by Chad Oler, ND 2007.

All Rights Reserved.

 

Health is a relative measure of how well you feel compared to some standard (how you felt before, the general population, your friends, etc.). Your level of health is dependant on many, many things, including your current dietary and lifestyle habits, your mood, environmental exposure to toxins, stressors in your life, your genetics and a whole host of other factors which to a greater or lesser degree, affect how you feel on a daily basis. As such, how YOU regain and improve your health is largely an individual matter that requires individualized attention and care. However, there are a number of things you can do TODAY to make dramatic improvements in your heath and well-being.

 

1.    Chew your food at LEAST 30 times. The food you eat should be a liquid before it hits the back of your throat. This insures that the food is broken down adequately and mixed with your salivary enzymes to promote optimal digestion.

2.    Relax before eating. If you are uptight, hurried, nervous, etc., you should not eat. Take a couple minutes to wind down, relax and let go of your worries and stresses before anything goes into your mouth. Being uptight while eating will lead to improper digestion and a whole host of gastrointestinal disorders down the road. Enjoy the food you are eating and take time to savor it!

3.    Drink minimal liquids with meals. The purpose of eating is to supply your body with necessary nutrients; these nutrients come from the breakdown products of the foods you eat. Drinking water or other liquids with meals dilutes the digestive juices and hinders proper digestion.

4.    Drink at LEAST 8 8-oz. glasses of pure (preferably distilled) water in-between meals. Every function in your body is dependant on water in some way, so you need to insure you are giving your body and adequate supply of this vital nutrient. This recommendation is for an “average” person (120-150 lbs); you will need to adjust this amount for your body size. The general guideline is 1 oz. of water for every kilogram (2.2 lbs.) of body weight, more if you sweat or exercise a lot.

5.    Eliminate wheat and wheat products from your diet, at least for 2-4 weeks. Wheat products contain a protein called gluten that causes sensitivities in most people. The only way to determine the degree of your sensitivity is to cut it out of your diet COMPLETELY for 2-4 weeks and try reintroducing it. Wheat is in almost everything, so you will need to read labels (anything containing “flour” contains wheat). Eliminating wheat is especially important for those who are trying to lose weight.

6.    Eliminate most dairy products. This includes milk, cheese, ice cream, frozen yogurt, etc. Dairy products contain many substances that are difficult for the body to digest. The one exception is cultured yogurt; many people tolerate yogurt well – just look for a variety that does not have added sugar.

7.    Eliminate soda/pop from you diet, period. All carbonated beverages contain high amounts of acids that are very detrimental to your health. Sodas are particularly harmful to you as they also contain sweeteners, artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors, preservatives, and numerous other additives that do nothing but detract from your health. And don’t be fooled by the “health’ drinks in the cooler that claim to help with memory, energy, mood, etc. One look at the label will show most to be nothing but sugar and colorings with a few herbal extracts thrown in (of questionable quality). Stick to water and herbal teas and you will be on your way to a healthier, happier you!

8.    Get at least 30 minutes of regular exercise daily. This doesn’t all have to be at one time to achieve a higher state of health, so break it up if you have to. Breathe deeply while you exercise and be sure and stretch the major muscle groups after you are done. The best workouts I have ever seen can be found at www.monkeybargym.com – become an online member and get a new workout everyday – they are fun, incredibly effective and often take less than 30 minutes!

9.    Get at least 15 minutes of sunshine everyday. The only way your body produces Vitamin D is through direct skin exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D acts as a hormone in the body and affects many vital functions, including proper healing and repair and bone strength. Going for a walk after lunch is a perfect time to get sun, exercise and fresh air into your day.

10.Take time each day for you. This is vitally important, and most of us just blow it off. I’m talking about 5-15 minutes even where you take the time to meditate, pray, paint, draw, call a friend, read a book, do something you’ve always wanted, etc. Your health is YOUR responsibility, so take some time each day and do something for yourself. Surround yourself with things that make you happy: plants, flowers, pictures, etc. Fill your space with happiness and health and you can’t help but feel it yourself.

 

If you don’t feel like you can incorporate all these into your life right now, pick three and start them TODAY. Add another one in each week or every couple days until you have all ten. As you add them in, notice how your body and outlook changes. Soon, you will be enjoying a much more vibrant, happy and healthy existence and you won’t be able to fathom what life was like before you decided to take control of your health and make these ten simple changes.

 

If you’d like more information or desire a more customized plan to help you improve your health, please call us or visit our website – www.naturalpathhealthcenter.com. And by all means, share these ten simple things with as many people as you can and spread the gift of health!