While we could debate this topic for hours – all the experts have their own opinions – let’s highlight 7 keys to good health that almost everyone will agree on. Once you understand the keys, then your job is to embrace them and put them into practice as you seek to improve your health. None of these 7 are quick fix strategies – since they need to last a lifetime, however you will be amazed at how much better you can feel once you recognize and begin to practice them.
1. Get plenty of rest – at least 7 – 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep are ideal. Sleep is when your body repairs itself and at least 5 continuous hours of sleep are ideal. If you are wakened prior to logging 5 hours of continuous sleep, for whatever reason, your body’s ability to repair itself is impaired. Examine why this is a problem – are you drinking too much before bedtime, have a disruptive sleeping environment? Whatever the causes – see if you can eliminate them.
2. Exercise at least 5 times a week – walking is great, but you also need to work in some light weight training to build muscle and strengthen your bones. Bone density declines as we age, weight bearing exercise can slow and possibly reverse the rate of decline.
3 Proper nutrition. This site could just as easily have been called – You Are What You Eat. In the US, the easy access to junk food has put us all at risk. The frightening rise in the amount of obesity is staggering. We are often referred to as being overfed and under nourished. How is this possible in the so called “land of plenty”? Read food labels and see what it is that you’re eating – look at the amount of sugar you are consuming – look at the amount and number of additives that have been put there to make our food taste good, last a very long time on the grocerer’s shelves, and make it cheap to buy.
4. Drink plenty of fresh clean water and cut down on sugared drinks – including fruit drinks, soda, and artificially sweetened beverages. Cut them out completely if at all possible. Fresh clean water is what your body really needs. You can actually learn to like water once you break the sugared drink habit. This in turn lowers your insulin levels and reduces your risk for diabetes. There’s more to it than this, but it’s a great start. Learn more about the dangers of too much sugar here.
5. Don’t smoke, and try to avoid being around people that do smoke. Google second hand smoke and see why this is so dangerous.
6. Learn to relax – seek out ways to relax yourself spiritually and emotionally. The stress you internalize is dangerous to your health and has been related to any number of conditions such as high blood pressure, heart health, stroke, and a compromised immune system which can lead to disease, even increase your risk of developing cancer.
7. Finally – strive to develop loving and emotionally satisfying relationships with family and friends. If you don’t have these now – reach out to those around you. Make this a priority.
