Thursday, April 12, 2012

Healthy Living: Stop Trying to Be Perfect

Have you ever heard the phrase: "Nobody's perfect"? I'm sure you have heard this at one point or another. If you are anything like me, you believed it too. Most people do believe it because it makes sense. I know for a fact that I have made mistakes. I also know that everyone else I know has made mistakes.

Mistakes are part of being human. If you are human, you make mistakes. There are mistakes to be made in all areas of life. Anything you do that involves thinking, decisions or execution of a skill presents the opportunity for a mistake. That doesn't sound like a very optimistic view, but it is true.

The optimistic view would say that any thought, decision or execution of a skill presents an opportunity for success. This is where I often see the importance of mistakes in our lives. That's right, mistakes are important. Mistakes are what we learn from. Mistakes are what make us better. Without mistakes, we don't improve.

More importantly, without the opportunity for mistakes, we have no opportunity for success. When it comes to sports, this is a no-brainer: if you don't play the game, you can't win. If you relate it to business: if you don't call a prospect, you can't make the sale. If you don't show up to the meeting, you can't contribute ideas. The list goes on and on and it's the same in all areas of life. Without the opportunity for mistakes, there is no opportunity for success.

The bottom line is: if you are afraid to make mistakes, you will never succeed.

This is a lesson I learned a kid. Sports taught me this lesson. It took a few more lessons in the real world before I fully understood it and how it would work in the business world. Now that I get it, life and business are much easier. Do I see mistakes and failure? Of course I do. I experience them regularly. But I also see success daily. Some success comes from just trying again. Most of my success comes from the things I learned from the past mistakes.

When it comes to health, mistakes are also important. Yet, health is an area that people are afraid to make them. When discussing exercise routines with people, I hear far too often: "I can't do it every day, so I'm not going to do it at all." Or "I don't have time to do it for an hour, so I won't do it at all."

These are excuses that I hear frequently. I hear them, not because these people are not good enough to get exercise, not because exercise is too hard for them. I hear these excuses because these people are afraid to make mistakes. It is easy to start a new routine. It is not easy to keep a new routine going. Each time you run into a challenge, it is difficult to overcome it.

Challenges will arise. Your plan to overcome these challenges is what will get you through. When you set out to do something new, you are bound to make a mistake or two. When you make those mistakes, you can do one of two things:

1. You can give up
2. You can learn from the mistake and try again

When you try again, you can either give a similar strategy another try or you can start over and try something new. Either way, you are deciding that you are not done and you are able keep going. When you keep going, you can succeed. When you quit, you can't succeed.

In health, mistakes are not the end of your routine unless you quit. They are simply a roadblock that causes you to stop and think about what you are doing. You have a choice at every roadblock. You can choose to give up or you can choose to keep trying.

The choice is yours. When we were kids, we learned that nobody's perfect. We learned that quitters never win and winners never quit. We learned all of these things and applied them to other areas of life. Socially, professionally and financially, we have chosen to keep going. In order to live healthy we need to make that same choice. You can try to be perfect, but it won't happen.

Being perfect is an illusion. For some reason, we think that our health routines need to be perfect. The fact is, nobody is perfect in any area of life, including health. Healthy people are not healthy because they are perfect. They are healthy because they have learned from mistakes and keep trying to live healthy. Health is not about being perfect. Stop trying to be perfect and start doing something that you can do today. If you make a mistake, learn from it and do something differently until it works for you.

Healthy Living Is a Journey

Healthy living is a journey, it is not a destination. Healthy living requires reduction, replacement and maintenance. In the first instance, healthy living requires one to reduce excesses. Secondly, replace excesses with moderation and variety. Finally, one must maintain.

The single greatest challenge to living healthy, is not having a complete knowledge base, and the support structure necessary to stay on track. If you visualise healthy living as a journey and not as a destination, perhaps you might become excited about the traveling experience, and decide to venture outside of your usual routines.

Everyone enjoys traveling therefore, by comparing healthy living to a traveling experience, everyone can personalize their experience in unique ways. Nevertheless, we all need directions and when pointed in the right direction, sometimes that is all that is needed to spark an interest that will transform lives.

Living in an age of fast foods, take-outs and delivery most of us take in an excessive amount of calories without being aware of it.The truth is, we all know immediately when we try on that clothing item and it does not fit. Instead of taking decisive actions to cut our intake, we ignore the obvious by going to our favorite retail store and simply buy a fancy piece of clothing that is one or two size larger. Unfortunately,this process is repeated until on day we look in the mirror and we ask our selves who is that person looking back at me? At this point, not only are we concerned about how we look also,we realise we are not healthy. Starting a detoxification process or a diet plan that will help us reduce excessive body weight, will promote a better quality of life.

