To Your Health

Simply put, health is a kind of freedom. Ideally, health would allow the neighbor with arthritis to enjoy a walk in the park without pain and the friend to be free of PMS. The relative could enjoy the doctor's statement of health, knowing and feeling well and healthy. Health allows a person to enjoy a long, full life without the need for drugs or hospitalization.

Since everyone is constantly adapting to a changing environment, no one can enjoy optimal health all the time. Better stamina and overall health can be achieved just by living a healthy lifestyle, which supports the body's efforts to restore and maintain its natural vitality and strength. Our body provides us with a natural ability to fend off illness physically, emotionally and mentally. When we are healthy we are resistant to disease and recover quickly from injury, illness and emotional trauma. When this natural resistance breaks down, health declines. This weakness becomes obvious by the recurrence of infections, a greater sensitivity to stress or a noticeable drop in energy. It may not be obvious until serious illness occurs. Although resistance to disease is highly individual, eating junk food once or twice, or missing a night's sleep or a few days of physical activity will not cause immunity to decline. Rather, it is through years of mistreatment that the body's natural resistance can collapse, leaving the body more susceptible to illness.

A balanced lifestyle is essential to achieving and maintaining overall health. The body is a living fabric, highly adaptable to changing circumstances and continually striving to maintain, compensate for and restore health. As part of its daily program, the body destroys germs, defends itself from the cold and heat, and eliminates toxic wastes. Supporting the body's natural need to maintain balance makes a remarkable difference to health.

For a variety of different reasons, many people do not like to assume responsibility for their own health. Most would rather be cured with a few pills than take on the responsibility of eating a healthier diet or committing to regular exercise. Of course, the body's ability to defend itself depends partly on individual genetic make-up and partly on the environment around it. People also need sufficient nutrition, clothing and shelter, not only from the weather, but also from toxic materials in the environment. Supporting a healthy world is part of the responsibility of maintaining health.

The body's resistance rests largely on our individual choices about where to live, what to eat and how to find a balance between challenging activity, stress and rest, as well as the cultivation of emotional and spiritual well-being. In short, health is achieved when the body, mind and spirit are in balance.

Healthy living is a way of life, not a temporary change in routine. Healthy living means recognizing your body's signals before you become ill, and being able to prevent illness by being aware of your personal weaknesses. You can improve your health by reducing risk factors and knowing when your body is most susceptible. Also, setting a sensible pace that suits your personal lifestyle is just as important as making those changes. Replacing a bad habit with a good one is not so difficult, provided you believe in what you are doing and take on goals that are realistic. Sometimes, only the appearance of a serious health problem provides the motivation to live a healthier lifestyle. Although the natural strength of the body can be restored after illness has set in, most illnesses are much easier to prevent than they are to treat.

There is a growing movement toward natural health and responsible living. The benefits of natural health can be clearly seen in the vitality of those who have chosen a healthy lifestyle.

To Your Health Optimal Health Essentials

Nourishment

Food provides calories that are metabolized into energy and offers the nutrients required as cellular building blocks. Food in its natural, unrefined state contains valuable healing qualities. Nature has a unique means of providing the correct balance of nutrients in foods. The most nourishing foods are those fresh from the garden. The more a food is altered, processed or packaged, the less nourishment it contains. Today, foods that have been robbed of their vital nutrients, such as refined flour, preserved and canned goods, ready-made sauces and TV dinners have lost most of their nourishing qualities. They merely offer empty calories and a load of additives. Yet these foods are heralded for their taste, convenience and long shelf-life. Even most of the fruits and vegetables in the supermarkets contain harsh pesticides. Meats contain residues of hormones and medications which are fed to the animals.

The poor quality of food, combined with improper eating habits, lead to disease. In earlier centuries, most people suffered from lack of food, while today people suffer from eating too much food that is refined and high in protein. The diet in the Western world is full of trans-fatty acids, sugar and salt, and significantly lacking in fiber and enzymes. It is well known that heart disease, arteriosclerosis, strokes, high blood pressure and obesity result from a poor diet. Even illnesses that are not directly caused by improper nutrition such as cancer and multiple sclerosis are affected by dietary changes. Maintaining a nutritious, simple diet is an integral part of preventing disease and maintaining health.

Physical Activity

Look at the body and observe the way the muscles, joints and bones are built. It is obvious that the human body is made for physical activity, just as the mind is made for mental activity. Because of our stressful, busy lifestyles, many people will drive instead of walk, run or cycle to their destination. Instead of getting out for a walk after a full day indoors, people drive to the pharmacy and pick up drugs for tense stomachs, aching heads or poorly conditioned hearts. Even though computers, cars and modern medicine are powerful tools, they cannot offer the light of the sun, fill the lungs with fresh air or stimulate a poor appetite. Modern technology cannot restore circulation to the sedentary body or strengthen flabby muscles. Physical activity can do all these things and more.

