The 7 Pillars of Health
If you are wondering what the secret to your Health and Wellbeing could be, then you need to think about taking responsibility for your health, and practice some SELF-CARE. Turn these into good daily habits and you will living a healthy lifestyle that has the potential to keep you away from disease and sickness.
AIR
The quality of air that we expose ourselves to, is very important to health as the body needs oxygen to thrive. Getting outside as often as we can, even 5 minutes a day can do wonders. Lots of people stay indoors nowadays and work in offices in conditioned air that ultimately can get you sick and feeling sluggish. If you are stuck inside for long periods of time, make sure you open windows or use a fan to circulate the air around you. So get FRESH AIR as much as you can, your lungs will thank you for it.
WATER
The human body is comprised of 75% approximately water, so that shows how vital water is for health and wellbeing. When you don’t drink enough water each day, you will become dehydrated and that can trigger other health issues like headaches, constipation, weight gain, muscle soreness and much more. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty as by that time you will have already become dehydrated but make sure you sip the amount you need throughout the day. We need water to replenish our cells and brain, it distributes our daily nutrients around the body, acts as a conductor for our nerve impulses from the brain to reach their destination. Aim to drink between 300mls to 350mls per kilo of weight. In summer , humid weather and being more active ,you’ll need to drink more. Try adding lemon/ lime juice or fruit, to make it more interesting.
SUNSHINE
Sunlight is critical for life on earth. It is a powerful source of Vitamin D, which cannot be easily obtained from other sources. It is very important for us to expose ourselves responsibly to sunlight as often as we can, to keep certain cancers and diseases at bay. Those people who get sunburned easily, should apply plant based-sunscreen and avoid chemical formulations.
WALKING
The human body is designed to walk and move around. Walking is an easy and free type of exercise that you can do, you don’t need a gym membership. It is best to walk for 30-45 mins everyday and studies show that it can actually lengthen your lifespan by 18 years. Walking is a low-impact type of exercise and strengthens the overall body functions and boosts your emotional wellbeing. It’s a great way to connect with nature and breathe fresh clean air that the body and brain needs everyday.
NUTRITION
Wholefoods are medicine. The body needs wholefoods to nourish and sustain every cell and every organ. Fruits and vegetables are packed with phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and fibre. Wholefoods consists of legumes, nuts, seeds, variety of fruit, vegetables and wholegrains. They should be sourced from local farmers who grow seasonal produce preferably organic. Wholefoods should form the large part of your daily diet.
NON-TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS
Relationships, particularly the intimate kind, can be the greatest source of joy and pain that we experience in our life time. For this reason, it is very important to surround yourself with positive, loving and uplifting people wherever possible. These relationships include your spouse, family and friends, workmates and all those you invite in your life. On the other hand toxic relationships can be detrimental to our emotional health mostly but in long term, this could damage our overall health. In these circumstances, one should ask themselves what they can do to improve these relationships and if not possible, then it best to detach yourself and move on.
PASSION
Having a passion for something and practicing it regularly, is one of the greatest secrets to your ongoing emotional and mental wellbeing. People who may struggle with their diet, fitness or relationships, can make up for a lot of this, if they have a passion for something that gives them happiness, joy and purpose every single day. A passion is anything that energises you. It makes you feel fulfilled. It gives you a sense of satisfaction or accomplishment. And it brings meaning to your life. Your passion may be a hobby, sport, music or learning a new language. Or it could be knitting, running marathons, cooking, travel, reading, writing or starting businesses on the side.