Additionally, we take in processed foods that are deficient in essential vitamins and minerals therefore, in order for us to get the right nutrition, we will have to replace our nutrition lifestyle. If we want different results, then it might be helpful to look around for various health remedies and online support materials to help improve and maintain good health. The road to living healthy is long, and although the journey is challenging we must never give up. This article serves only as a guide to point you towards better health. We must begin to reduce by detoxification, dieting and by performing some form of exercise. Detoxification is as old as human-kind so perhaps there is a good reason for its continuation

The Mind Also Matters in Healthy Living

Healthy living is not only about tucking into fresh fruits and vegetables, steering clear of junk and processed foods, and hitting the gym every other day. It is also about cultivating a healthy mind. In fact, healthy living starts with a healthy mind.

Get Your Mind Right

Everyone who has ever tried to stick to a diet plan or an exercise regimen will vouch for the truth of the age-old adage that the mind indeed rules over the body. The tenets of healthy living are simple-eat healthy, exercise regularly, and steer clear of vices like smoking and drinking-and there are not many who do not know these. But there are countless many who do not have minds strong enough to coax their body into abiding by these rules.

So, here are some rules that will help you win the mind game:

Don't let the weighing scale rule you. Losing weight and maintain your ideal body weight are usually the two most important goals of healthy living. But this does not mean that you should let the weighing scale stress you out. Instead attune yourself to the signals that your body sends out-do you feel fresh when you get up in the morning, have your energy levels got a boost after you have switched to a new workout routine, or do you find yourself craving less for sugary snacks after embarking on a new diet plan-and gauge for yourself your health and fitness levels.

Find a way, other than going on an eating binge, to cope with stress. Stress is an inevitable part of our daily lives so it really does not help your healthy living goals if your way of coping with it is to reach out for food. There are countless other ways of coping with stress-talk to a friend when down in the dumps, count your blessings when feeling depressed, or pick up a good read, put on some music that you love, or go for a walk in the park when feeling anxious. These are your ways of training your mind to seek refuge in something other than food.

Egg yourself on. You can be your best motivator; you just need to know how. To not fall short on your motivation levels, first make sure that you are striving for realistic goals-"I will fit into my old jeans by the end of two months" and NOT "I will lose ten pounds 4 days." Then look for small signs of improvement as you make your way along. For instance, if at the end of two months you find yourself barely managing to squeeze into the pair of jeans, do not mope but instead convince yourself that you are along the right track and if you keep up with the good habits, you will reach your goal in no time at all.

Positive and Rational

Healthy living is all about creating a positive mindset-being optimistic when the odds are low and being strong enough to listen to and steer your body towards healthy living goals that suit you and not what the book says.

Dream-Building - 5 Simple Healthy Living Tips To Help You Achieve Your Goals

Everyone daydreams of being fitter, healthier, slimmer, richer, or happier. Do you fall asleep at night your mind bursting with ideas and when you wake do you smile, glad to be alive, eager and keen to get stuck into your day? Or are you stuck in a rut; tied to a job you hate or relationship which drags you down and you long to break free from?

In today's post, I will share with you five simple healthier living tips which you can use to encourage you to see how easy it is to find a way to make your dreams reality.

Five Healthier Living Thps To Help You Bring Your Dreams To Life

1. Look after your health

This is the key ingredient in dream building. A healthy body is vital to your well being. Take a rain check for a moment, be honest and take a look at your physical, emotional, spiritual and even financial health. How do you feel about what you see? Are there areas you would like to change and be different?

Action Tip: If there is something you would like to improve, whether it's a matter of losing a couple of pounds, saving £5 a week or taking the bus and walking to work rather than driving, making a conscious effort to do this as you will feel virtuous and better inside.

2. Nurture and Nourish Your Core

Take time to rest and look after yourself. From a yogic perspective you foster your inner beauty through the natural care of your body. The yogi sees their physical body as a temple that houses your soul. True beauty is the reflection of your inner self radiating and touching others.

Action Tip: Practice simple self care techniques such as dry skin brushing, steaming your face, or even giving yourself a hand massage to help bring your mind and body into alignment.

3. Be Excited

Chances are you are so bogged down with the mundane matters of your everyday life, you have forgotten the joy of natural spontaneous laughter and fun.