To work optimally, the body needs to be challenged and used to its full capacity. A sedentary lifestyle is the cause, wholly or in part, of many illnesses. Heart and circulatory disorders, excess weight, constipation, muscle stiffness and fatigue are all related in one way or another to a lack of activity. Regular exercise not only stimulates the heart, increases oxygen supply to the deepest part of the lungs and restores circulation to cold feet and fingertips, but also restores balance to the body and the mind. Even a brisk walk increases circulation to the muscles and heart, releases stress and lifts the spirits. It is becoming increasingly accepted that physical exercise and mental achievements go hand-in-hand. Exercise helps to relieve anxiety and maximize thinking.

Finding a form of physical activity that suits you is paramount to actually changing your sedentary habits. For example, swimming is a healthy form of exercise for anyone with a physical disability: it supports the weight of the body, easing any burden on ligaments, joints and the skeletal system. Replace a bad habit with a healthy one by walking to the corner store instead of driving the car. Walking, cycling and hiking are easy on under-used, stiff muscles and rarely cause the strains or injuries which are more common to other types of exercises, like racketball and jogging. Work toward intense physical exercise to push your physical limits and attain new goals. Physical activity in any form will produce sensations of confidence, fulfillment and achievement.

Sleep and Relaxation

Sleep and rest serve to balance the activities of a full day and provide nourishment to the nervous system. For centuries, human activities were ruled by the passage of day, night and the seasons. Only recently has technology provided the freedom to live without these constraints. The harnessing of electricity and the invention of the light bulb no longer mean going to bed and waking up with the sun. Yet the need for the body and mind to replenish themselves during sleep has not changed with this technological revolution. The muscles and the mind need rest as well as exercise to maintain health.

For the overactive mind, sleeping can be difficult. Resorting to sleeping pills is an extremely unhealthy habit because it removes the body's coping mechanism and offers a crutch that can make sleeping naturally even more difficult in the future. Resolving nagging thoughts not only improves sleep quality, but also increases self-awareness, which is important for maintaining emotional well-being. In the meantime, both physical exercise and hydrotherapy can help sleeplessness by improving circulation. Deep-breathing techniques can be used to relieve tension, encouraging sleep. Be aware of what relaxes you. People who spend their time sitting indoors and thinking might want to play a sport or pick up a hobby like gardening, tennis or hiking. People who engage in hard physical labor may prefer to relax through reading a magazine or book, sitting out in the garden or starting a stamp or art collection. Without proper rest, physical and mental work suffer, but without sufficient stimulation, relaxation is not fulfilling either. Finding and maintaining this balance between mental and physical work will naturally promote good health.

Deep Breathing

Breathing comes naturally at birth to serve the vital purpose of exchanging carbon dioxide with oxygen, which is needed for all body functions. Proper breathing can also be used to purposefully relax and calm the body. Keeping the respiratory organs healthy is an important function of overall well-being. Weakness and poor resistance in the mucous membranes of the nose, throat and bronchial tubes, down to the smallest alveola in the lungs, lead to recurring colds and flus. Chronically poor oxygen intake affects every organ in the body, including the brain. Weak respiration is often caused by smoking, but can also be due to a lack of exercise. Proper breathing and adequate exercise are paramount. Just as other parts of the body need to be used and challenged daily to function optimally, so do the respiratory organs. Daily physical activity in the fresh air allows the natural act of breathing to ventilate and restore circulation to every last lung pocket.

Breathing begins with the nose, which filters and warms the air for the lungs. The diaphragm, which divides the chest from the abdomen, ensures the full use of the lungs. Singers and public speakers use this technique of breathing consciously through the abdomen into the lower belly because it provides the voice with a full tone that carries and shows confidence. While physical activity, laughing and singing make breathing occur more naturally, most other times breathing is superficial and shallow and does not ventilate the entire lung, particularly when anxious or fearful, and when experiencing pain.

Learning proper breathing techniques is vital to the health of those suffering from bronchitis, asthma and emphysema. It helps to relieve anxiety, insomnia, heart problems, circulatory disturbances and the effects of old age. Smokers have problems with deep breathing because they will cough. Smoking is a terrible burden on the respiratory system. Those who smoke should make an extra effort to maintain the health of this system by both quitting smoking and adopting deep breathing techniques in their daily routine. Breathing is a vital ingredient for health, as a preventive against disease and as a means of using the body's natural powers to restore health.

