Six Foundation Principles for Optimum Health and Wellbeing

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http://www.naturalnews.com/026791_health_food_optimum_health.htmlEubie Blake, the famous jazz composer, once said " If I had known I

would live this long, I would have taken better care of myself. " This

quote rings true when we consider that whilst we may be living for

longer we may not necessarily be taking better care of ourselves. With

our ever-increasingly fast-paced lifestyles the time we once took to

cook and eat healthily, exercise regularly and relax has inevitably

been rescheduled with the aid of our Blackberries. As a result the

soaring rates of degenerative diseases such as cancer and diabetes have regularly found themselves on the front pages of national newspapers across the globe.

If we are to achieve optimum health and wellbeing as individuals and as a community we can no longer outsource the day-to-day management of our own health

to the medical and pharmaceutical industries. We need to make a

personal commitment to our bodies and minds by following these six

foundation principles:Be Mindful Of Your ThoughtsThe

first thing you do when you wake up is think. It might not be anything

profound other than realizing you desperately need to go to the

bathroom. However, some would agree that your very first thoughts upon

waking will determine your mood

for the rest of the day - be it upbeat or downcast. This in turn will

have quite a serious impact on the quality of the decisions you make.

For example, if you`re in a foul mood when you come home from work you

may decide to treat yourself by hitting the sofa with a tub of ice

cream rather than burning that negative energy off with a long walk.Breathe Deeply And Slowly To RelaxAs babies we know subconsciously how to breathe properly. But as we grow into adults our breathing

patterns often become shortened and more shallow. This is mainly due to

the hectic nature of our lifestyles, which often puts us into a " fight

or flight " stress pattern for extended periods of time. When you feel

under pressure those stressful thoughts will manifest themselves

physically as a faster heartbeat and a shallow breathing pattern which

originates in the chest. With a correct breathing pattern you will see

your stomach muscles extending first followed by the extension of your

ribcage, which automatically makes you breathe more deeply and slowly.

This has a calming effect.Get To Bed On TimeIn their book Lights Out,

Wiley and Formby`s compelling research tells us that a good night`s

sleep will help you lose weight, curb your cravings for refined carbohydrates,

eradicate depression and reverse Type II diabetes. Whether you achieve

a restful sleep will be determined by your state of mind, the food

that you`ve eaten and if there are any sources of electromagnetic

stress, such as a TV, laptop or mobile phone, in your bedroom. Research

that has made the connection between regular sleep patterns and your

health is hard to ignore.Let Food Be Your Drug Of ChoiceThe

incessant consumer demand for a huge choice of cheap and convenient

food has put incredible pressure on commercial farmers to employ

harmful farming practices in order to meet the strict standards placed upon them by powerful supermarkets. These farming

practices are irreparably damaging the soil in which our food is grown,

which simply means that our fruit and vegetables simply aren`t as

nutritious as they once were.Food is an incredibly powerful

drug, which is why it`s important that each individual works out which

combination of proteins, carbohydrates and fats for every meal is best

for his/her optimal health and wellbeing - see metabolic typing. It`s

also important that we become more discerning with the food businesses

that we choose to give our hard earned money to. Buying locally grown,

organic whole food, which is in season, will support your own community

and is an essential component to becoming fit and healthy.Water Your Internal GardenDr

Batmanghelidj pointed out in his book " Your Body`s Many Cries For

Water " that dehydration is a common cause for many ailments and

diseases. In order to maintain good levels of energy, concentration and

digestive function it`s important to drink good clean, filtered water

on a regular basis. Paul Chek of the CHEK Institute recommends the

following formula in order to calculate the amount of water you need:

0.033 x Your weight in kilograms = litres of water to drink per day. In

order for you to look and feel great on the outside you need to

maintain a good level of hydration on the inside.Exercise To Boost Your Energy LevelsJust

as you need to spend money in order to make money the same applies to

exercise and your energy levels. Regular exercise will improve your

body shape, protect your heart from disease,

strengthen your joints and bones and relieve stress. An essential

factor to successfully incorporating any exercise program permanently

into your lifestyle is enjoyment. Without the enjoyment your exercise

program will be just another chore on your to-do list.Whether

it`s right or wrong, given a choice of a ton of money or perfect health

most people will generally choose money as their stepping stone to

happiness. However, in this current economic climate the financial

turmoil has led many people to re-evaluate their priorities as they

begin to realize that without their health and wellbeing the quest to

find the holy grail that is happiness is a futile one. Unlike many

over-hyped health products sold on the market today, the six foundation

principles are representative of the ancient wisdoms that have been

passed down from generation to generation of healthy communities around

the world. Simply put they are the bedrock of a fulfilling and happy

life.