The Basics of Good Health

I was recently flicking through a newspaper and I came across a piece that was spot on regarding people’s attitudes to health and life in general. The piece in questions was in fact a Garfield comic. In Garfield’s short monologue he proclaimed that he loved to spend his time planning, because it meant that he then didn’t have to actually do anything.

We are bombarded by information about health every single day. I regularly read the newspaper, not just for the Garfield comic, and I’ve seen some startling misinformation and contradictory articles printed within the space of a few days. This is all from a very reputable UK broadsheet. For example I once read a study proclaiming that drinking two cups of coffee a day was good for your health. Then a week later, in the same paper, there was another study saying that coffee should be avoided at all costs. So which are we supposed to believe?

My answer is to ignore both. I’d recommend ignoring most health information altogether. This may sound drastic but it’s intended to be. Keeping healthy isn’t a matter of reading all the articles you can get your hands on and then cramming the information into a strict routine. It’s too hard to do and virtually impossible to keep to. The key to good health, like most things in life, is to keep it basic. If you wish to get healthy then all you need to do is follow my basic advice. There’s only five points to remember and they’re not at all complicated so anyone can stick to them.

1. Eat a balanced diet.

You should never starve yourself and similarly you shouldn’t overeat. Cut down on fatty foods as well as sugary/salty treats and replace them with fruit and vegetables. It’s okay to have a little treat once in awhile but it should be exactly that, a treat…not the norm. Remember “you are what you eat”. Do you want to be a sluggish sausage or an sprightly strawberry?

P.S. Go easy on the sodas and alcohol too, these are merely empty calories that will cause excess weight gain.

2. Take regular exercise.

It may sound like a pain but regular exercise only has to be 30 minutes of activity three times a week. If you say you haven’t got time for that then you’re a liar! Then are many painless ways to fit in exercise around your life. You could get off the bus a couple of stops early, join a local sports team or you could do what I do - I have an exercise bike in my room and I hop on it whenever I’m watching TV. It’s amazing how quickly 30 minutes of cycling flies by when you’re engrossed in your favourite show.

3. Relax.

High levels of stress weaken the immune system and open you up to an array of health issues, both physical and mental. You can protect yourself though by allotting yourself a little “me time” a couple of times a week. Both meditation and hypnosis are excellent ways to relax, and with hypnosis you can even improve another aspect of your being while ridding yourself of stress. Try purchasing a hypnosis mp3 from a reputable store and listening to it a few days a week. Alternatively you may just want to curl up with a good book or partake in your favourite hobby.

4. Keep good hygiene.

You can stave off many illnesses just by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and then drying them off completely several times a day. You don’t have to be obsessive about it, just every time you go to the toilet, handle food or play with your pet will do.

5. Socialize.

We humans are social creatures (well most of us!), and socializing plays an important role in maintaining good health. When we interact in a fun environment it reduces stress levels, strengthens and immune system and improves mental faculties. You can combine socializing with some of the tips above to make the most of your time. For example you could go and play a round of golf with a few friends, you’ll get in plenty of exercise walking around while socializing and depending on how well you play it may even be relaxing!

There you have it, the basics of good health. That’s really all there is to it. The time for talking is now over, it’s time for you to get out there and get active. Your health depends on it.