How to Be Healthy

There's certainly no shortage of information about how to be healthy or how to stay healthy. Most of us could easily rattle off a list of healthy habits. Yet as a society we are sicker than ever.

According to the Commonwealth Report, the U.S. ranks last for health care performance and healthy lives compared to six other industrialized nations even though more money is spent per capita for health care.

Why is this?

The easy answer is to blame the health care system. A more accurate answer is that the eating and lifestyle choices we make don't match up with what we need to do to be healthy.

For many of us, convenience and what we like outweigh our motivation to avoid health problems that may or may not strike years down the road. We do know how to stay healthy. We just don't do it.

Another big reason is that we've only recently begun to realize what serious health detours we've made in exchange for some aspects of modern living. Some of this is still hotly denied and debated by the government and big businesses that have a lot to lose.

In the meantime, most of us live in blissful ignorance of how our minds and bodies are being affected until disease strikes.

Even though this may be the easiest road in the short run, it really is much easier to establish healthy habits and follow tips for how to stay healthy while you are well. You'll feel better and you greatly cut your chances of having to figure out how to get healthy after a serious diagnosis.

The main healthy problems in the U.S. are accidental injuries, genetic birth defects and degenerative diseases. There is little you can do to prevent the first two problems.

There is much you can do to protect yourself from degenerative diseases caused by lifestyle like arthritis, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

Your body is designed to be in balance, to heal itself, and to function well. This balance is strongly influenced by what goes into the body and what goes out.

These 'inflows and outgos' strongly influence the environment that our cells live in. Quite simply, the healthier the environment, the healthier the cells. The healthier the cells, the healthier the tissues, organs and systems in your body.

How to Be Healthy Tips

First on most lists is to quit smoking (if you do). Do what it takes. Your cells will renew themselves over time if the damage isn't too great. Your circulation will improve and your toxic load will decrease. You'll greatly reduce your risk of life-threatening disease.

For short and long term good health it's important to eat right, drink plenty of fluids, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep.

The top causes of preventable death in the U.S. by far are tobacco, poor diet and lack of exercise. These lead to nutritional deficiencies, accumulations of toxins, and inadequate circulation.

Following these recommendations will really help you stay healthy. But they are probably not enough.

Because of the toxic load you regularly bring into your body from your food, water and air supply, it's a good idea to make a daily habit of limiting toxins and supporting your natural detoxification processes.

The Healthy Living Guide contains information about all these healthy habits and tips for easily incorporating them into your life.

Here are some other important tips:

Breathe. Cultivate the healthy habit of breathing deeply into your abdomen just like a sleeping baby does. Practice while you're laying down if you need to. No shoulder lifting! You want to bring in lots of fresh oxygen and get rid of stale air and its accompanying toxins with every deep, relaxed breath you take.

Reduce stress. Taking care of yourself in the ways mentioned above will already reduce the amount of stress your body has to deal with because of inadequate nutrients, toxic overload and poor circulation. It will also help reduce the effects of mental stress.

Unfortunately, most of us live in a state of chronic mental stress, often without even realizing it. That stress is very hard on your body. It will eventually catch up with you in how you age and fight off illness, not to mention quality of life.

It is really in the best interest of your mental, emotional and physical health to keep dis-stress to a minimum. The Natural Stress Relief Primer is a comprehensive source of information about how stress affects your health and what you can do about it.

Nurture your soul and spirit. It's great to take care for your body. It's equally important, if not moreso, to take care of your mind and spirit.

That popular quote, "Live, Love, Laugh", contains a lot of wisdom. Take time every day to nurture your spirit.

Let go of old emotional garbage, limiting beliefs and grudges. Nourish yourself by doing what you love and making time for healthy play and fun alone and with loved ones. Learn to be mindful and present. Cultivate this state of mind.

The Emotional and Mental Healing Guide and the Spiritual Wellness Primer offer many suggestions and techniques for how to do this.

Now that you know the basics of how to be healthy, spend some time looking over the suggested pages. Choose tips that you can implement easily and make part of your life. You can always add more techniques later or experiment with new ones when these become well established healthy habits.

If you are already facing an illness or just want to learn more about how to be healthy, continue on to How to Get Healthy

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