health tip #12, a summary

basic advice for those of you who have asked:

my top 6 suggestions. 

1. water. avoid sodas, coffees, even fruit juices. drink a glass or two of water first thing every morning, before eating or drinking anything else. your body is still in detox mode in the mornings. help it along by flushing more of the waste out of our body. and if you can, follow up the water with some sort of melon.

2. fiber. i haven't talked a lot about this but is quite essential. high fiber foods are invaluable. some of the best options include: legumes - lentils, black beans, fruit - raspberries, pears, apples, grains - whole wheat spaghetti, bran, oats, vegetables - artichokes, peas, broccoli. to see a larger list, click here.

3. walk. seriously. you don't have to "work out" seven days a week. but walk for 30 minutes 4-5 days/week, even 15 minutes twice a day 4-5 days/week. be active. be intentional. be consistent.
however, a good workout is highly valuable as well.

4. eat more fruits and vegetables. the more you eat of the good stuff, the less you will eat of the other stuff. i suggest: eat 1 fruit with breakfast, 2 vegetables with lunch, fruit and/or a vegetable for a snack, and eat 2 more vegetables with dinner. (and the starchy vegetables don't count. you can eat them, in fact you should eat them, just don't include them in your fruit/vegetable count.)
and eat them raw whenever possible.

5. vitamins. we overlook these because they are expensive and because we often struggle to see any immediate value, but your vitamin levels affect everything. find a good multi-vitamin.
and take lots of vitamin C, especially over the winter. and if you can, get tested to find which vitamins you are deficient.

6. remember that health is holistic. it is not just food. it is not just exercise. it is not measurable by weight or clothing sizes. it depends on every area of your life. do you know Jesus? do you really know Him? do you have healthy relationships with your family? your friends? do you forgive? have you been forgiven? are you faithful to your job and your responsibilities? are you honest? do you exercise and eat well? are you connected with a healthy community that can encourage you and also hold you accountable? do you make wise decisions? are you responsible with you finances? do you make an effort to learn new things? pursue health in all areas as each one greatly impacts the rest.