Ways_to_Maintain_Healthy_Lifestyle

Ways to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle Health is such an important issue to all of us. What is quality of life if health is less than optimal' When we try to figure out how to stay healthy, what is the starting point of good health or disease' Why is it that some people are very healthy and others are not' Of course genetics plays a certain role, but there has to be more to it. Healthy really begins in our consciousness. What we think about ourselves, good or bad, is what is created in life. Energy follows what is focussed on, so if it is thought that sickness is the norm, the sickness is what will be created and vice-versa. Consciousness is the beginning, but as we know, being proactive in our health and creating a healthy lifestyle is where the rubber meets the road. We tend to spend millions of dollars every year maintaining health and wellness. Just take a look at the increase in the number of health supplements and other related products advertised in the media. This was unimaginable a few decades ago. Obesity was rare and people were much more active. I remember when I was young, it was hard to find any friends who were obese. Television was new and there were no computers. We walked more and worked in jobs that were more physical. However, now our food industry has become more processed and anything fast in considered good. Anyone who did yoga or was a vegetarian ten or fifteen years ago was far out of the mainstream and considered weird. In the 1940s and 50s, new drugs were coming into the market and science held such promise for cures for all types of health problems. The environment has changed through the decades and we have changed with it, not always for the better when it comes to healthy lifestyles. There are several aspects of lifestyle that can really shape how we feel and are essential in promoting good health in our daily lifestyle. Firstly, we must have a positive attitude with a spiritual connection towards life. This is directly related to the concept of ‘what is thought consciously is what is created’. When a positive attitude is maintained along with affirmations, we feel better. The mind- body-spirit connection has long been connected and having that sense of spiritualism in life gives us a sense of not being alone in this world. It is the support group for the soul that can really make the difference when it comes to health. Meditation is a way to connect with the spirit and reduce stress at the same time. It can be done alone, or it can be combined with a form of exercise such as yoga or tai chi. Secondly, since obesity is a world health problem, it is important to carefully take a look at our daily diet to ensure what we are eating is balanced and nutritious. The food groups have changed throughout the years , we now know that we need more vegetables or fruits, whole grains and less starch. Generally, it is agreed that we need to eat less sugar, salt and animal fat. Many also suggest eating several small meals a day instead of three large ones. Being a vegetarian may be good for some and not for others, but eating too much protein is not good either. Others suggest organic food is the only way to go because of its natural growth cycle, and plants grown organically contain no pesticides. Although fast food has somewhat taken over the food industry, we can make an effort to eat simple balanced meals and feel good about it. We may be starting to drink enough water as we can now buy it at any corner, but we must remember that we need to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to keep our body lubricated and everything functioning properly. Physical fitness and doing exercise is the next step in promoting a healthy lifestyle. People are looking for ways to stay fit in common ways such as jogging, walking, aerobics, and more. There are alternative methods of staying fit that are becoming popular as well. The Pilates method of exercise is a means of staying fit through stretching exercises and was developed for dancers recuperating from injury. Qigong, a Chinese exercise that reduces stress and anxiety, is another form of exercise that stimulates the flow of energy or chi throughout certain points of the body. Dancing and movement therapy is great for the emotions as well as the body. It can be very liberating to just let the body move. Doing gardening and landscaping are also great ways to get back to nature because the hands touching the earth and living things is great for the body and spirit, and can be very calming and restorative to our soul. Stress is one of the biggest reasons for disease and illness. Therefore, keeping stress at bay should also be included in our healthy lifestyle regime. Always remember to leave behind the problems at work and at least be calm and harmonic at home. This can be achieved through meditation, or just getting enough sleep. With enough sleep, the body can regenerate itself and help one think and perform better the next day. The body also needs time to heal and regroup during sleep. If people would just get a little more sleep at night they would be miles ahead regarding their health. Finally, a lifestyle that is healthy cannot include smoking and doing drugs. Both can lead to negative habits and once they turn into addictions, they are difficult to break. If you have not started, stay away from them. Health should be maintained at all costs. If we live healthy and happy lifestyles, we will have a better chance of keeping healthy as we age.