Invest In Your Health

Most people tend to give more thought and energy toward their financial future, with minimal thought to their health future.  Whatever you do today, will affect your health in the future.  While we may all know of someone that leads an "unhealthy" lifestyle and "they seem to be fine," when you look at the big picture, studies after studies show a direct correlation between lifestyle patterns and future quality of life.  Fortunately, it's really not so complicated, either.  There are many things you can do, but here are just four:

1. Allow your body to heal.  The most significant healing takes place when we sleep.  While we are meant to be physically and mentally active during the day, at night we sleep to recover and heal from within, so we are ready for another day.  If you are not getting adequate rest and sleep, your body is not getting a chance to recover, rejuvenate, and heal properly.  Your sleeping habits are the foundation for a healthy lifestyle.
2. Mobilize your joints.  Every joint in your body thrives on motion.  Your joints don't have a direct blood supply, so to stay healthy they require motion to pump the nutrients in.  So you should put every joint in your body through its full range of motion, every single day.  Otherwise, your joints will start to degenerate sooner than later.  This also stimulates your brain and nervous system, because your joints are full of motion nerve receptors, which are essential for keeping you functioning properly.  A simple and fun way to do this is by dancing to a nice song on a daily basis.
3.  Eat raw vegetables.  While many people do eat fruit regularly, it's more important to have more raw vegetables.  They are low in sugar, high in fibre, and packed with essential vitamins and minerals that your body can absorb and assimilate.  But try to make sure the vegetables are as close to natural as possible, preferably organic and not genetically modified (GMO).
4. Walk for exercise.  We are designed to walk.  If we take that away from our lifestyle, all sorts of problems develop.  You should take a brisk 20 minute walk at least three times a week.  This is also essential even if you do other types of exercise.  Nothing substitutes walking.

As a society, we've been led to believe that we are inevitable victims of disease.  Whether it's from viral infections, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, or just "getting older."  While we may not be able to prevent all disease, we can strengthen our bodies and minds so we are able to pick ourselves up again when we do fall, both literally and figuratively.  It all depends on your daily choices.  So invest time and energy in your most valuable resource:  your body, mind and soul; and you will reap the benefits of an active, joyful, and productive life.  All the money in the world cannot buy your health back.  As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "The first wealth is health."