Have you seen a child run, jump and SPLASH! feet first into a puddle only to be dragged away by his mother and told off for getting his feet wet?

Action Tip: Well, just for today, be like the child splashing in the puddle, get your feet wet, make that phone call, write that letter, order that book, just take one small step and do something that will make your heart sing and eyes sparkle.

4. Record Your Dream

There is power in the written or spoken word. Take your time and find someone you trust and share your story and inner heart song. If there isn't anyone in your life who you can do that with, email me your thoughts and I will hold your space and pray for you till you can hold your own space.

Action Tip: Write your dreams down, write a poem or if you prefer audio record or draw it. Whatever your favourite medium is, just do it. And remember you can send your creations to me.

5. Release Attachment To The Outcome

Yoga philosophy encourages to say your piece and then to keep your peace. To learn how to be still and release all expectation and desires to how you think your dream world should be. Yes, it is good to be clear how you want life to be, yet the essence of life is to be open to all possibilities. You never know what is around the corner and the more you focus on a particular thought and, if it's in alignment with your soul purpose, the more you attract opportunities, to make your dream come true-one step at a time.

Action Tip: Learn to meditate or practice a mind-body activity, such as yoga, as a way to deepen your spiritual connection and understanding.

As you can see, there are many ways to reach your goals; everything starts from you taking the time and energy to look after your most precious asset, your health, and as you go along, rather than bemoan the fact you aren't where you want to be, acknowledge where you are, record where you wish to be, release attachment to the outcome and always have fun as you take care of yourself.

Healthy Living Tips For Men


MAKE REGULAR DOCTOR VISITS

Men often ignore abnormal health symptoms and avoid going to doctors. This may be part of the reason why women tend to outlive us. Make sure that you have a yearly checkup. Make the appointment and keep it. There are some that need a little push so get a family member involved that will make sure you go to your doctor. It is in your best interest as well as theirs.

EAT A HEALTHY DIET

Avoid eating processed and fast foods. These are the types of foods that are full of sugar, unhealthy fats and salt. Instead include fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean cuts of meat into your diet. Try to eat two meals of fish per week. A good tip when grocery shopping is to concentrate on items that are on the perimeter of the store. This is the area where you will find fresh foods. The aisles, for the most part, is where the unhealthier foods are.

EXERCISE ON A REGULAR BASIS

The leading cause of death today is heart disease and regular exercise is known to be the best way that you can prevent it. Try to exercise at least 30 minutes each day. Choose something that you enjoy doing and it will be easier to stick with your program for the long term. Swimming, walking, softball or other forms of aerobic exercise will give you the most benefit.

KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR WAISTLINE

One way that you can determine if your health is at risk is by your waistline. If your waist is larger than 40 inches this may be a reason for concern. Studies have shown that men with larger waistlines are more susceptible to heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and other health issues.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE GETTING YOUR VITAMINS

You can do this in two ways. Take a multivitamin each day and make sure your diet includes vitamin rich foods. Eating foods that are high in fiber will help you accomplish this. One side note here, some commonly prescribed drugs have the effect of depleting our bodies of needed nutrients and vitamins so if you are taking anything for a condition you have it would be a good idea to speak to your doctor about this on your next visit.

STAY AWAY FROM THE COMMON HEALTH SINS

While some of this may be obvious it is still worth mentioning. Don't smoke. This is one of the leading health risks that we face today. Even second hand smoke can have negative affects on your health and the health of people around you. It is a major contributor to lung cancer, COPD, emphysema and other diseases.

If you drink alcohol make sure that you do it in moderation. While some alcohol consumption has been reported to reduce the risk of heart disease doctors recommend that you do it in more healthy ways such as exercise. Alcoholism has negatively affected many people along with their families.

Stay away from drugs such as cocaine and anabolic steroids. Cocaine has been shown to increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke. It has become all too common for men who are trying to increase body mass to resort to steroids. Unfortunately there is a high price in term of health that is often paid.

By following these simple guidelines you can greatly increase the probability of living a much healthier and productive life. You will not only feel better but look better as well.

Modern Healthy Living With Natural Health Products

In this particular modern world, we commonly forget exactly what is really important - Health. Oftentimes, instead of taking good care of our wellbeing, we simply don't give attention to it. Though advancement on technology and medicine have already been made, why does our health still on the rocks?

Most people are trying to put much effort in boosting up their own health and fitness in their daily lives. However, simply because of various situations, for example heavy workload, busy schedules, total ignorance and absolute procrastination, those efforts become useless.

It's never too late...

