The Top 6 Things to Do to Stay Healthy

It is so easy to stay healthy, but most of us either are not aware of what the problem is with doing what everyone else does, or couldn't be bothered with doing them. Our modern Western Lifestyle entails eating stuff that is really poisonous for our bodies and living in environments that add toxins to our system that we're not even aware of.

As a Natural Health Practitioner I see the results of this type of thinking and doing every day. People only become aware that things are not so good when their bodies put them down with heart problems, overweight issues, joints that pack up and parts of their bodies that suddenly don't want to function anymore or that break down or get hurt when put under pressure.

So this is just a short list to remind you that you CAN become and stay healthy, you just have to commit to doing so...and it is YOUR responsibility to look after yourself. No-one else is going to do it for you.

Here we go!

Photo Credit: Enhanced from Flickr: Kim Shuster Creative Commons

Posture, Posture, Posture!

Your whole spine rests on your pelvis. If your hips are scew, the curve of the whole spine goes out of whack.

This causes the cushions between vertabrae to be compressed and they then place pressure on the nerves coming out of the spine.

Those nerves nourish organs, limbs and joints. Now they're not getting it all and will soon start to lose function or won't be able to regenerate and function properly.

Make sure that you sit and stand properly so that your structure stays inline.

If you've had a bump, fall or accident, get your alignment checked and get a massage to make sure your muscles don't go into spasm and stay like that to protect these nerves.

Cut out Acid Forming Foods

Our bodies need an alkaline medium to function properly. If you eat too many foods that cause an acidic environment, it can cause problems that can range from candida, arthritis, gout, to the growth of parasites and worms in your gut. Viruses flourish in an acidic environment so it is vital for the proper functioning of your immune system that your system stays alkaline.

You can find a chart of alkaline forming foods on this great article of some alkalising foods.

To Keep your Gut going and Boost your Immune System

Probiotics are bacteria that are present in soil. They are the base of the functioning of our gut and immune system. They're the reason toddlers eat dirt! Their bodies need these bacteria to build up the young child's immune system.

By being overprotective and "too clean" we can prevent this natural process from happening. Make sure it's "clean" dirt and you should be fine, mommies!

The other reason most of us are battling with immune system problems as well as digestive system problems is the fact that modern Western farming practice have annihilated these organisms from the soil our vegetables and fruit are planted in by spraying herbacides and pesticides. So we don't get it in through our food anymore in the quantities we need. This is one of the main reasons why organic food is better. The soil these farmers use tend to be more healthy and in balance!

Planting and eating your own veges is still the best, but if you can't do this, try and get local organic or naturally produced food.

Otherwise you will have to supplement with a good live probiflora supplement, or eat fermented foods and yoghurt on a regular basis.

Read more on probiflora on my blog here

And stop putting more in!

Your body is constantly ridding itself of the remnants of all the processes that's on the go in it. This is a normal part of it's running.

If, however, you are putting extra toxins in, the chances are good that somewhere along the line the organs that take care of this will become overloaded.

Some of these toxins we have no control over where they come from. Those in our air, water and environment. You can take steps to remove them, though, by filtering your air, water and making changes in your working and living environment to reduce them. Some you are putting in without realising by eating foods that contain them. Additives, colourants, MSG and other flavourants.

Some you are putting on your skin everyday where they get absorbed. Skin care products, cosmetics and deodorants all contain things that, in excess, can clog your pores or start accumulating in your glands and tissues.

Rather use natural ingredient lipsticks (like these on the right) without all the toxins in!

As an aside...I found out due to a comment from my writing mentor on Squidoo's Squid University that Amazon doesn't just sell books when she mentioned that she was looking for an alternative to lipstick..where was the link? Really...now I know Amazon sells everyting from a pin to an elephant...seriously awesome!

Smoking and Alcolhol overloads your system

If you smoke of course, you're adding thousands of toxins into your system, and the clogging of your elimination organs is a definite! Your liver filters your blood and alcohol adds it's load, as do medication.

There's lots you can do to help your system cope and the detoxification of your liver should be done at least every 6 months, more if you're adding an extra load. The herb that does a stunning job is Milk Thistle as it actually rebuilds the liver cells, so get some caps or a tincture and use it for at least a month. Take regular detox baths whilst you are taking Milk Thistle as this will help to eliminate the toxins released by it through your skin, your biggest elimination organ.

Everyone reckons 6-8 glasses of water a day is it. This is total nonsense and is based on one non-confirmed study.

Yes, we all need to stay hydrated and we need to drink water to flush out toxins, but you need to listen to your own body, because it will tell you how much you need.

Generally 1 to 2 glasses of water a day should be enough, but it needs to be pure water, preferably natural spring water. Natural water is structured to enhance your body. If you cannot do this, then filtered tap water is preferred over bottled water, a huge industry that is placing our water resources under pressure. The plastic bottles are another concern, especially if left in a car standing in the sun. Most plastic bottles contain contaminants such as BPA, an endocrine disruptor, that leaches out into the water.

Other than feeling thirsty, your body's natural mechanism for telling you you need more water, you can judge by the colour of your urine too. It is generally a very light yellow. If it smells, burns or is a darker yellow...you need to drink more water!

And if you're thirsty, it doesn't mean it will help to drink any other drink to hydrate, you need WATER. Pure, clear, natural water.

I love Dr. Scheussler's Mineral Tissue Salts. They are amazing for restoring your balance if you happen to build up some mineral deficiency. They absorb in the mouth and work almost immediately.

If you've sweated too much and lost a lot of minerals, or you've flushed out your minerals by drinking too much water, the Mineral Salt that will restore your Water Balance is NatMur, No. 9 of this range of 12 mineral combination salts. It helps for headaches, migraines, dry skin, dry eyes and cramps caused by a sodium imbalance in the body.

Written by a Skin Specialist who decided to do research on how the skin stays healthy. He recommends fixing any skin problem from the inside...by what you eat, obviously! And the best way to keep it hydrated...eat your water! Pretty cool!

Your Food is the Building Blocks of your Body

What you put in is what you get out! As simple as that. Anything that is processed has been stripped of all the good stuff or the natural balance of the food has disturbed.

If most of your diet consists of processed or tinned foods, full of added colorants, flavour enhancers and sugar, salt or even sweeteners, your body will be bombarded with stuff it cannot cope with. Sugars, additives and stuff it doesn't know how to recognize.

A healthy diet consists of natural whole foods straight from the plant or animal that it comes from. Make sure if you still eat meat that the animals that it came from were fed foods from nature and that they could roam freely. Farmed beef and chicken means that the poor animal was forcefed and got no exercise so you're just eating its fatty flesh!

Organic means that the plants were grown in a balanced, natural environment and will contain nutrients that your body will actually be able to absorb.

Photo Credit: Flickr - Ali Karimian cc

Would love to hear what you do to stay healthy or whether this list has helped to make you aware of what might still you need to do to either become healthy or stay healthy!

(Of course you have to exercise as well, but I did say this is a short list...and I wanted to focus on the top priority, maybe not so obvious things.)