Follow these tips to stay healthy in body, mind and spirit
“Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!” #8212; 1 Samuel 25:6 (NIV)
This New Year's celebration for us started out with my husband having a touch of pneumonia. Antibiotics, decongestants and ibuprofen were the highlight of our New Year's Eve party favors.
The few days following brought us a phone call from our daughter telling us that she was trying to manage two sick kids and maintain her and her hubby's health and sanity. The good news is the coughs are silencing, the sniffles are disappearing and appetites are returning and everyone is starting to feel better.
January is a big month when we focus on our health and well-being. Not only is the new year a place for a new starting point, but it's also a month when we need to keep our defenses up.
God gave us wisdom for our health. As a nurse, I am fascinated with how well the body protects and heals itself with the aid of prayer and a few wise pointers.
This week I have been sharing some health tips with my family. As I pondered some of the important steps, I wanted to keep my list simple. As I scanned over my list, I thought I'd share them with my readers too!
#8226; Drink water #8212; Our body is made up mostly of water. Staying well-hydrated helps flush toxins away and increases our immune system and gives us vitality. It's recommended to drink eight glasses of water each day unless you're on a fluid restriction from your doctor. If you don't like water, I advise you start small with at least two to three glasses per day.
#8226; Sleep well #8212; Try to get in at least eight hours of sleep. Rest replenishes the body with strength and healing.
#8226; Take a multivitamin and eat your vegetables #8212; Even with a well-balanced diet we still don't get enough vitamins and minerals.
#8226; Eat sweets in moderation #8212; A small amount of something sweet can supply us with energy from time to time. But overindulging gives us the opposite effect.
#8226; Exercise #8212; Even walking increases our sleep, weight loss and hormones that elevate our moods.
#8226; Always forgive #8212; Unforgiveness clogs up our ability to think healthy thoughts. Positive thoughts always improve our moods and have a positive effect on our overall well-being.
#8226; Meditate on Scriptures #8212; Like the one at the beginning of this column.
My New Year's wish for you is good health to you and your household.
#8226; Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted by e-mail at Annetteebudzban@aol.com