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The Real Definition of Good Health

July 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Mario G Carini -

In 1948, the World Health Organization defined good health as; “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

This definition of health holds as true today as it did back in 1948. Though the WHO may have modified their definition since then, the state of health for many today is dismal. Diseases such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis and heart disease are increasing rapidly throughout the world and no one appears to have a clue as to how to cure disease other than treat it through drugs and surgery.

Ask anyone on the street and you are likely to get the answer that health for them means the absence of pain and illness. Many say they are healthy even though they take a pharmacy of drugs and medications to feel that way.

As the years have slipped by more people have adopted the Western style diet, a diet of highly refined foods loaded with sodium, sugar, fat and chemical additives. Highly stressed lifestyles combined with bad habits such as smoking and the pollutants in the food, air and water insure that the quality of life is severely compromised. There’s little good in living longer if those extra years are filled with pain an disease.

Today’s diseases are the result of poor lifestyle choices. Aside from the fact that most diets are high in fat, most of the produce on supermarket shelves is severely depleted of the essential vitamins and minerals that were abundant in the diet of those who lived a hundred years ago. Today’s food is mass produced and comes from farms whose soils have been sterilized and robbed of minerals. Food is made to look good and have a long shelf life, but not produced to promote health.

Today’s medical establishment projects the idea that sickness is a part of life and inevitable. The older you get, the sicker you will be and the more you’ll require medical intervention. But the truth is that a healthy body doesn’t get sick. A body with a strong immune system has many checks and balances that insure that good health is maintained. Even today you’ll find centenarians that don’t require crutches to get around or languish in a nursery home waiting for the bliss of death to take them. Health is not all due to hereditary factors.

Those centenarians have no special health genes to help them live so long. What they do have is what’s lacking in the lives of the majority of people today. Those healthy old folks are active. They eat fresh fruits and vegetables, foods high in fiber and low in simple carbohydrates. They get fresh air and don’t smoke or drink to excess. You’ll likely find them living in their own homes and getting about without walkers and canes.

Maintaining good health has to start with the belief that it is possible to become healthy and stay that way by implementing good lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, few people have the incentive to make those changes. A stressed and hurried lifestyle doesn’t allow many to stop and take an inventory of themselves and the goals for future well-being.

With all that we’ve discovered about the functioning of the body and its ability to heal itself, there is no excuse why anyone should continue to live an an unhealthy lifestyle that shortens the quality of life. The real definition of good health is by making a complete change of lifestyle through eating a good diet, exercising regularly, living relatively stress free, getting enough sleep and throwing out the cigarettes and drugs. Doing so would reduce the epidemics of today’s modern diseases and restore the balance and enjoyment that life should be.

The author is a freelance writer who writes mostly in subjects dealing with health, business and self-improvement. He is studying ad copywriting to provide a service to business in their efforts to make a profit from their blogs, websites, and ezines. He currently has a number of articles published on Helium:
http://www.helium.com/users/210594 You can also buy articles for use in your website or ezine here:
http://www.constant-content.com/Author/20444-MrMagica-details-0.htm
You can use this article for your use so long as the resource box is left intact.

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5 Tips for a Healthier You

February 22, 2011 By 2 Comments

By Kya Cassiuss Victoria -

A healthy lifestyle is a secret to a healthy body, mind and soul. You must follow some basic guidelines to remain fit and get healthier. Here are 5 simple tips for you to stay healthy:

Eat right: You should have a balanced diet to ensure a good health. A well balanced diet contains carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Drinking plenty of water is also a part of a balanced diet intake. You should be aware of your nutrition requirement and eat accordingly. If you opt for a weight loss program, you must do it under the supervision of a health expert. Remember, losing weight is not starving, but eating right.

Burn it out: You should follow a regular work-out regime to burn the excess calories and stay fit. You can start your day with some activities like walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, walking on a treadmill or elliptical trainer, yoga or any other exercise best suited for you. It is recommended to get yourself involved in some kind of an activity, in a regular manner to lead a healthy life. Regular exercises prevent you from several health problems, strengthen your immunity power and make you healthier.

Say “No” to stress: Stress is a part of everyone’s life. However, you should know the ways to handle it correctly and relax. Avoid unwanted arguments and try to stay calm and composed. Do not make hasty decisions and regret or get stressed up later. Involve yourself in doing things that interest you and calms down your mind. Music can be a great help to unwind you. You can also practise meditation to de-stress yourself.

Have a Good Night’s sleep: A good sleep helps you to revitalize and charges you up for a new tomorrow. Most of us require eight hours of daily sleep. For a child, it may vary from nine to ten hours a day. But, too much of sleep can cause irritation, fatigue and laziness. So, be well aware of your actual sleep requirement. You may also seek advice from your doctor.

Cleanliness is Godliness: Maintain hygiene at your home and workplace. You must also encourage the kids and young family members to develop this habit. Wash your hands properly before you eat or whenever you come in contact with any article that may cause infection. You could also use hand gloves. Keep your crockery clean and disinfected. Also, try to keep your house dust free and clean all the electronic appliances at home, like microwave oven, refrigerator, air conditioners, fans, etc. thoroughly. If you have pets at home, keep them clean and properly vaccinated.