Our health depends on our hands. Aside from that, decisions needs to be made but in addition pertinent actions should be carried out. Change should start from within. We could make a difference on our health today!

Through natural health products, the optimal health and bodily functioning we want to achieve is very possible.

Natural health products to the rescue!

Just when you believe you simply can't do anything to save your health, you really are wrong! Natural health products can lead you to the better and healthy lifestyle you are dying to achieve.

First, what're natural health products? The products are made of naturally occurring substances that is normally extracts from plants, animals or other marine sources. They contain vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids and other ingredients which augment the immunity process, thereby, improving the health and well-being.

Heal your health the natural way...

Our body needed a break from the synthetic products or medicines we consume. Those synthetic medicines contain different chemicals that work well to fight disease possibly at the same time they invade different bodily systems. When these chemicals are too much for the body to take care of, this may cause several adverse effects and unwanted complications.

On the other hand, natural health products fight diseases and improve health, just the same as synthetic ones, without exposing the entire body to numerous chemicals. Also, by using these products, you're guaranteed that you will experience lesser risks and negative effects.

Good reasons to use Natural health products (NHPs)?

Obviously with the use of these naturally made products, the general health and well-being are being restored, hence, making those products an extremely essential part of modern healthy living.

There's lots of benefits associated with the utilization of these NHPs. Primarily, they cleanse our bodies and boost our stamina that may help in handling the daily stresses from the everyday activities. Also, these products work hand in hand with the body's natural defenses to fight diseases.

Natural health products contain vitamins, minerals along with essential acids that is normally needed by the body to be effective efficiently everyday.

The Three Pillars of Healthy Living

In this day and age, society appears to fixated on living healthy. This is not necessarily a bad thing but it should be noted that there is a lot of misinformation out there. Trendy diets, workout gadgets, and the latest studies on what is good for you and what is bad for you. In my experience, there have been, and always will be, three pillars of fitness: nutrition, cardiovascular training, and weight training. Each of these pillars offers unique and powerful benefits for the human body.

The first pillar of nutrition is the most important element to healthy living. Think of the human body as a car, if you don't put gasoline in the car, it will not run. Take this analogy one step further; if you are fueling your car with high octane racing fuel, then you will receive the performance you are expecting. Should you put low quality fuel in, it will not perform as you would like. This of course is relating to healthy food versus junk food. Eating high quality protein foods, complex carbohydrates, and healthy unsaturated fats is a recipe for success.

The second pillar, cardiovascular training, refers to keeping your heart healthy. The heart is responsible for circulating blood throughout the body. This blood carries necessary oxygen*to cells that require it to properly function. The stronger the heart is, the more blood it can pump. The more blood it can pump, the more output you will be able to receive from your body. Popular methods of cardiovascular training include: running, biking, and swimming. Playing sports is also a great way to receive ample cardiovascular training especially sports like soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and tennis (notice how all of these sports involve a great deal of constant movement which keeps the heart rate elevated for an extended period of time).

The third and final pillar is weight training. This refers to a wide range of physical activities that place stress upon the muscles in order to strengthen them. This includes, but is not limited to lifting weights (dumbbells, barbells, etc.), yoga, and Pilates. The basic premise with weight training is to create some form of resistance against the body. This can be done with weights or body weight. The benefit of using weighted devices is that it will increase muscle mass significantly more than body weight. Using only one's body weight will indeed create muscle but you are limited to how much muscle can be gained by how much you weigh.

Always keep in mind, there are no quick fixes and living healthy is a lifestyle that much be lived everyday

Healthy Living Through Preventative Measures

The benefits of healthy living are apparent, but for many, healthy habits don't start until it's too late and the body is already on the decline. Instead of combating health concerns once they've begun to negatively impact one's life, it's vital to prevent illness and unhealthy lifestyles before they start. The following advice offer some tried-and-true methods for staying healthy, which will keep you living longer and feeling terrific.

Eat a Wholesome Diet

Healthy eating doesn't mean a diet of flavorless foods, and it certainly doesn't demand going hungry. Lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy are all available to healthy eaters. And it's alright to splurge once in awhile on a cheeseburger, bag of chips or some ice cream. The key to maintaining a wholesome diet and weight is to eat an assortment of nutrient-rich foods and to cut your intake of processed foods laden with refined sugars, unhealthy fats and sodium.

Sleep

Sleep is one of the most important and overlooked components to healthy living. Research suggests that getting too little sleep increases one's chance of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. Getting too much sleep isn't much better. Aim for between seven and eight hours of restful sleep each night to keep your body healthy and happy.

