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Following these 10 easy steps will not only protect your body against disease and slow the aging process, you’ll enjoy the healthiest, most vibrant and energetic daily life you deserve, naturally:
1. Give Thanks
Begin all meals with a reflective “grace” or “thanksgiving”. A simple reflection before your meal helps to generate a feeling of healthy cohesiveness which often lasts the rest of your day.
2. Eat as if your life depended upon it!
Eating is a very intimate and important process. Consider each food before you eat it. Also try to eat a diet that contains 75% alkalizing foods and 25% acidifying foods. (see chart provided by genuinehealth.com pg. 14) This will keep your body chemistry in perfect balance and able to operate at peak performance. Have a green drink like greens+ daily. It’s a convenient alkalizing ‘superfood’ that contains a variety of phytonutrients, antioxidants and more.
3. Exercise daily
Exercise is life supporting. Our bodies were meant to move in a natural, neurologically coordinated way. Walking in particular, is a high quality locomotive movement we should engage in each day. It has a harmonizing effect on the entire central nervous system.
4. Drink water
Aim for 6 to 12, 250mL glasses of pure water a day. Our skin is 80% water. The most important cosmetic or nutritional support we can give ourselves to promote a clear, smooth, radiant complexion is to drink, clean, pure water throughout the day. Our body’s water supply is also responsible for and involved in regulating every biological process, especially synthesizing hormones, neurotransmitters and maintaining ultimate body balance and homeostasis.
5. Go organic!
Eat 10 servings of organically grown fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains and sea vegetables like Nova Scotia dulse, spirulina and chlorella, which are high in omega 3 fatty acids, every day. Whenever possible, purchase foods that haven’t been exposed to pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and ripening-retardant chemicals. Be alert to the new bioengineered and irradated foods. Avoid chemical-laden and overly processed foods containing MSG, excess sugar, and hydrogenated oils. These foods are full of empty calories, may cause allergic reactions or cancer and requires the body to use valuable energy to break down and get rid of these “foreign invaders.”
6. Balance your foods
Eat low-fat proteins, quality fats, and low-glycemic, complex carbohydrates at every meal. Eat lean cuts of meat and remove all visible fat before cooking. Try to eat salmon, mackerel, sardines and trout two to three times a week. High in Omega-3 fatty acids, they are now scientifically proven to increase brain power, mood, help us lose weight and keep our cardiovascular system in top shape. Only consume fat-free dairy products and eat free-range eggs when possible. If you are vegan or vegetarian, try to incorporate nutritional yeast, spirulina, chlorella, and soy isolate protein powder to ensure you are consuming enough protein and Omega 3 fatty acids.
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7. Reduce stress naturally
Breathe deeply and reduce stress naturally: Conscientious breathing revitalizes the body with both oxygen and energy. Taking time to consciously breath reduces stress, invigorates our cells and gives us clarity. Each morning and each evening take five minutes to breathe calmly and perform breathing exercises.
8. Let the sunshine in
Expose your skin to sunlight without glasses, sunglasses, or contact lenses to the sun for 10 minutes in the early morning and/or 10 minutes in the late afternoon. This gentle sun exposure naturally promotes the production of Vitamin D in your body, while helping your skin build a natural tolerance. Vitamin D deficiencies increase the risk of bone and muscle problems and perhaps a host of other diseases including many forms of cancer, high blood pressure, depression, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes.
9. Remember your good fats
Take fish oils. Best known for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, skin conditions and arthritis, there’s exciting research now showing the positive impact of Omega-3s on brain health and function. Unfortunately, there’s been a radical shift in the Western diet over the last half-century leaving a nutritional void that can easily be filled with proper supplementation. Look for fish oils derived from small, wild and clean sources such as anchovy, sardines and mackerel.
10. Sleep well
Get sufficient sleep. Determine the number of hours of sleep you require to awake feeling rested and refreshed, aim to get this every night. Practice your breathing and meditation prior to falling asleep to both relax and deepen yourself. Honour your sleep requirements by keeping a regular bedtime and waking time schedule. Sleep affects everything, from appetite and fertility, as well as mental, emotional and physical health.
By incorporating these 10 steps every day, not only will you feel more energized and full of vitality on a daily basis, but you’ll also reap the rewards that come with a natural, preventive approach to health and healing such as reduced risk for disease, improved stress management, immune protection and more.
Remember, your health is won or lost each day at the cellular level and only YOU have the power to make the right choices. Eat wisely, feel healthy, live long and be happy naturally!
H&L
Sam Graci, is one of NorthAmerica’s leading nutrition experts. His research led to the development of products known as ‘green superfoods’ including greens+. A regular guest speaker; has authored: The Power of Superfoods (1998); The Food Connection (2001) and his new book The Path to Phenomenal Health: An Inspirational Journey to Vitality and Wellness (September 2005). |
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