A healthy lifestyle can actually do wonders. These simple tips, if followed appropriately, can help you to lead a healthy life. Have a happy and healthy living.

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High Energy Lifestyle Choices

October 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

By Patsy Deerhake -

Did you know that primary care physicians report that the number one complaint of patients is fatigue? While symptoms of fatigue could be related to a medical diagnosis such as a thyroid imbalance, depression or sleep apnea, lifestyle choices are the more likely cause. Many patients are frustrated when they share their concerns with their doctors and only to learn that the results of routine medical tests are within normal limits. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, it may be time to explore options for increasing your energy.

Let’s start by taking a look at common energy drainers. The most common include poor sleep, stress, personal and job demands, and lack of time or too much to do. Typically, all of these concerns interact to create a state of persistent anxiety that depletes energy.

Some fairly simple lifestyle changes can counteract some of the energy drainers. Energy is generated by proper nutrition, physical activity, adequate sleep, positive attitude and taking time for relaxation. How do you measure up in these five areas?

1. Are you depending upon caffeine and sugar to fix that mid-morning or mid-afternoon slump? Observe more closely, both of these substances set us up for a roller coaster of highs and lows throughout the day. In addition, afternoon or evening caffeine could be impacting your sleep.

2. Are you too busy for physical activity? Try taking a 10-15 minute walking break. You will be more productive when you return to your task.

3. Do you go to bed only to find that you rehash your day or focus on your to do list and have difficulty falling asleep? It’s helpful to start unwinding before bedtime by developing a relaxing routine. Reading for pleasure or journaling is often helpful to quiet the mind. Planning for 7-8 hours of sleep also results in greater energy levels. Getting fewer hours of sleep has not been demonstrated to increase productivity.

4. Attitudes are contagious. Have you ever noticed how you feel like your energy has just been sucked out of you by someone else’s negativity? Luckily, positive attitudes are just as contagious. Focus on the things for which you’re grateful and avoid naysayers when you’re feeling vulnerable.

5. Most of us don’t take enough relaxation breaks throughout the day. Even a few minutes of deep breathing can rejuvenate. Try sitting in your car and taking slow, deep breaths for a couple of minutes before you start your drive home from work, or before going into work or when you arrive home at the end of the day. Just those couple of minutes of deep breathing can be refreshing and can help you to re-focus.

So…what are you waiting for? Choose one thing that you will do to generate more energy. The choices you make will positively impact the quality of your life. You’re the only one who can determine how to stop draining your energy and start producing it.

Together we can Create A Culture of Wellness! Learn how by going to http://wwrcoach.com/corporate-wellness and receive your free report.

Copywrite 2010 Wellness Within Reach

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Holistic Living and Your Health

September 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

By Stanley David Flores -

With health costs in a never-ending upward spiral – in spite of the still mysterious provisions of the “Obamacare” legislation that was recently signed into law – add that to the concerns about the safety of prescription medications, and it’s easy to understand why many Americans are turning to holistic medicine to help them achieve and maintain good health.

With that being said, most Americans still wonder “Just what is holistic health?”

According to the American Holistic Health Association, holistic health is actually your approach to life. Rather than focusing on specific illnesses or parts of the body, this approach considers the whole person and how they interact with their environment.

Recognizing that the individual as a whole is made up of interdependent parts, which are the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual – holistic health emphasizes the connection of the mind, body and spirit.

It believes when all three of these elements are functioning at their peak, the host will reap healthy benefits from the proper maintenance of the holistic equilibrium.

The earth is made up of systems such as air, land, water, plants and animals. If life is to be sustained they cannot be separated, for what is happening to one is also felt by all of the other systems.

Likewise, Holistic health is also based on the conceptual law of nature – that a whole is made up of independent parts.

Holistic health is also an ongoing process. As a lifestyle, it includes a personal commitment to keep moving toward the right end of the wellness continuum with the belief that no matter what their current state of health – people can continue to improve their levels of well-being.

Another hallmark of the holistic healthy living philosophy is the belief that people must accept responsibility for their own level of well-being that stems from the everyday choices they make that can affect their health for the better – or for the worse.

To reinforce that point, holistic advocates point to a recently released US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that concluded everyday lifestyle choices were among the most important key factors influencing an individual’s state of health.

The key factors influencing a person’s health scored as follows:

Everyday Lifestyle Choices 53%

Environment 19%

Heredity 18%

Medical Care Quality 10%

As evidenced in these findings, the personal decisions people make about lifestyle is by far the largest factor in determining their potential level of wellness.

Again, holistic health is based on the premise that illnesses and premature death can be traced back to lifestyle choices.

There are the well-known dangers connected with drugs, alcohol, nicotine and unprotected sexual activity, as well as excess sugar intake, caffeine consumption patterns, even something as seemingly insignificant as having a negative attitude!

