OTHER FACTORS RELATING TO HEALTH

Continuing on from my previous post : Obviously there are other factors related to health, and if you have physical challenges or imbalances, it can be useful to have a look at your diet and lifestyle. Stress is a big factor in illness, and our modern world is full of stressful situations that we have to deal with often on a daily basis. We can't really avoid stressful situations, but we can look at our food intake and ensure that we are consuming a nutritious diet which will help to support us through difficult times. The 5-a-day suggestion is excellent, and I would add a few more servings of vegetables, salad and fruit to that number so that your body is well-nourished with food that is easy to digest, along with nuts, grains and pulses. I find small servings of several different foods give me the most concentrated and varied nutrition. Organic is best as it isn't sprayed with chemicals, and these days organic produce is easier to find and prices more reasonable. Adequate hydration is essential for keeping your body well lubricated and working properly. Most people do not drink enough water. Our bodies comprise around 70% water and we need to keep topping this up throughout the day because we lose a lot when urinating and sweating and it needs replacing. Ideally you should drink between 6 & 8 glasses of water daily to be well hydrated. It is said in some quarters that many dis-eases could be cured with adequate hydration and a pure nutritious diet.

Doing some regular exercise is also important, and speaking personally, I have reached the age where it's become clear that the body needs a little regular exercise in order to keep moving and avoid stiffness. I do a Pilates class every week, which I find is the best way for me, but you may find that Yoga or some other form of exercise suits you better. It's also good to raise the heart rate regularly with some more vigorous movement like running, brisk walking, cycling or swimming. If you like walking, then do get out into the countryside and use nature to help yourself relax and re-group when you are tired or stressed. Earthing ourselves by walking barefoot on the earth is one of the best ways to ground ourselves, tune in to our mother Earth, and release the stress which inevitably builds up when we lead busy lives. Spending even half an hour sitting on the grass, or walking through woodland can be immensely energising and help us unwind. A picnic out in the country with friends is one of the most enjoyable activities I can think of.

So here I've just touched on a few things which, if implemented, could make quite a difference to your health and state of being. In my next post I am going to talk about how we can optimise our energy system, which will have a direct impact on our wellbeing.

#health #wellbeing #nutrition #gongpractitioner #gongbath