Health…
It’s something that so many of us take for granted, often until it’s too late.
It’s also something that I don’t bring up in my book, iSucceed, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think it’s important. In fact, it’s probably the most important thing…but most of us like to think that we’re AOK because we look and feel fine.
Unfortunately, a quick look inside might tell a completely different story.
As kids our bodies have an incredible ability to rejuvenate. Cuts, bruises, broken bones all heal within days.
And if you were like me, blessed with high metabolism, then you could pretty much eat as much as you liked, whenever you liked…and not pay the consequences. At the age of 10, I could eat more food for dinner than my parents combined and I was still skinny.
Today I’m no longer than skinny kid. I left him behind after marrying my wife who is the most amazing cook.
I’m lucky because now she makes sure I get a balanced diet.
Here’s a typical dinner for us:
- Miso Soup (she changes the vegetables she puts in it each night, from mushrooms to bean sprouts – and )
- White rice
- Meat (Fish, Chicken, Pork)
- Salad (Lettuce, tomatoes, sweet potato, egg and corn)
There are no leftovers when people eat my wife’s cooking, not because the amount is small but because it’s too good not to eat.
When a friend came to my house last year, he made the comment, “If I had food this good every night, I wouldn’t need to eat out.” He’s right, I’m spoiled.
I guess I’ve been lucky all my life.
My family was able to give me a good life and pay for my college (although my father had to spend his entire savings on it – ouch).
My parents made sure I was well-spoken, got decent grades and had the freedom to enjoy life.
I married the woman of my dreams and then managed to survive the tsunami that ravaged South East Asia 8 years ago.
But it wasn’t until a few years ago when I completely revamped my diet that I stopped getting sick.
I may not be a health expert or a dietary expert but I can say that from personal experience that I believe there are three parts to good health:
- Exercise
- Eating the right foods
- Not eating the wrong foods
It’s that simple. But most people try to right the wrongs of the past by changing just one of the three.
The secret is all three.
Exercise is something that many people hate doing, especially as we get older because its no longer easy for our body to spring into action.
Eating the right foods is pretty simple, but most of us resist it because it often doesn’t compare to those things we love – cookies, chocolate, pizza, hamburgers, steaks, etc…all the things we shouldn’t be eating.
It’s great to add some vegetables to your diet but if you combine that with a ginormous steak and a baked potato with all the toppings then you’re nullifying the effects of those vegetables.
And on it goes, doing token changes and still:
- Lacking energy
- Getting sick
- Gaining weight
I’m not here to bitch about your diet, that’s something you need to consider. What I did want to share with you today were some natural remedies for common illnesses because we all fall prey to germs and viruses from time to time.
And when we do…rather than pump our body full of drugs wouldn’t it make more sense to fight fire with something good for our body, if at all possible.
That’s why I took a look around and came up with some things we should consider adding to our diets or keeping around the house for emergencies.
- Zinc is a great natural remedy for colds.
- Cranberries are a natural remedy for urinary track infections, especially common for women. (something every college woman seemed to know)
- Aloe Vera juice applied to cuts and abrasions is a natural remedy that does wonders for healing. (my mother told me about this one)
- Garlic is a natural remedy for heart disease and an immune system strengthening agent. (my wife puts garlic in everything, maybe that’s why I don’t get sick often?!)
- Seeds from the common pumpkin are a natural remedy to rid the body of parasites.
- Apple cider vinegar is a multifunctional natural remedy for many diseases, and an overall cleanser of the system.
- St. John’s Wort is a natural remedy for depression symptoms.
- Oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits are full of vitamins and a great natural remedy for the common cold, as is chicken soup.
- White vinegar is a natural remedy for toe fungus when the feet are soaked in it.
- Cinnamon is a natural remedy for high blood pressure and much safer than pharmacological solutions. (already passed this on to my mother)
- Grape seed is an ancient natural remedy for prostate problems, common in middle aged and older men. (I may need this one day, might as well get started now)
- Finding a natural remedy in tea is easy. Green tea boosts the immune system, ginger tea aids digestion, and most teas in general help keep the system flushed out and pure. (I can testify to the last one)
Try adding some of these to your diet for a few months…and see if there are any changes. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Adrian Shepherd