Would you believe that there are eight, simple principles of health that can help you live a healthier, more vibrant life? It may sound too good to be true, but there are, in fact, natural principles of health that can help to not only optimize your immune system, but also help you to overcome many health challenges such as, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Since these conditions may also put you at a greater risk of serious illness or death if you are infected by COVID-19, having a strategy to combat them puts you in a more favorable position to maintain health. You can think of these principles as eight tips for healthier living.
Adopt a Plant-based Diet
Whole food, plant-based nutrition has been proven to be the best choice for prevention, as well as treatment of illness. The food that we put into our body should be nutrient dense. That means it should be loaded with nutrients that not only satisfies our appetite but will also replenish our body. It was Hippocrates (known as the father of medicine) who said, “let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
Exercise Regularly
In order to have good health you must have good circulation. And in order to have good circulation you must move. The human body was created for movement. It has been said that most people rust out rather than wear out. Without regular, consistent exercise the heart, brain, lungs and all other organs are weakened and not allowed to work optimally.
Drink More Water
This is the most important fluid to put into your body since the human body is composed of 60 to 75% water. Being slightly dehydrated may result in aches and pain (including headaches), constipation, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and other serious conditions in the body. Beverages such as sodas, juice, tea, are not a safe substitute for water. In fact, caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and tea, actually take water out of your body because they are diuretic.
Spend time in the Sunshine
Heliotherapy, or sun therapy, has been used since ancient times for its healing benefits. Exposure to sunlight has many wonderful benefits for mind and body. When sunlight hits the skin it triggers the production of Vitamin D. This has been called the “sunshine vitamin” and is essential for good health. Vitamin D is needed for a properly functioning immune system. It also aids in heart health, balances blood pressure, heals wounds, and kills bacteria and viruses. Sunlight also enhances mood and helps to relieve depression and improve brain function.
Get Fresh Air
Most people spend way too much time indoors and do not really get the benefit of having an adequate healthful supply of fresh air in their homes or in their bodies. Many people’s homes are inundated with pet odor and dander, cooking odors and various other fumes that may come from furniture or other items. Add to this the shallow way in which most adults breathe, and you have a condition in which the blood is not revitalized with regular fresh supplies of oxygen.
Practice Temperance
Temperance can best be defined as the moderate use of things that are good for you, and complete avoidance of those things, which are not good for you. This can also be thought of as having self-control. This health principle encompasses practically every area of our lives —what we eat, what time we eat and how much, what we drink or don’t drink, when we go to bed, and so much more. To a large degree, the state of your health can be determined by the amount of self-control you have in your life.
Get Proper Rest
Modern society has turned night into day. It has become a common practice to stay up until 11 pm or later. Many people will declare that they cannot go to bed earlier, but this has a detrimental effect on the body. Everything from good muscle tone, enhanced immune function, hormone balancing, to clearer mental functioning and more, demands that you dial back your time of going to bed no later than 10 pm.
Trust in Divine Power
Scientific studies conducted on people who pray and live a faithful religious life reveal that they experience significantly more physical and mental health than non-religious people. Dr. W. Bauer, former director of health education for the American Medical Association stated that, “Total health involves the spiritual, the emotional, and social aspects of life, as well as the physical.” And Dr. Dale Matthews, in his book, The Faith Factor, points out that the National Institute of Healthcare Research reviewed 200 scientific studies on religion and health and found that positive results of religion outweighed negative results 10 to 1. People of faith have a transcending hope that helps to them to endure through tough times. This hope has a powerful beneficial impact on their mental and physical health.
Practicing just one, or two, or three of these principles can have a wonderful impact on your health. However, the more you incorporate into your life, the greater the impact. Why not adopt these eight powerful health habits into your life today and enjoy the multiplied health benefits.