When you combine these hazards with insufficient exercise, overeating and low self-esteem, they gradually accumulate harmful effects.

With time they can diminish the quality of “the environment within” a human being and can also set the stage for illness to take hold.

Quality of life is actually determined by a vast number of seemingly small choices that are made on a daily basis, yet over time these can accumulate and make a decisive difference in one’s health.

As a general overview, holistic health focuses on reaching higher levels of wellness.

After all, people are motivated by how good it feels to have lots of energy and enthusiasm for life!

In the current health scene, more and more physicians are using the holistic approach to health and healing with their patients. Holistic physicians embrace a variety of safe, effective options in the diagnosis and treatment of their patients, including:

• Education for lifestyle changes and self-care

• Complementary alternatives

• Conventional drugs and surgery

People who practice holistic health in their own lives may have fewer chronic illnesses or major health problems.

However, if conventional medical care is required for an accident or illness, a medical doctor who follows the principles of holistic medicine may provide important reassurance to the dedicated holistic-oriented individual.

Most people find holistic health principles easy to practice once the proper habits are formed.

Is holistic health for you?

Only you can answer that question. No matter what the answer is for now, it’s still probably a good idea to keep up your research on the topic – while realizing that the uncertain future of the US health care system now demands we all make a greater effort than ever to maintain our health on our own terms.

So here’s to wishing you and yours a healthy and vibrant life in the years to come!

David Flores is a natural health researcher for Institute for Vibrant Living, a top retailer specializing in all-natural supplements, vitamins, and minerals for many health and nutrition challenges. To learn more about the products offered by the Institute for Vibrant Living visit http://www.ivlproducts.com

If you found this helpful you might like to visit http://www.theivl.org where you’ll find more free healthy living articles to help improve your health today.

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The Real Definition of Good Health

August 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

sunflowerBy Mario G Carini -

In 1948, the World Health Organization defined good health as; “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

This definition of health holds as true today as it did back in 1948. Though the WHO may have modified their definition since then, the state of health for many today is dismal. Diseases such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis and heart disease are increasing rapidly throughout the world and no one appears to have a clue as to how to cure disease other than treat it through drugs and surgery.

Ask anyone on the street and you are likely to get the answer that health for them means the absence of pain and illness. Many say they are healthy even though they take a pharmacy of drugs and medications to feel that way.

As the years have slipped by more people have adopted the Western style diet, a diet of highly refined foods loaded with sodium, sugar, fat and chemical additives. Highly stressed lifestyles combined with bad habits such as smoking and the pollutants in the food, air and water insure that the quality of life is severely compromised. There’s little good in living longer if those extra years are filled with pain an disease.

Today’s diseases are the result of poor lifestyle choices. Aside from the fact that most diets are high in fat, most of the produce on supermarket shelves is severely depleted of the essential vitamins and minerals that were abundant in the diet of those who lived a hundred years ago. Today’s food is mass produced and comes from farms whose soils have been sterilized and robbed of minerals. Food is made to look good and have a long shelf life, but not produced to promote health.

Today’s medical establishment projects the idea that sickness is a part of life and inevitable. The older you get, the sicker you will be and the more you’ll require medical intervention. But the truth is that a healthy body doesn’t get sick. A body with a strong immune system has many checks and balances that insure that good health is maintained. Even today you’ll find centenarians that don’t require crutches to get around or languish in a nursery home waiting for the bliss of death to take them. Health is not all due to hereditary factors.

Those centenarians have no special health genes to help them live so long. What they do have is what’s lacking in the lives of the majority of people today. Those healthy old folks are active. They eat fresh fruits and vegetables, foods high in fiber and low in simple carbohydrates. They get fresh air and don’t smoke or drink to excess. You’ll likely find them living in their own homes and getting about without walkers and canes.

Maintaining good health has to start with the belief that it is possible to become healthy and stay that way by implementing good lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, few people have the incentive to make those changes. A stressed and hurried lifestyle doesn’t allow many to stop and take an inventory of themselves and the goals for future well-being.

With all that we’ve discovered about the functioning of the body and its ability to heal itself, there is no excuse why anyone should continue to live an an unhealthy lifestyle that shortens the quality of life. The real definition of good health is by making a complete change of lifestyle through eating a good diet, exercising regularly, living relatively stress free, getting enough sleep and throwing out the cigarettes and drugs. Doing so would reduce the epidemics of today’s modern diseases and restore the balance and enjoyment that life should be.

The author is a freelance writer who writes mostly in subjects dealing with health, business and self-improvement. He is studying ad copywriting to provide a service to business in their efforts to make a profit from their blogs, websites, and ezines. He currently has a number of articles published on Helium:
http://www.helium.com/users/210594 You can also buy articles for use in your website or ezine here:
http://www.constant-content.com/Author/20444-MrMagica-details-0.htm
You can use this article for your use so long as the resource box is left intact.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mario_G_Carini
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Real-Definition-of-Good-Health&id=3512855

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