Exercise Regularly

Steady exercise promotes a healthy weight, which reduces one's risk for heart disease and diabetes. Exercise also promotes bone, muscle and joint health, as well as flexibility, each of which keeps us feeling better as we age. Plus, regular exercise increases our body's innate immune defenses and even helps us sleep better at night.

Everything in Moderation

There's nothing wrong with enjoying a periodic order of cheese fries or having a couple drinks with friends. The key is to do everything in moderation, as overindulging too frequently can negatively affect weight, general health and fitness levels.

Healthy living isn't about strict rules. It's about an all-embracing lifestyle that, when followed, actually increases our happiness and self image. By forming healthy habits early in life and sticking to them, we can assure that our bodies don't give out on us as we age.

Healthy Living - 12 Simple Steps Towards A Healthier Lifestyle For Over 50s

Getting and feeling healthier is important to most people, especially when you near retirement and caring for your health takes on a new priority. Given the cost of medical insurance and good health care it is imperative as you get older to take more care of your health. Failure to do so increases your risk of medical conditions and not having the energy to do the things you wish to do.

12 Simple Habits To Be Healthier

I would like to share with you 12 easy ways you can improve your quality of life by adding these 12 habits into your everyday life.

1. Eat more spinach and other dark green vegetables such as kale and pok choy to boost your calcium and strengthens bones, spinach is also bursting with other vital nutrients and vitamin which does wonders for your health. Think of Popeye and you will know what I mean.

2. Sleep more - as Benjamin Franklin's said "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man's healthy, wealthy and wise".

3. Walk more - instead of using the escalators at the tube stations, walk up them, leave your car at home and walk to the local shops.

4. Read more- reading is food for the mind and you can travel to Narnia or the Yellow Brick Road and still be home in time for dinner with your family.

5. Breathe more - tune in now and see how well you are breathing. A simple breathing exercise is to breathe in slowly through your nose for a count of four and exhale for a count of four. Repeat 5-7 times.

6. Spend more time alone in nature - this is an ideal way to reconnect and remember the sacredness of life - e.g. sit in the park at lunch time or if you can, take a trip to an area of natural beauty and enjoy being surrounded by nature.

7. Hug more people - hugging is the elixir of life. Make sure you give yourself a hug when you wake up and if your children are still at home, give them a hug or affection kiss before they leave for school/work.

8. Laugh more - Laughter yoga is an excellent way to relieve stress and tension.

9. Cry more- let it all out, laugh till you cry or cry till you laugh. Either way crying is cleansing for the soul.

10. Forgive more - easy to say, hard to do...But when you forgive others it allows you to love more and invite more love into your life.

11. Stretch more - wake up ten minutes early and practice simple yoga stretches or sign up, with a friend and join your local health club.

12. Drink more water - your brain consists of 77-78% water, so it's vital to nourish and hydrate your brain. Sip water throughout the day.

Can you think of anything else you can do to live a healthier And if you want to receive more regular yoga and healthy living tips subscribe to my free weekly enewsletter.

Healthy Living: Nature's Natural Energy Booster

I don't know about you but sometimes I feel like there just aren't enough hours in the day for me to get everything done. I get up early and then spend the rest of the day rushing to meet commitments and obligations. Awhile back there were days when I would feel utterly drained and it's all I could do to keep my weary head up and eyes open!

Being so busy, my diet consisted of little more than sugary snacks, processed foods and energy drinks.

Thankfully, I discovered a way to maximize my energy levels naturally and now I feel I can cope with just about anything. I'm happier, feel more confident and have so much energy my friends often ask me "just what are you on!?" as I storm through my day being more productive than ever before.

The answer to THAT particular question is quite surprising...

Need more energy? Caffeine is not the answer!

If stress is leaving you sleep-deprived and lacking energy, you probably kick start your day with a big jolt of coffee and keep on downing more caffeine throughout the day just so you can keep going.

The problem is, the more you rely on caffeine to prop up your dwindling energy levels, the more immune you become to its effect and the more you'll need. Before you know it, that one cup of coffee three times a day becomes six double espressos and you STILL feel tired.

Needless to say, so much caffeine can have an adverse affect on many aspects of your health including driving your blood pressure up to stratospheric levels.

It's not that I'm anti-caffeine by the way, simply that I have found that there is such a thing as too much of a good thing and an over reliance on caffeine means you are simply putting off an inevitable crash.

Thankfully for us health-conscious go-getters there is an alternative to coffee and caffeine for raising your energy levels - a super food called maca.

What is maca?

