1) The Importance of Fresh Air
The one thing that your body can't go without for more than a few minutes, oxygen, is often taken for granted. The quality of oxygen we breathe, as well as the manner in which we breathe, are of utmost importance. Oxygen is a powerful detoxifier for the entire body. Lie on the floor and take a deep breath. Which rises first, your belly, or your chest? If you said chest, then you are not breathing correctly. This starves certain areas of your body for oxygen. Proper breathing involves filling up the belly first (imagine an expanding tire around your waist while breathing) and then the chest. Also, unless you live in an extremely polluted city, the idea that indoor air is often cleaner than outdoor air is a myth. Make efforts to get outside everyday and breathe deeply. Your body will thank you in endless ways! One of the lesser talked-about benefits of exercise is that it literally forces oxygen in and out of your body, purifying the blood and rejuvenating your entire system.
2) Water is Your Best Friend
After oxygen, the next most important thing to think about is your water intake. Are you drinking enough, and are you drinking the right kind? Distilled water is the purest water on earth, consisting only of the elements hydrogen and oxygen. It is purified in the same way that mother nature purifies her own water, through evaporation and condensation. The minerals in spring water are often inorganic, meaning they cannot be processed by the body. Therefore, the body has to remove them. Your body gets its necessary minerals from proper diet. Spring water is merely a novelty item that companies make tons of money from. Also, do not drink water during meals. You are diluting the hydrochloric acid in your stomach, hampering digestion. Drink 6-8 glasses of distilled water per day, but only before and one hour after meals. Drinking a couple glasses right upon wakening is a great way to jumpstart your hydration. .
3) Nutrients Are All You Need
After water and oxygen, the next most important thing to focus on is nutrient intake. Yes, your body does need protein, carbs, fiber, etc. All of these are included in a proper nutrient-rich diet. You don't need to worry about them anymore, this is the beauty of eating right! When it comes to nutrients, vegetables are king. Leafy green vegetables pack twice as much nutrients as any other vegetable, and five times as much as any fruit. These include foods such as kale, chard, bok choy, romaine lettuce, and turnip, mustard, and collard greens. Remember that humans are primates. All other primates on earth eat diets very high in leafy green plants and fruit. They eat very little meat. Gorillas weigh 700-800 pounds, and they carry around a ton of muscle. Must eat a lot of meat, huh? Nope. Gorillas eat mostly leaves, and a good amount of fruit as well. We don't need as much protein as we are told. Take a lesson in health from our animal relatives..I can assure you that they visit the doctor quite less often! Eating does not have to be so complicated.
4) What's Going On in Your Head?
If you are like me, this aspect of good health will be your most challenging. We often let thoughts go unexamined in our heads, and certain thoughts can cause very harmful effects on the body. Make a commitment to avoid getting caught up thinking negatively, whether about other people or your own life. This saps vital energy from your body, weakens the immune system, constricts the arteries, and increases blood pressure and resting heart rate. Worst of all, it distracts you from what really matters. What really matters? For me, here's what matters: determining exactly what kind of life you want to live, setting goals to achieve that life, and focusing all of your energy in a concentrated effort towards achieving those goals. Negative thoughts, including worrying, distance us from our goals. Don't give these thoughts any power. You deserve a better life than that. Respect the balance between rest and activity.. If you feel stressed or overstimulated at any point, it is always better to stop, close your eyes, and breathe deeply, than it is to continue. Your body will let you know when it is ready to act again. Honor its wishes.
5) Fasting is the World's Best Doctor
Like meditation, fasting is often viewed as a strange, foreign concept, and many think that it is actually unhealthy for the body. Quite the opposite! The body possesses the ability to go without food for a very long time. Many people often fast for 3 weeks or more, but you will likely not need to go this long. When you abstain from eating for an extended period of time, it gives the body a much needed rest. The vital bodily functions of detoxification and cellular repair are set into overdrive. The body is very grateful for this break you've given it from digestion, and uses this time to do some major internal "house cleaning". The famous health crusader and author of "The Miracle of Fasting", Dr. Paul Bragg, recommends fasting for one day each week for optimal health. Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of the enormously popular book "Eat to Live", recommends therapeutic fasting to cure countless diseases and conditions. Both Dr. Fuhrman and Dr. Bragg acknowledge that all illnesses arise as a result of an overload of toxins in the body. When you fast regularly, you give your body a chance to purify itself. Yes, it is possible to become your own doctor, take health into your own hands, avoid the damaging effects of drugs and medication, and wake up each day with boundless energy, mental clarity, and an enormous appreciation for life itself!
Fasting Disclaimer: If you are new to fasting and do not know much about it, DO NOT being a fasting regimen without professional guidance. Certain conditions, such as diabetes, are not conducive to fasting. Also, if you are on medications, you may not be able to fast right away, as fasting often requires that one taper off medications first. Consult a professional in this field before taking any action.
Two last points to mention:
1) Sleep- Sleep will come to you when all these suggestions are followed. You can't try to sleep, it happens as a result of other positive choices.
2) Exercise- Exercise wasn't covered in this article for a reason. It is incredibly important, however I recommend that you focus on making these changes first. When you do, you will notice a dramatic increase in your energy levels. Your body will naturally crave exercise! You will find yourself jumping off the couch with the desire to get out and do something. Then, exercise won't become something you have to force yourself to do anymore. You will crave activity just like you did as a kid.
Source : http://eat-breathe-smile.com
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