Sunshine, Fresh Air and Clean Water

The most abundant substances on earth are also those most essential to life. Sunlight, fresh air and water provide the body with the most basic and essential ingredients to preserve health. Without the sun's light and warmth, life would not exist. Sunlight also has incredible healing powers. Sunlight has been used for decades as a treatment for many illnesses, including tuberculosis. Studies show that sunlight kills bacteria, alleviates depression, heals skin conditions and improves the constitution of the entire organism. The sun's ultraviolet rays also help the skin manufacture vitamin D, which prevents osteomalacia (bone decalcification). Overexposure to the sun can cause burns, cataracts, unsightly pigment changes and cancer. With conscien-tious exposure, sunshine provides truly amazing healing properties.

Fresh air is another essential substance. Every cell in the body requires oxygen. Without it, the body could not survive more than a few minutes. Unfortunately, environmental pollution poisons the air, resulting in cities filled with smog. Spending most of the day indoors in air-conditioned rooms with closed windows deprives the body of fresh air and sufficient oxygen. The mind becomes tired and unfocused when the brain is deprived of fresh air. A walk in the park or garden can offer some quick relief. Nothing beats the fresh air of a forest and the outdoors. Breathing in the aromas of essential oils found in forests is healing to the respiratory organs.

Clean water is another vital element in life. While it replenishes the body with fluid and minerals, it provides us with the chief tool for keeping ourselves and our environment clean. For centuries, this abundant substance has been used for its capacity to heal. Water is used internally to detoxify and cleanse the body. Externally, baths can relieve cramps, strengthen weak organs and relieve inflammation. The Greeks and Romans knew the value of hot and cold baths as prevention and therapy for all kinds of illnesses. Hot and cold baths restore circulation to tense muscles, invigorate skin cells and tone the entire nervous system. Saunas are an excellent way to use heat. Alternate saunas with cold baths to cleanse the body and skin of toxins, improve skin conditions and build the body's overall resistance to infections.

Unfortunately, the earth's water supply has been used as a dumping ground for waste. Even though the amount of water on earth is limited, it is commonly perceived as infinite and renewable.

Cleanliness is a powerful tool for disease prevention. By washing, disinfecting and sterilizing, even highly contagious illnesses can be contained. Proper personal hygiene and clean water can prevent illnesses, minimize food poisoning, and restrict parasitic and bacterial infection. Water provides enormous healing power, but its purity must be protected.

Emotional Well-being

Emotional well-being is intricately linked to physical health. Just as it is essential for the body to be challenged and replenished, it is vital for the mind and spirit to attain health and achieve fulfillment. Providing the body with nutritious food, sunlight and fresh air, engaging in regular physical activity and taking sufficient rest provide the basis for emotional well-being.

Some emotional problems have their roots in physical complaints. Pain can stir anger or depression, a flu can bring on emotional exhaustion and irritability, or an excessive fluctuation of hormones can cause moodiness.

Another part of achieving and maintaining emotional well-being is attitude. For example, the root of many illnesses lies not in stress, but in the reaction to stressful situations. Some degree of stress is essential. Suffering setbacks and conquering hurdles are necessary to gain a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment when a goal is reached. The difficulty occurs when the challenge becomes overwhelming. Setting practical, attainable goals is a good first step toward dealing with stress. Believe in yourself and what you can do, and look on setbacks as challenges and opportunities for personal growth as opposed to defeats. If something is repeatedly getting you down, try to look at it from another perspective. There is something to be learned from each hardship.

To Your Health Basic Principles of the Natural Health Philosophy

Detoxification

One of the body's natural means of staying healthy is its ability to detoxify itself. Many of the harmful substances we absorb, inhale or create, are rendered harmless and expelled from the body. The organs of detoxification are the liver, kidneys, bowels, lungs and skin. Avoiding harmful substances such as junk food, drugs and smoke, as well as supporting the organs in their detoxifying action is vital in maintaining and restoring health. Sufficient fluid intake supports the eliminating function of the kidneys, the bowels and the skin. We often forget the skin's function as a detoxifying organ, and yet many therapies rest on this ability, including saunas, which promote sweating. Fever is a natural means of toxin elimination during sickness. The heat triggers chemical reactions that enhance the immune system, and destroy bacteria and viruses. By routinely reducing fevers, we remove the body's self-healing mechanisms. Only when a fever becomes dangerously high should we attempt to lower it.

Healthy circulatory and lymphatic systems support detoxification. When these become sluggish, many waste products are left behind in the tissues. Regular exercise and alternating hot and cold baths invigorate both the circulatory and lymphatic systems. Dry brushing the skin is a European method of improving skin function. Besides serving to cleanse the skin of its layer of dead cells, it also promotes circulation and stimulates detoxification.

Fasting is a very effective method of detoxification and purification. It can also be an inspiring and motivating experience. An ancient tradition, fasting has been used for religious and spiritual purposes, to cleanse and to strengthen the body and spirit. Its benefit of preserving and restoring health is well documented. Fasting has alleviated a wide variety of chronic illnesses, including arthritis, skin problems, chronic inflammation, constipation, migraines, even gallstones and kidney stones. Although it is not appropriate for everyone, fasting is an effective way of moving toward a healthier diet and removing attachments to food, drugs and alcohol.