When I first came across maca, it was as an ingredient in a facial moisturizer. Needless to say I was more than a little surprised to later discover that maca is also a genuine superfood!

Maca, or maca root as it is sometimes known, is a Peruvian plant indigenous to the Andes which grows at heights of around 10,000 feet above sea level. It has been used for centuries in Peru as a herbal cure-all used to treat everything from colds to impotence!

Maca is very nutrient dense and contains large amounts of essential vitamins and minerals, amino acids and fiber and is especially rich in iron and calcium but it's greatest benefit is as an energizer.

Maca - the energizer

Where coffee boosts your energy by speeding up your metabolism and acting as a stimulant, maca works though an entirely different mechanism. Described as an adaptogen, maca is said to help balance your hormone levels so your body is better able to produce energy and deal with the daily stresses that life throws at you.

Hormones are chemical messengers that tell the organs of your body how to function. Some hormones are catabolic and are responsible for breaking your body down while others are anabolic which are responsible for building your body back up.

Too much stress, a poor diet and too much exposure to environmental pollutants can lead to a hormonal imbalance - normally in favor of the catabolic hormones. This means your body is constantly being broken down as opposed to being built back up. No wonder many of us feel tired and "beaten up" all the time!

Maca, because of its hormone balancing ability, puts the breaks on breakdown and tilts your hormonal balance back towards anabolism and recovery. This means your body is much more fatigue resistant and better able to cope with the stresses of modern daily life. In short, your energy levels increase because life is less likely to get you down.

Maca - an alternative to hormone replacement?

Unlike traditional medical hormone replacement therapies, maca does not work on individual organs but instead affects the whole organism - in other words, YOU! And because maca merely balances your natural hormone levels, there is little or no chance of any kind of unpleasant side affect which ir not always the case with medical hormone replacement therapy.

In addition to balancing hormones and providing a healthy hit of vitamins and minerals, maca is also a powerful antioxidant which can literally help to reverse some of the signs of aging. It's no accident that Peruvian natives, who consume maca on a regular basis, live long and healthy lives and are active right up to the end.

Forms of Maca

Maca is available in a number of forms so you can choose how you want to take this miracle super food...

• Capsules are convenient but may prove expensive if you need to take a larger quantity of maca.

• Powder is another option as it can easily be mixed with water, a smoothie or juice but some people find the taste a little off-putting at first.

• Pressed maca tablets offer the convenience of capsules combined with the purity and concentration of loose powder.

• Maca liquid, extracted directly from the maca root, provides a very concentrated hit of maca goodness and is another option worth considering.

Whichever form of maca you decide on, it is important to buy organic maca preparations that originate from Peru.

Is Maca safe for everyone?

Peruvians have been using maca for over 3,000 years so it's safe to assume that in general, maca is suitable for most people. If you are using maca to treat a specific disease such as hypothyroidism or diabetes, I strongly suggest you discuss your intention with your doctor.

It's never a good idea to self-prescribe even the safest herb or superfood to treat medical conditions (it better to find the cause and not just treat the effect) so make sure you explain what you are taking and why with your doctor. This goes double if you are pregnant or breast feeding.

As maca is a 100% natural substance and is in fact a form of food rather than medicatinn, there is no real reason why you shouldn't take maca but because it can have such a profound effect on hormone levels, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Now that you understand how maca is a powerful energy booster. But what drains your energy in the first place? The answer is stress and poor sleep!

Balanced Diets: Their Role in Healthy Living

What is a balanced diet then? A balanced diet could be said to be ensuring that your body gets the right amount of nutrients but also the right nutrients. Finding out more about your body's needs is an excellent first step when it comes to getting healthier. In order to know how to stay healthy and maintain one's wellbeing and vigour, it is a good thing to know what your body needs. Oftentimes, literature on this subject can be complex and written for academics, but it is important to look at the variety of resources available that can help you to gain greater understanding. We have the internet to thank for the availability of many learning tools now including educational videos, photographs and articles to health us learn how to maintain our health naturally.

Main Nutrients

Nutrients that we eat keep our bodies healthy. These nutrients include proteins, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats and fibre. So it stands to reason that getting the right amount of these in the right balance for your body's needs, will help you to maintain wellbeing. But guess what? We don't just put nutrients into our bodies. If we did, our bodies would respond with excellent health and longevity.

