Healthy Living Today

Healthy Living Today encompasses many facets for you to maintain good health and enjoy life. We believe that a healthy diet is important and also that you have an exercise and fitness regime. This means that you exercise or train (which ever word you prefer) at least five time a week for a minimum of 30 minutes.

What do we mean by a healthy diet? Here are a few simple answers that you should know:

· Eat at least two piece of fruit and five vegetables daily
· Eat only lean meat, and skinless chicken
· Try to have one meal of fish per week
· Avoid all deep fried foods like potato chips
· Drink plenty of water
· Avoid processed foods
· Choose foods that are low in sugar and salt
· Before buying read the nutrition labels on tins and packages
· If you are a smoker - make it a priority to quit
· Don't sit in front of computers or TVs for long periods of time
· Drink alcohol in a moderation or avoid it
· Try to be active and exercise for 30 minutes minimum per day
· Eat plenty of whole grain cereals
· Start every day with breakfast
· Include dairy in your diet - cheese, milk and yoghurt
· Avoid sodas that are high in sugar and do not buy candy as a snack

We advise that you exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes each session. The choice of exercise is really quite simple. We would advise you to check with your health care professional before you begin any exercise and fitness program. Don't rush out and purchase expensive gym equipment, you can start by walking. You can elect to walk wit a friend, a member of your family or simply take your dog for a walk.

As your fitness level improves, you can intensify the form of exercise or change exercises. You may even want to join a gym and commit to attending some of the classes like yoga, pilates, step, spin or body balance. The choice is yours - do which ever exercise you enjoy because that way you will continue to do it on a regular basis.

Healthy Living Today believes that to be healthy and experience happiness - the five elements of financial, relational, intellectual, physical and spiritual wealth must all be in harmony. We all know that we must have a healthy diet and maintain an exercise and fitness program.

One of the main causes in the Western world of illness and disease is stress. Any change in our lives, that can affect any of these five elements, can have a devastating effect on our stress levels and health.

Major changes such as marriage, divorce, birth or death in a family, loss of employment or any other financial problems are just some of the changes that can cause great upheaval. Through any of these, our stress levels become elevated. When stress becomes a regular feature in our lives, our energy system becomes depleted and our immune system is weakened. We must seriously look at these problems and make plans how to remedy the situation.

Unfortunately, not all of us can manage to do this and as a result if all elements are not balanced, we subject ourselves to constant worry and illness and even disease. The whole world is at present, experiencing a global financial crisis. Some people have lost their jobs and this financial loss of their income can have a devastating effect on the other elements especially the relationship element. This can be severely harmed.

At a time like this, it is very difficult not to experience emotional pain that could result in illness, anxiety and depression. Stress is one of the most destructive conditions our body can experience. It is known to trigger high blood pressure, which in turn can cause disease such as stroke and Type 2 diabetes.

This is where, if the spiritual element is solid, you will be able to overcome a lot of problems. The power of belief can be very strong, and it should be practiced as frequently as possible. We have all heard that our thoughts dictate our emotions. The thoughts we think and the subsequent actions we take, govern our lives. Healthy living today acknowledges the adage that "life is a self fulfilling prophecy." We will all have set backs and problems but it is how we handle them that counts. For every problem, there is always a solution