25 Jun 09 Six Simple Steps to Optimum Health

New wonder drugs and mind-boggling surgical advances usually make the top of the news. No matter how great may be the achievements of the medical profession, if you are concerned with maintaining your own personal health then you will probably get more immediate protection by following some simple steps towards a more healthy way of life rather than waiting to be saved by a new technique. In case you are not sure where to start, let me give your some suggestions.

1. Exercise on a Daily Basis. The 21st Century’s sedentary lifestyle is the cause of many diseases. Heart disease, obesity, diabetes and many other problems have their root in physical inactivity. Your great grandfather probably had to do a lot more physical work than you and in those days obesity was a less common problem. We can’t go back to chopping wood or carrying coal, but we can add exercise to our daily routine. Even if you don’t like sports or enrolling in a gym, you can get your exercise with a brisk daily walk. Walking for 30 or 40 minutes right after dinner will not only help you to digest your dinner but it will give you the amount of physical activity that you need to keep fit.

2. Eat at the Urge of Appetite. What and how and even when you eat can have a big impact on your overall level of health. Listen to the demands of your body. If you are not hungry, then don’t eat. Eating at such times is not healthy. Go by your body and not the clock. Continuous eating at times when you are not hungry can lead to digestive problems. Conversely, when you are hungry, then go ahead and eat. Appetite is usually a sign of health so in most cases it is not wise to suppress it.

3. Observe a fast on a periodic basis. “What, are you telling me not to eat?” Look at it this way. You don’t work seven days a week and 52 weeks per year. You need rest periods from time to time in order to maintain your overall efficiency. The same is true for your digestive system. By fasting on a periodic basis you can give your digestive system a chance to rest, and also help eliminate toxins from your body. Try it and you will see how good it feels.

4. When You Get Tired, Go to Sleep! This seems like an obvious rule, but I know that I am not perfect in following it and millions of other people have the same weakness. Sometimes we stay up later to get some work done, but then lose that time the next day due to being drowsy or by getting up later. Some people take stimulants to keep awake and others just can’t turn off the TV or computer. Just like your food habits, your body is trying to tell you what to do and when to do it. Listen to your body when it comes to sleeping, and you will maintain your health.

5. Rise at the Crack of Dawn. The old proverb, attributed to Ben Franklin, telling us about the virtues of “early to rise” is actually true. Getting up early each day may not necessarily make you wealthy or wise, as the proverb says, but it will contribute to your overall physical strength. The human body is best adapted to working during the day and sleeping at night. If you sleep during the daytime hours and remain up late at night, you are going against the body’s natural rhythm and you are asking for trouble later on.

6. Relieve Stress with Meditation and Yoga. Stress is the cause of many illnesses and our daily routine at work and even at home is often filled with stress causing incidents. We definitely need a way to get rid of the stress and also a way to deal with mental tension. Silent meditation, accompanied by simple yoga and deep relaxation is an ideal way to shut off the noise of the outside world and to find inner peace. You don’t have to tie yourself in pretzel or meditate for hours on end. Just some simple exercises will help you physically and mentally.

Try some or all of these tips and you will be doing yourself a great favor. Who knows: you may never even have to find out about the wonders of modern medicine.