Eating the Right Nutrients

Eating the right kind of nutrients in the right quantity for your body's needs is one way to keep your body healthy and in balance. But as we know and have experienced in greater or lesser degree, this does not always happen and sometimes it is not easy to keep such a balance. Most of us, for example, do not live in ideally healthy environments where plenty of fresh oxygen circulates freely. Most of us have to cope with the stresses and strains of toxicity and bacteria from the air we breathe and the chemicals that enter our systems through our skin, hair and products we eat and drink.

Miracle of Mother Nature

Our bodies are basically set up to process all that we breathe in and digest, so we need to make sure we support them, naturally if possible. Our bodies consist of a multitude of compounds, fluids and tissues that work together in an interactive co-operative balance, all day and night to support the various organs that make up the whole body.

Minerals such as calcium and magnesium are some of the macro minerals that help to maintain the shape and strength of our skeleton, protein largely comprises our outer protective skin, hair and nails, while on the inside a complex network of organs, blood vessels and drainage fluid keeps the body's systems alive and working. And all of this goes on day in day out, as part of this wonderful miracle of Mother Nature.

Nutrition Tips and Guide for Healthy Living and Weight Loss

Before you jump on the bandwagon of healthy eating, you need to understand a few minute details. Reading these details will make your effort less of a fight and more of an interesting activity. You are going to love it for sure! Read on to discover the most motivating path to healthy living.

Each game has some rules, and healthy eating is no different from any of the other games that you have played. So what are the rules of this game?

Rules for Eating Healthy

This game has a set of seven main rules which can make you a winner. And you know what? They are really very simple and easy to follow

Rule 1 Watch Your Portions

Each game restricts you with certain limitations, right? You can't just have everything. No, no, we're not asking you to forget all the chocolates, cookies, doughnuts, ice creams and other goodies that you can't even imagine living without. All you have to do is to limit their intake. You have to watch the serving size of each meal that you eat. Reducing the serving portion keeps you fit in your clothes comfortably. You will not have to buy another pair of jeans every month. Keep reminding yourself to eat everything, but in small bites.

Rule 2 Eat Four to Six Small Meals in a Day

Does that provide any relief? Phew! Watch your food portion and you can now eat at least four to six meals in a day instead of the traditional three meals a day. Research shows that three meals a day bring hunger pangs frequently. So why give in to cravings and finish that jumbo size potato chips bag in one go? Eat when you feel hungry, but do watch the size of what you are eating.

Rule 3 Eat Protein at Each Meal and Snacks

Don't just indulge in the large ice cream box that you have purchased to eat in your breaks. Make some healthy choices. Cut down sugar and add more protein to your diet. Proteins keep you fueled through out the day. They provide the energy that your body needs to function actively. On the other hand, sugar suppresses your immune system, upsets the mineral relationships in your body and causes hyperactivity or anxiety. It can provide an immediate satisfaction to your hunger pangs, but it will leave you feeling hungry again soon. Do you still want to eat sugary treats? Stop. Choose protein as an alternate and stay energized

Rule 4 Eat Veggies and Eat More Veggies

Perhaps you have heard your nutrition counselor say this repetitively on each visit. This only re-emphasizes that those bright colored veggies which you avoid are actually good for your health. Broccoli, spinach, and other vegetables may not taste yummy, but think about the nutrients that they contain. Vegetables are a rich source of vitamins, minerals and fiber, all of which are essential for growth, and the repair and maintenance of your body. When you add veggies to your diet, you get a variety of health benefits. You have lower levels of cholesterol and a healthy weight.

Eating vegetables guarantees strength, energy and a healthy life which includes minimal chances of heart diseases, strokes, diabetes and other obesity-related illnesses.

Yet that isn't all. Replace processed food with fresh vegetables, and you will notice clearer skin, brighter eyes, shinier hair and stronger teeth.

Rule 5 Drink Your Water

The human body is made up of 60 percent water. Your body gets dehydrated by the various functions that it is required to perform. Can't believe it? Well, your lungs expel approximately two to four cups of water each day through normal breathing. If you sweat a lot, you will end up losing more water, and that needs to be replenished because joints need to remain lubricated and your kidneys need clean water to function properly.

When your body is dehydrated, you feel tired and dull. Sometimes, you wrongly interpret it as a sign of hunger. Instead of eating, you should be paying attention to how many glasses you are drinking in a day.

Drinking adequate amounts of water can drastically increase your energy level, sharpen your mental and physical performance, improve your skin's texture and reduce wrinkles. It also fosters weight loss. What more do you want? So, whether you are working or just watching television, always keep a bottle or glass of water near you.

