Action Steps to Stay Healthy

Most of us would agree that good health, feeling well and being able to perform our typical daily activities without sickness or pain is a universal desire. Most of the time, with a little common sense and a little luck, we can arrive at a place of reasonably good health by making a few key decisions and developing a few key habits.

In times of adversity, it’s even more important for us to carefully choose the best behaviors and practices to avoid unnecessary illness and be well. Here are some of the patterns that have led to the best health possible.

One of the most obvious yet most overlooked health habits is getting enough sleep. Fatigue compromises the way your body works – in fact, chronic fatigue syndrome, which has been linked to faulty immune system function, can make you more susceptible to infection.

But even just being tired takes the edge off your normal daily routine, makes you just a little less efficient. And if your body needs some reserves, getting more sleep is one of the best ways to provide that extra power. For most people, that means seven or eight hours each night, more for kids.

The second habit we can institute is exercise, because if you don’t use it, you lose it – simple exercises like walking, jogging, and swimming stimulate blood flow, balance and coordinate your muscles, and make you feel great! Establishing a practice such as yoga, Pilates, martial arts, or playing a preferred sport can sharpen your skills even more, a vital part of staying healthy.

Different people need different amounts and frequency of exercise, but a good rule of thumb is to enjoy at least three thirty minute or five fifteen minute sessions each week. Choose a level of intensity that matches your current degree of fitness – less intense for beginners, more intense for those accustomed to more aggressive physical activity.

Third, proper nutrition is essential – giving your body the fuel it needs is necessary for it to work properly, and in times of stress or possible illness, it’s even that much more significant to feed yourself effectively. This requires a willingness to select foods that have the right chemical content to nourish you without overburdening your digestion.

Most experts agree that a variety of fresh foods, including vegetables and fruits, along with nuts, olives, avocadoes or wild fish to supply healthy fat and some additional source of protein builds a firm foundation of nutrition for you and your family. In addition, if you want to give yourself extra support, add an organic supplement with vitamins and minerals, important agents that assist your body to perform the chemical reactions that keep you going.

Many doctors recommend Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Vitamin A, along with zinc and selenium, for those families who want extra immune system support.

The fourth health routine to be implemented is stress reduction – one of the worst parts of the current epidemic is the emotional stress, both from fear and grief. Some people can just “decide” to be calm, but most of us have to do something to relax or quiet our emotions.

The most common way for people to de-stress is through meditation, prayer or communing with nature – it only takes a few minutes to get yourself into a quiet or reverent state, and allow the stress to melt away. But many can benefit from being more proactive, using stretching, breathing, BrainTap, yoga or massage to create a feeling of ease that dissipates the duress.

There is one more critical habit for you to develop, if you are serious about being healthy and avoiding getting sick, and that it to take good care of your brain. One of the best ways to do that is to seek regular chiropractic care – adjustments are shown to stimulate and nourish the brain. If you want an advantage, especially in times of health adversity, remember to visit your chiropractor – it helps your body to work better, and you’ll feel better, too.