SELF HEALTH + HEALING

If the word chia brings up a mental image of a clay creature sprouting hair, you are not mistaken. But the seeds responsible for sprouting fuzz on Chia Pets are also an excellent source of anti-inflammatory omega-3s. Who knew? "

For women, the RDI of omega-3s is 1.1 grams (1,100 mg) a day, so if you're looking for a new source that's vegan, gluten-free, and easy to consume, you'll want to pick up some of these seeds immediately. One ounce of chia seeds (about two tablespoons) contains 137 calories, one gram of saturated fat, 11 grams of fiber, four grams of protein, 177 milligrams of calcium, and 4.9 grams of omega-3 fatty acids. Aside from offering omegas, when chia seeds come in contact with water, they bulk up just like flaxseeds do. So when you eat them, they make you feel full. This means not only will they prevent you from overeating, but they'll also improve your digestion.

"No matter how healthy we are in our "normal" lives, most of us tend to loosen the reigns a little bit (or a lot) during the holidays. If you have a tendency to get into that all-or-nothing mentality, you might just wake up on January 1st wondering where all your healthy habits went."

Personally, I relate to this: I have a super addictive personality, so when I get into something, I have a tendency to go all in. With a little experimentation, though, I've found that it doesn't have to be so extreme. If you put a little intention into your self care, you can continue to show up for life in a vibrant, energetic state—even during the season of endless indulgences!

"The world's oldest healing science holds the secrets to better digestion. And guess what? Most of us aren't practicing them."

Sure, you make good-for-you smoothies in your NutriBullet, frequent Hu Kitchen and The Butcher's Daughter, and generally go for natural desserts over fake ones, but you've stillgot digestive drama.

And that, according to Larissa Hall Carlson, an expert in Ayurveda—the five-thousand-year-old Indian medicinal practice—is because what you put in your body is only half the story.

"In Ayurveda, the mindfulness of eating is more important than what we eat," she says. "Changing the way people approach food really affects gas, bloating, and indigestion."

"Be honest: when was the last time you thought about how healthy your digestive system was?"

The truth is that we only tend to think about it when something goes wrong, but Gut Week is all about focussing on how important it is to consider what you eat.

Think of the digestive system as the pistons of an engine - to get the most amount of energy, and to ward off future illnesses, it's important to keep it running right.