Rule 6 Plan Success in Advance

Has anyone ever accomplished success without planning it? No. In any challenge, your opponent is always planning in his head what his next move is going to be. Though you don't have any visible opponents in this case, you are fighting your own whims. And it is very easy to fail when facing them.

So, in order to make sure that your efforts don't go to waste, you will have to do some prior planning. Before stepping in the kitchen to grab any food that can satisfy your hunger, plan what you must eat. List down your food choices a night earlier, search on the Internet for delicious recipes, and head on to the kitchen the next morning.

Planning ahead makes it easier for you to follow a healthy routine and also fit in those delicious small bites of your favorite foods that you are required to eat in petite proportions.

How To Achieve Healthy Aging From Healthy Living

We look after our automobile with proper maintenance because we are looking for a trouble-free, long-lasting car. For the same reason, we should look after our well-being with the same dedication in order to have a life free from sickness, illness, and diseases.

Some of the fundamentals that lead to a healthy type of life resulting in good health while we are aging include:

proper nutrients;
weight management;
regular exercise;
good sleep habits;
proven natural supplements;
managing stress - since stress is a major cause of several illnesses;
enjoyment of the great outdoors;
no smoking;
control alcohol consumption;
better care of eye health;
bone health will prevent osteoporosis as well as osteopenia;
injury prevention, especially hazards in the home environment;
* avoid dehydration by ensuring sufficient liquid intake;
avoid prolonged exposure to the sun - use well-rated sunscreen.

As we age, our body's capacity to fight off infection, disease, and other ailments declines; therefore, it is incumbent upon us to replenish any vitamin and mineral deficiencies as prescribed by our physician. In this way, you ensure and contribute to a life free from all kinds of aging ailments. You have to be able to depend on the source of the raw materials used in formulating the nutritional supplement; if not, you run the risk of not only contamination but the product will not produce the result that it is intended to do. Not all ingredients are created equal.

When shopping for nutritional supplements, you have to make sure that the products that you buy have been properly researched, scientifically tested, and clinically proven to be all they claim to be. Look for the company that offers quality and safe nutritional products as well as money-back guarantee on all their products. Another factor to consider is the reliability and sustainability of that company over a prolonged period of time. For maximum benefit, nutritional supplements must be well-balanced, safe, and effective.

Encouraging and practicing good precautionary measures as we are growing older can prevent, minimize or even reverse frailty and poor health in seniors.

Financial health is an often overlooked aspect of daily life and becomes most critical to the attainment of good health as we grow older. One should find means to obtain financial freedom in order to decrease the stressful levels of everyday living.

Facts on Healthy Living

Healthy living connotes a lifestyle that envelopes the norms of having an "ideal health". Even if your preference would be on anything that mother nature yields, it doesn't mean you are ideally healthy. Balance is the first norm of healthy living and discipline suffices the right choice of maintaining it. Although we are already familiar on the basics of acquiring an exemplar to great health, it is still a matter of choice; it's not just on what we eat or do, but still an option to stick to the cycle of maintaining a health equilibrium.

For some, if they hear about healthy living, they would just have an idea of drinking in the leafy edibles, which often times, makes it a difficult choice for someone contemplating to go back to being healthy. But consider the old ways of life, people living in the past have longevity. The simplicity of their lifestyles makes it easy to gain satisfaction, which tracks contentment, and eventually draws happiness which is another implication of being healthy.

On the other hand, it doesn't mean that we won't enjoy life anymore if we commit ourselves to healthy living. It's watching what we eat and drink, making sure that a balance diet would suit the energy consumption for the day. Stress management and sleeping well can also contribute to an inner well-being. Getting into physical activities equates our normal bodily functions that are crucial to prevent common illnesses such as obesity and high blood pressure. If we feel great, we tend to connect with others well. We can better cope with difficulties which are explicit strains on our mental and emotional quotient.

Healthy living is also about awareness. We have the responsibility to know what causes ailments or any disorder that may compromise our well-being and should be taking actions to prevent it. "Healthy helps" are things to consider too. Seeking professional help or subscribing to blogs from a health guru are great ways to keep us well-informed about the right choice of health program or products that favor to continue a sound being.

Health commodities are iconic to nature's produce. It is manufactured to blend with the lifestyle of the new generation, which is fast or always on the run. It takes away the hassles of the old fashion way of preparation, but making sure that it still comprises a healthy content, which means it's synthetic-free. There is also no need to be adamant on these health products specially about the side-effects because anything organic is always commendable.

Everyone agrees about the importance of healthy living and even if there is an overflowing information on how to go about it, it will only become beneficial by having the right attitude towards it.