie diet contribute to chronic inflammation. If inflammation persists, it can lead to further complications such as cardiovascular diseases, fatty liver, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and certain types of cancer.
An anti-inflammatory diet is an active fighter against these processes in the body. While there isn’t one official anti-inflammatory diet, there is a range of foods that fall into this category:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Minimally processed whole grain products
- Foods rich in unsaturated fats (avocados, olive oil, nut and peanut butter)
- Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids (walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds, salmon, sardines, mackerel)
- Tea
- Coffee
- Dark chocolate
- Moderate alcohol consumption (wine, beer)
3. CHOOSE RESPONSIBLE BRANDS
Climate change and global warming are no longer conspiracy theories.The harm we’ve done to nature is already “coming back” to humanity.
After analyzing data from 50 climate models, researchers at MIT concluded that due to extreme temperatures, the number of days we can spend outdoors will significantly decrease in the coming years. Specifically, Serbia could lose 26 outdoor days per year, Croatia 22 days, North Macedonia 21 days, Bulgaria 17 days, and Romania 12 pleasant outdoor days (source: ekologika.rs).
Given all this, it’s no surprise that responsible brands are doing what they can to contribute to the fight for the environment. Reducing carbon emissions, using recycled packaging, and ensuring responsible energy and resource use in production are just some ways responsible brands can contribute to the global preservation of our planet.
Our Production in Sremska Mitrovica is a small family business, but in addition to fulfilling all legal environmental regulations, we firmly believe in sustainability and are on a mission to actively enhance our ecological contribution in Serbia.
Not only do we use recycled packaging, but we also exclusively use eco-friendly preservatives, without artificial colors. We don’t test products on animals and responsibly dispose of waste. This is why we proudly say that our cosmetics are natural and responsible from the very start.
4. HYDRATION
As temperatures rise, so does the amount of water we need to drink daily. That doesn’t mean you should force yourself to drink liters and liters (see Moderation), but it’s perfectly fine to aim for about 1.5 liters of water per day (around 8 glasses).
Don’t forget about hydration that comes from the outside, through quality dermocosmetics.
Sunlight and SPF creams can significantly dry out our skin, so it’s recommended to increase hydration with moisturizing creams after sun and UV exposure.
We recommend DK routines that focus on hydration:
Author box
Dr. Jasmina Kozarev is a dermatovenerologist with a doctorate in the field of laser vascular procedures and a pioneer of aesthetic laser treatments in Serbia. She graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad as one of the best students of her generation, and she defended her doctoral thesis on laser treatment of vascular lesions in 2011. She has been a lecturer at domestic and international aesthetic and laser conferences for many years, with a special focus on dermatological acne therapy, skin regeneration and non-surgical rejuvenation.