Holistic Living Guide: Body

Learn more...

You've got just one of these. So until there's a "Cash for Clunker Bodies" program, you may as well treat it right...but how?

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

We support the notion that here is no proven "safe level" of exposure to the many synthetic chemicals in the air, water, food, or products we use, much less to combinations of these chemicals. And that there is emerging evidence linking these chemicals to increased disease rates, as well as to damage from cumulative exposure over time.

Thus, we operate from the "Precautionary Principle" which states that when something raises threats of harm to our health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken, even if definitive scientific proof has not yet been established. Or put more simply, "Better safe than sorry."

We also believe in prevention as the key to good health. Truly preventive natural healthcare helps people avoid disease altogether. For health issues already present, we advocate getting to the root of the problem by using natural methods to correct the imbalances in the body that created the issue, rather than just treating the symptoms.

For more information including ongoing research, please see Resources.

KEY TOPICS

1. What You Put in your Body: You are what you eat...so do you really want to be Butylated Hydroxyanisole?
   
   Though there is heated debate as to the ideal human diet, these healthy eating tips are pretty universal. Try to eat whole foods whenever possible, ideally local and organic, including plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. And as your main beverage, nothing compares to good ole' purified water, ideally from a reverse osmosis water filter.
2. What You Put on your Body: Well, don't tell the guys...but the skin is actually the largest organ of the body.
   
   The synthetic chemicals in personal care and beauty products, and even in your clothing and bedding, get absorbed through the skin. Since their safety is questionable, why not choose natural, organic, and eco-friendly products?
3. What You Breathe inside and outside: Oh, Toto!...There's no place like (a natural) home!
   
   We breathe in the chemicals from cleaning products, home building materials, furniture and decor, pesticides, and fertilizers everyday. Many of these chemicals are known carcinogens, while the safety record of others is a major wild card. Choosing  natural alternatives and creating an eco-friendly home is a great preventive health tactic. Organic, natural eco-friendly products are widely available today and work just as well as the standard options.
4. How you Move your Body: Get up and boogie! Just do it! Move your ass!... (sorry, did I go too far?)
   
   It is so important to do something to move your body everyday. And it doesn't have to be high powered aerobics. Nor does it have to be all at once. Even a 10 minute session of dancing like a maniac as you prepare dinner, or practicing yoga poses throughout the day can be beneficial.
5. How you Rest your Body: As my Father says, "I never met a nap I didn't like."
   
   Try your best to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. (I know, not always possible). Also, enjoy a good nap when you can. And it's very helpful to use relaxation techniques, so your body can recharge. If you have trouble winding down, try a sleep hypnosis CD. They work great, no medications required...which brings us to...
6. Your Healthcare: Just say "No" to drugs. (Or don't pop a pill for every ill.)
   
   If you mostly live a preventive health lifestyle, you'll be less likely to get sick in the first place. But for conditions you already have (or those that sneak through!), there are many natural cures via holistic medicine to address them.
   
   These include: nutrition, herbs, natural supplements, homeopathic remedies, flower essences, chiropractic, acupuncture, acupressure, energy medicine, and many other modalities.

Sponsors