This Temple of Mine! How Goes It?

Hello everyone! I hope you have all taken at least one step towards living very well. Today, I'm writing on the main factors of a healthy lifestyle. I will like to use a well known proverb, "prevention is better than cure" to describe how to manage our bodies. If good care and nurturing preserves our bodies from sickness, then it should go without saying that doing so should be of utmost importance. Especially for those of us who live in a country where good healthcare is scarce. Have mercy on us Nigerians, O Lord!

A healthy lifestyle is multi-dimensional and it's important to pay attention to all aspects. I have broken it into the following................... 

1.   Eat a well balanced diet. My mantra on food is "eat the best of what you can afford". You don't have to eat everything that has been labelled  a "superfood" as a number of foods deliver the same nutritional values. Choose what works for you (convenient) but try to buy the best of whatever is within your reach. For instance Salmon is rich in omega 3 fatty oil but it is expensive, don't fuss over it. Reach out for the best of canned Mackerel in Olive oil (better than tomato sauce and other oils) and you actually get more omega 3. Knowledge is power indeed! 😉

2.   Do physical exercises. Start with realistic steps so your body can break into the habit in good and exciting strides. If you've not exercised in over a year, do not start by sprinting. An evening stroll can be a good way to start, then you can move on to brisk walking etc etc. Listen to your body's pace and try not to go ahead of it so you do not hurt your muscles. By all means, let the happy hormones flow! That's an advantage of physical exercises.  And if by any chance,  your exercise regime feels like punishment, do a review and probably tone it down. 

3.   Optimise your mental wellbeing, manage stress. According to the book of proverbs, "a merry heart is health to the bones". Don't worry, Be happy! (sing along). The level of stress in cities is very high and most of the people who live in them are weighed down by it. The human body releases a steroid hormone known as Cortisol when under stress. Ideally, this hormone is to help us manage situations of stress but when a person is constantly under stress, the level of cortisol released can be too high thereby causing body functions to derail. This may lead to many health problems. Some have even linked high levels of cortisol in pregnant women to autism. We must all learn to manage stress. I recommend a cup of cocoa (100% cocoa, dutched/alkanised is fine with a fat content of 21-24g per 100g) with honey(cocoa is not sweet but don't take away its value by adding sugar).  

4.   Sleep is another important factor of good health. Sleep helps with healing and repairs of the body and a lack of it has been linked to many serious medical conditions. Every adult is required to have at least 7 hours of sleep. For those of us who are caught up in the hustling and bustling of city life, we can make up for the lost hours at weekends. Sleep is as important as eating healthy  and exercise for a good quality lifestyle. For sound sleep, you need a comfortable mattress (not too hard or soft), mattress toppers, good pillows, salt lamp (to calm the environment) and essential oils to soothe away the stress. I bet you can tell that I do not joke with my sleep. 

5.   Drink water. It is important to drink enough water everyday as even mild dehydration can affect us both physically and mentally. If you have not been drinking enough water over a long period of time, dehydration signals may include headache, tiredness, constipation and poor memory. As there is no singular answer to how much water we need daily, I suggest you start with at least 1.5 litres of water everyday, starting with at least 50cl first thing in the morning to improve energy levels, mood and brain functions. Ehmm.... soft drinks do not count towards water.

A proactive approach to one's bodily health is beneficial and will most probably prevent sicknesses and diseases. This is not about weight management but ensuring that every organ in the body is at its optimal. If every part of the body functions at its best, the risk of sickness is kept at the barest minimum as the body will be able to ward off all forms of attack on it.

From time to time, I will write more on the above.  Next week, I plan to write on my second favourite thing after olive oil. It may just be the cure you need for that sweet tooth. 😉

Take Care and Live Well!