7 Habits of Vibrantly Healthy People

Environmental pollution. Pesticides. Stress. Irradiated foods. Mineral-depleted soil. Toxic chemicals. Anxiety and stress. Artificial sweeteners. Antibiotics and hormones. Drug and contaminated food recalls.

Living a life of wholeness can seem like a losing battle. Don’t be discouraged. It is possible. Begin by getting back to the basics. For me, that means following Biblical principles of health and wholeness. It can be as easy as substituting life for death!

Here are seven life-enhancing strategies that will help you become vibrantly healthy:

1. Periodically cleanse your temple. I am not just referring, here, to outward cleanliness and grooming, I am talking about detoxification. We are constantly being assaulted with toxins at every level: toxic relationships and emotions; negative thinking patterns; harboring offense, bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness; eating junk, processed and packaged “foods;” alcohol and drugs, both recreational and prescription. The key here is to detox on a regular basis. There are many different ways to do this. Here are a few suggestions:

Every month, take a day to inventory your level of toxicity – spirit, soul and body. Are there any relationships that are draining you? Pay attention to your thoughts. Are you constantly running a negative, critical, judgmental tape in your head? Do you feel anxious, angry or fearful? Identify the source of those emotions. What type of fuel are you putting into your body? Are you sluggish, depressed and overweight? These are clues that you are using the wrong fuel. Do a cleanse – there are several excellent ones you can buy. Focus on fresh, natural whole foods. Remember, God tells us He will not be mocked, whatever we sow, that’s what we reap. If you sow dead, lifeless foods, emotions and thoughts into your body, you will reap death.

2. Use high octane fuel. Once you consistently take time to detox, you will get so much more benefit from the food you use to fuel your body. Jack LaLanne says if God didn’t make it, don’t eat it!! That’s great advice. Center your diet around fresh, natural, organic wherever possible, whole fruits, vegetables and grains. You limit your toxic load and your body receives real nourishment. Protein is important. Make sure it is lean and clean: antibiotic and hormone free, grass-fed meat and poultry or wild-caught fish. Eliminate synthetic, artificial sweeteners, processed, junk foods and unhealthy (hydrogenated, trans and polyunsaturated) fats. It’s a sad fact but many obese people are actually dying of malnutrition. They fill their stomachs with empty calories. Make your fuel nutrient-dense. Don’t just fill up – fuel up.

3. Properly hydrate. Most people are walking around dehydrated and don’t even know it. Once your mouth is dry, it’s too late. That is one of the last signals your body gives you. Gradually work up to drinking one-half your body weight in ounces of water. That means if you weigh 120 lbs. you should drink at least 60 oz. of pure water spread throughout each day. It will enable your organs to function properly, help you metabolize and digest your food, improve mental clarity, assist you in cleansing your body of toxic waste and give you energy. No, you can’t substitute soda, juice, coffee or tea. It must be water, plain and simple. Your body is approximately 75% water and your brain 85%. You must replenish your body with adequate water daily.

4. Move It. Your body was created for movement. Whenever you go for too long a period of time without using your body, it begins to atrophy. The muscles shrink and get weak and flabby, which leads to fragile bones, a weak cardiovascular system, and an extra padding of fat to carry around. At the very least, buy an inexpensive pedometer and work up to a minimum of 10,000 steps a day. You don’t have to join a gym – walk, play with your children, take up a sport, dance, take a yoga or pilates class – find some way to continuously move your body for at least 30 minutes every day.

5. Rest and Refresh. All work and no play makes Jack (or Jane) dull. There’s more truth in this old saying than you think. Everyone must disconnect and take time to rest. It doesn’t necessarily mean to just spread a blanket under a shade tree and look at the sky, although that’s not a bad thing to do. Read, write, paint, dance, meditate, play an instrument, sing – take time out every day – even if it is just 20 minutes – and do something that refreshes you. Remember, God created the entire universe in six days and rested on the seventh. If He felt rest was that important, who are we to disagree?

6. Reboot. Aim for at least 6 to 7 hours of quality sleep each night. Inadequate sleep lowers the immune system, causes an increase in cortisol, leading to weight gain, and predisposes you to high blood pressure. If you are experiencing sleep problems, identify the cause and correct it. Are your hormones in need of balancing? Are you exercising or eating too close to bedtime? Too much brain stimulation before bedtime with TV, cell phones, computers? Is something worrying you? Is your sleep environment calm, comfortable and serene?

7. Supplement wisely. It’s been said that no matter how carefully we eat, the food just does not contain the nutrients due to mineral depleted soils and improper handling. I would definitely recommend you take supplements to bridge the gap. However the quality of those supplements is critical. Be sure they are natural, whole food supplements with no artificial fillers and additives. Your body recognizes vitamins and minerals from whole food sources as food and uses them much more efficiently.

If you begin to include these seven simple habits, you will create vibrant health.