With everything happening around the world these days it's understandable that fear is growing amongst the masses. Worry and anxiety fill the hearts of those that are afraid for the virus that is spreading so quickly. However, God never leaves us in ignorance, He has provided natural means for us to heal from disease and even better than that: prevent disease! Below you'll find the 8 principles of health that I believe are very important in restoring health in us.
1. Nutrition
In a world where each disease is encouraged to be healed by pills it is difficult to believe that nutrition can actually play its part in healing. However, studies have shown us again and again that proper nutrition is key to a healthy lifestyle and for preventing as well as healing disease. Today, there is scientific evidence more than ever before on the benefits and healing properties of a whole foods plant-based diet consisting of whole grains, legumes, microgreens, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds! Who said there was no variety in going plant-based? For more evidence-based information on this way of living I would encourage you to read the following book: The China Study (revised).
2. Exercise
“Well my grand-mother never went to the gym and she’s doing pretty good so why should I exercise?” That saying is mostly true but what we fail to see often is that older generations exercised much more than we think! For grand-parents like mine who were born in Greece, exercise was part of their daily routine. They practically walked everywhere they had to go, my grand-mother was raised on a farm so she was always working on the land doing hard labor all day long and they spent most of their time outdoors playing, not indoors sitting! Exercise is more than just going to the gym it also involves not being sedentary most of the time. Doing chores around the house, working in the garden, doing outdoor work, going to walk or hike and playing with your children is all part of exercising. The definition of exercise is actually: regular or repeated use of a faculty or bodily organ. So, this can mean the gym as well as other actions involving moving!
3. Water
“I don’t like water”. Have any of you guys ever heard someone say that? Or have you ever said that yourself? Well, I’ve got news for you: you don’t like about 60% of your body! Indeed, your body is made of up to 60% of water so you better start liking it because you surely need a whole lot! What most of us don’t realize is that lack of water or dehydration is the cause of many of our health problems. Dehydration can lead to low blood pressure, migraines, tiredness/fatigue, constipation and much more. And drinking sugary drinks or coffee does not help to hydrate - it actually does the opposite. It might take some time to adapt but I promise that drinking water will bring about great changes in your overall health if you drink sufficiently and avoid other drinks! What me and my husband have done is bought a 2L water bottle so that way we can fill it up and know that that is the goal for the day. You can find this bottle on amazon!
4. Sunlight
Nature's 'insulin' and 'cure' for depression, sunlight is vital to nourish and
energize the body. Indeed, sunlight can help in lowering blood insulin and brings joy and comfort when it strikes our face doesn’t it! It is so nice for someone like me who lives in the cold when in February the sun starts to show its face. It is such a pleasant feeling and energizes me right away! Going for a walk, doing outdoor activities (too cold isn’t an excuse, wrong clothing is!!) and sun bathing (not for too long) are great ways for our bodies to take in nature’s vitamin D and increase our overall well-being.
5. Temperance
Temp... what? Temperance is to use moderately what is good and avoid what is harmful to the body. This allows the body and mind to be balanced and safe from any harm. Often times when it comes to moderation we think of food and the way we eat but moderation actually comes in many other forms as well! We can be immoderate in work by overworking ourselves or being too lazy. We can be immoderate in study where we overwork our brains or on the opposite don’t study enough. Even moderation in dress is important! Sometimes we focus our minds too much on what we’re going to wear and how we’ll look, just as we can also fall into the trap of not caring at all about looking decent. You see, moderation in the good can be a key aspect to being balanced in every aspect of our lives.
6. Air
Fresh air. And no, I’m not talking about the kind of air you get on your way to your car!! It's funny because as I was looking for pictures on WIX on "fresh air" I would get ventilation fans! How funny is that. Fresh air, ideally country side air that is less polluted, that can be enjoyed outdoors when practicing an activity, doing outdoor work or simply taking a walk. It’s such a pleasure to our lungs to be cleansed with pure air. Outdoor air promotes clear thinking and mental efficiency. Fresh air also soothes the nerves and aids the system to get rid of impurities by riding the body of excess carbon dioxide. To be able to enjoy fresh air it’s also important for our breathing to be on point. By taking deeper breaths from the diaphragm we can enjoy a whole new different level of breathing!
7. Rest
Now that we find ourselves in this crisis, we might be realizing just how much rest we were lacking! Some of us find ourselves truly resting for the first time in years. Physical rest includes proper sleep, ideally 7-8 hours per night with bed time starting between 9-12 (these are the hours where your body re-energizes the most), as well as sitting back and relaxing once in a while from labor. As 3-dimensional beings we need physical rest (from physical labor), mental rest (from mental labor) and finally, spiritual rest! Spiritual rest includes feeling at peace with your conscience and peace in the truth which I believe is found in the Bible.
8. Trust
Here in Canada, 76% of citizens report feeling stressed at the work place. According to studies, stress is linked to conditions like obesity, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, depression, gastrointestinal problems, and asthma. Stress has been an increasing problem in our fast-paced society where we are always on the move. We’ve learned to constantly rely upon our own strength to get through life, but the Bible teaches us that as mere humans we have weaknesses and need help in our daily lives. I believe this help comes from the God of the Bible and our Saviour Jesus-Christ who has promised that through Him all things are possible!
There you go! Now you are equipped with tools to protect yourself from most diseases. I hope that you will benefit from these health tips as much as I have. I promise if you give them a shot you will not regret it. If you have any comments or questions don't hesitate to share and I'll be happy to clarify any ambiguity.
May God bless you and don't forget , Jesus loves you :)
Much love and smiles,
Nahisha
Comments