Bringing balance back to your life is a real key to health and happiness. Living in the 21st century American culture seems to promote an unbalanced life: too much work—not enough play; excessive calories—not enough natural fresh foods; too much stress—not enough fun; too much TV—too little exercise; too much rushing around—insufficient restful sleep; too much materialism—too little spirituality. As Dr. Phil would ask, “Is it workin’ for ya?” I know it doesn’t work for me. One of the best ways to avoid getting swept away in the tide of the modern lifestyle is to live by the mantra: ‘Good Things First’.
Bringing balance back to your life is a real key to health and happiness. Living in the 21st century American culture seems to promote an unbalanced life: too much work—not enough play; excessive calories—not enough natural fresh foods; too much stress—not enough fun; too much TV—too little exercise; too much rushing around—insufficient restful sleep; too much materialism—too little spirituality. As Dr. Phil would ask, “Is it workin’ for ya?” I know it doesn’t work for me. One of the best ways to avoid getting swept away in the tide of the modern lifestyle is to live by the mantra: ‘Good Things First’.
Get in the habit of prioritizing the things that will make your life better in the long run; such as exercise, good food and healthy beverages, time to play, plenty of rest and relaxation, and a chance to make meaningful connections. For example, each day you should try to eat lean protein three times, and at least six servings of vegetables and fruits; drink eight glasses (about one liter) of water, two to three cups of tea, two glasses of non-fat milk or soymilk and a drink of wine, beer or spirits (if you enjoy this, and can drink responsibly).
If you are still hungry, have a treat but make sure it has no trans fats (found in doughnuts, French fries, or processed snack foods) or high fructose corn syrup (as in pop or candy). When you make it a priority to eat and drink all the good things first, you will find that you aren’t constantly hungry; which makes it easier to resist the junk food temptations that surround you each day. You will also be getting all the great disease-fighting, anti-aging nutrients you need while at the same time avoiding empty calories.
In truth, most folks who say they don’t have time to exercise really could find the time if they had the energy and the will to overcome their inertia and get moving. The average American now watches four hours of television daily. When you sit down in front of the TV you need to think, ‘good things first’; and then ask yourself, “Have I gotten my exercise today?” If the answer is no, get up and go. At first this may seem uncomfortable, but in no time you will feel your energy level improve dramatically, and after a few weeks of daily exercise, you will find yourself raring to go. A routine of 30 to 60 minutes of exercise daily will turbo-charge your energy level like nothing else can.
Heart Institute Research Reveals Risks for Athletes
You might think that highly trained athletes would be the least likely to be at risk for sudden cardiac death, but research conducted at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute shows that may not be the case. And to some degree, race can influence the likelihood of cardiac abnormalities.
Physicians Strive to Prevent Sudden Death in Athletes
As the father of four active, healthy children, I can only imagine how devastating it would be for one of them to die suddenly from a heart ailment. And yet, a little more than a year ago, my good friend and mentor Bob Conn, went through just such a tragedy when his 22-year-old grandson, Jordan Mann, died suddenly.
10 Tips for Staying Lean Through the Holiday Season
The holiday season may be hazardous to your health.Studies show that Americans typically gain about seven pounds over the holiday season each year, and some of it stays on permanently despite the New Year's resolutions to get it off. Even more worrisome are reports showing increased risks of heart attack, dangerous cardiac rhythms, and even death during the holidays. Emotional stress, depression, over-eating, not enough exercise, and too much salt and alcohol are all likely to be playing a role. Make sure you and your family stay healthy and happy this year by following these 10 rules for safely navigating the holiday hazards.