In the natural treatment of chronic illness, a healing crisis, a temporary worsening of symptoms, often occurs before a condition improves, as a result of detoxification. The aggravation of symptoms is due to the release and elimination of toxins that have remained in the body for long periods.

Digestion

Just as important as ridding itself of toxins, it is vital that the body has the nourishment and energy to defend and renew itself. Today, many people are fraught with problems relating to the digestive tract, whether it is indigestion, constipation, heartburn, gas, bloating, colitis, ulcers or otherwise. The list is endless, as are the chemicals offered to provide temporary relief. To add to the problem, poor absorption and assimilation of foods have the potential to cause further trouble, especially nutrient deficiency syndromes like anemia. Even food allergies, which are so widespread today, are thought to be the result of improper absorption of food particles. Improper nourishment not only comes from a poor diet, but also from poor digestion.

Digestive health requires healthy foods, frequent small meals and freedom from stress and anxiety. Worries can also be the source of colics and ulcers. Overfilling the stomach and eating hastily promote indigestion. Digestion begins with the smelling and tasting of food, and chewing properly is a small but effective first step toward proper digestion.

The digestive tract's ability to nourish the body is compromised if imbalances occur. Stomach acid supports digestion and destroys bacteria that cause gas and bloating. Too little acid hinders digestion and disinfection, while too much acid eats sores into the mucous membranes of the stomach. The digestive organs, including the intestines, liver, gall-bladder and pancreas, function to provide proper digestion and assimilation of nutrients. They should be maintained through a natural healthy lifestyle.

Stress Reduction

The ability to cope with stress lies in attitudes and reactions, whether you see upsets as challenges or defeats. There is no doubt that many people today live in a high-stress environment. The need to reduce stress levels and make them manageable is essential for healthy living.

Various techniques exist for coping with stress. Hard physical work and fresh air are the greatest insurance for a good sound sleep. Physical activity is one of the simplest and best techniques for releasing stress and achieving overall relaxation. Another method is deep breathing, which elicits a more immediate response to anxiety and stress. Any situation that introduces stress causes breathing to quicken and the muscles to tense up. Calming yourself by deep abdominal breathing can relieve anxiety and tension immediately. Proper breathing can be coupled with a conscious relaxation of each of the body's muscles, starting from the face and neck right down to the feet and toes. This technique can be performed in any comfortable position, ideally lying down. It is helpful to tense each of the muscles before releasing and relaxing them. In this manner, the body is forced to relax.

Another valuable method of reducing stress levels is to be aware of your surroundings and how they contribute to your anxiety level. The work environment is usually high on the list of stress-inducing factors, if only because of the sheer amount of time spent there. Maintaining a comfortable home environment is important, especially as a refuge for relaxation. Unnatural or insufficient natural lighting, poor air quality and improper use of space are just some of the problems that contribute to high stress levels. Noise, crowding and air pollution cause additional problems, especially when coupled with city living. Although not all of these problems can be changed, recognizing their effects on you can help you to devise ways to counteract them. For example, realizing that insufficient light and space adversely affect the way you feel can provide you with the motivation for a daily walk in the local park or a weekend hike. Indoor air quality can be improved with non-flowering plants and open windows. With a little effort, your home or work space can be reworked to offer the highest level of comfort.

Immune System Support

In the last few decades, a great deal of information has been revealed about the immune system and its truly amazing power to destroy bacteria, fight viruses and eradicate foreign substances. When the immune system functions optimally, the body is best able to fight infectious illness, cancer, allergies and autoimmune diseases. The immune system is affected by every aspect of our life, especially diet and the ability to cope with stress, grief, rest and daily situations. Disease resistance is complex, as it depends on this coping mechanism and on the environment, the exposure to cold and heat and the strength of a particular germ or virus. The immune system is continually developing and evolving. Native peoples in North America, for example, were nearly wiped out by diseases they had never been confronted with before, diseases that no longer posed a serious threat to the Europeans who brought them. Training the immune system to function naturally is vital to maintaining and restoring health. Antibiotics and vaccines hinder the immune system's ability to fight infection, causing immune degeneration and increased susceptibility to illness.

Simple habits can support the defense system. Keeping the vital organs healthy through regular physical activity, fresh air, rest, good nutrition and nutritional supplements provides a sound basis. Ensuring proper elimination of toxic waste, by helping the body's detoxification processes, is also important. Sweating, supporting the kidneys with sufficient fluid intake, and maintaining regularity in the bowels with adequate fiber and exercise are all helpful. Increasing resistance to the elements by using saunas, alternating hot and cold water therapies and dry brushing are also simple, effective aids.