I love this time of year. As November draws near, I start thinking about my holiday menus, invite lists and the flurry of activity and travel that are sure to ensue. It’s time for cooking, entertaining and all the merrymaking of the season.

But with that also comes the temptation of veering off course from our standard lifestyle routines. Workouts give way to busy schedules and groggy mornings, and heavy caloric, high carb crowd pleasers tend to appear everywhere we turn. Remaining mindful is key to staying healthy and strong through it all.

As we make uncharacteristic choices to please our palate in the name of holiday cheer, we cannot forget to also detoxify and nourish our cells to minimize the inflammation many of those celebratory choices can ignite. As we know, science now identifies chronic inflammation as the basis for many of today’s common diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cancer, arthritis and more. So, what can we do to try and balance the good with the bad this festive season?

Minimize stress. Stress and the holidays seem to be synonymous, so be mindful to maintain your stress reducing practices like meditation, yoga or simple conscious breathing. As mentioned in this issue’s lead feature, take time each day to “just be.”

Workout. Exercise is one of the best things you can do to detoxify your body down to the cellular level. Regardless of your busy schedule or how you feel, keep your exercise regime going to help maintain energy levels and to cleanse from unhealthy toxins.

Eat organic. As often as possible, make sensible choices including lots of greens, veggies and clean protein for meat eaters.

Fill your plate with high antioxidant foods. Many seasonal foods like fresh berries, carrots, potatoes and spinach are all high in antioxidants, as are artichokes, asparagus, avocados, sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, collard greens and kale.

Savor seasonal spices. Many holiday spices have high antioxidant values with clove at the top of the list, followed by peppermint, allspice, cinnamon, oregano, thyme, sage, rosemary and saffron to name a few.

Supplement with nutrients for cellular aid. Humates, humic and fulvic acid minerals, are nature’s most powerful antioxidants. They are naturally occurring in the earth, where we come from, and our cells require these nutrients to thrive and survive.

Life is all about balance. Family, friends and celebratory times should be enjoyed to the fullest, but be mindful to provide your body and cells what they need to keep you healthy and joy-filled into the New Year and beyond!

Candice Nicole is a health advocate and founder of HUmineral food derived mineral nutrients. She can be reached at [email protected] or (818) 400.7657. For more information visit www.HUmineral.com.