Certainly not, good health is blessing and it is not confined to any special class of people or fortunate individual. Each of us can remain forever in good health. But there are certain do or don’t or you can say protocols, which you have to follow. Here, I want to put an emphasis that these protocols or guidelines are immensely enjoyable to practice.

First and foremost you require sound sleep of at least six hours. Avoid taking tea or coffee, before you are going to bed, instead you can choose the music you like most. For instance you can play one hour rock music daily before you go to the bed. The main objective or purpose is make you distract, from your day long working schedule, and put you at ease.

The next comes your food. It is one of the most important and crucial part for our sound health. As we all know that sound mind lives in sound body. Therefore the food you eat should be balanced and nutritious. Your food should contain adequate quantity of carbohydrate, proteins, vitamins, fats, minerals and roughage. These ingredients are easily available in green vegetable, fruits, pulses and nuts. Here I want to add, if possible avoid taking fast food, because researchers have found that these foods lacks in necessary nutrients, which our body requires. You should take frequent short meals instead of eating a lot of food at one time. If possible eat at least six to eight times in a day. Apart from it drink plenty of water as it will purify your digestive system, circulatory system, and nervous system.

Last but not least, you should do moderate amount of exercise daily. I do understand that it is not practically possible to follow the routine. But you can easily do it in, twice a week. The simple exercise, which is very effective, is, having a light walk for half an hour. This will increase your bone mass and boost your circulatory system. Because of enhanced capillaries, very soon you will realize that your skin is glowing and you are more fit and energetic.

Easy healthy recipes are good food that brings good health. Sometimes, these foods are better compared to those you buy as a take-out. Here is a step by step guide on making a few dishes that are really fast to do and are guaranteed good and healthy.

The first one is a typical dish that is turned into a plate full of nutrients. It still tastes delicious, and importantly it is as good as its classic counterpart, but does have fewer calories and less fat. The secret ingredient of this lighter Mac and Cheese is pureed winter squash.

Heat the oven to 375°F. With a cooking spray, cover the baking pan. Suggested pan size is nine by thirteen inches. Boil a large pot of water, put the macaroni, and cook for about five to eight minutes. Check if it is tender and firm and drain it to a large bowl. On another pan, cook together with minimum heat the frozen squash and milk. Stir occasionally. Defrost the squash. Increase the heat from low to medium heat and wait until the mixture is almost simmering and bubbles are seen on it. Turn off the heat, remove the pan, and stir in all the other cheese: ricotta cheese, jack cheese, and cheddar cheese. Mix with it the following: salt, mustard and pepper. Combine this mixture with the macaroni. Sprinkle combined bread crumbs, parmesan, and oil on top. Bake for twenty minutes and broil for three minutes.

The second easy healthy recipe is a favorite Chinese dish for take out. Would you believe that you can make a home counterpart that is healthier? Here are the ingredients and the directions in making sesame chicken that is better served with brown rice.

Mix the following: vinegar, soy sauce, scallions, chicken broth, sesame seeds, parsley, garlic, and ginger in a bowl. Add the mixture to a previously cut chicken strips. Chill for one hour. Heat oil in wok. Stir fry carrots for one minute and jicama for another three minutes. Remove the vegetables and stir fry drained chicken for two to three minutes. Move chicken to the outer edge wok. Place chicken marinade to center of wok. Heat until it simmers. Now, add vegetables to wok. Put frozen pea pods. Cook for one minute.

The last easy healthy recipe is called fish fillet with Spanish sauce. Good thing is that the sauce can also be used in spaghetti, omelet, meat loaf, and hamburgers. You will surely love it.

Saute onions until tender. Add ingredients: vegetable oil, bay leaf, canned tomatoes or juice, salt, diced and seeded green bell pepper, black pepper, whole cloves, and granulated sugar. Cover and simmer for thirty minutes. Thicken with flour that was previously mixed to a smooth paste with water. Take away the bay leaf and cloves. Reserve this as sauce for fish. Dip fish into milk. Mix black pepper with sifted and dried bread crumbs. Roll each piece of fish into the mixture. Put fish in low baking dish and brush with oil. Bake at 350°F. Add Spanish sauce and serve.

The humble salt occupying our kitchen shelves and forming the part of our every meal has more beneficial properties than one. Salt treatment or halotherapy as it better known as is a powerful natural treatment that uses all of the benefits associated with salt in a manner that heals your body. The use of this treatment has been prevalent since the 18th century, and it has still not lost ground due to constant modern-day medical experts and doctors. It is known to benefit patients by cleansing their airways and rejuvenating their skin.

The effects of halotherapy in healing the body

The popularity of Salt Therapy comes from the fact that it helps the body in more ways than one. Everyone from the Ayurveda practitioners to the new-age doctors has been all praises for this treatment which helps the body in the following ways.

Anti-inflammatory effect: The particles cause a reduction of the edema and swelling in the air passages. Salt Therapy is immensely helpful for the patients who have difficulty in breathing. Inhalation of the particles kills the bacteria and fungi contained in the mucous line of the respiratory tract. Breathing in the air leads to thinning out of the mucous lining, and that helps in your respiration.

Skin-irritation: One of the foremost benefits that it has pertains to cleansing the skin of all kinds of bacterial infections. Those with the problem of irritated and flaky skin will feel the results within weeks in the form of smoother and firmer skin. It also helps in alleviating any swelling or redness that you have on your skin by inducing an increase in the oxygen level in the hypodermis layer of the skin.

Anti-allergenic: Allergies are mostly skin irritation and inflammation as a result of your skin reacting to a foreign substance. So, the properties of the treatment that apply to the previous two cases come to use for this condition as well. The treatments work at building up your immune system, so the foreign bodies like allergens do not have the chance to affect your body. The existing allergies will calm down in a month’s time, and any new occurrences will be few and far in between.

The ways of applying halotherapy in your home

The ancient healers used to take their patients to salt caves to carry out the treatment but fret not as you need not start finding a cave nearby. The modern way is going for air salinizers to bring in the best effects of the treatment in the comfort of your homes. These salinizers lead to the salt sublimation for the ionization of indoor air. The minute particles spread in the air are even less than 5µm in diameter which means they have the ability to penetrate the lungs directly.

If you are someone suffering from any of the above mentioned ailments, or just want a healthier body with beautiful skin, this treatment can be the way to go for you. You are sure to notice the benefits of this ancient treatment within just a few days.

The benefits of nutritional supplements are being flaunted right, left and center in the health sector today. What most ordinary Americans fail to hear is that for the supplements to take full effect, one should make food based nutrition the backbone of their health. Ideally, the supplements should only be used to augment the hard to get nutrients.

The best nutrition advice that people can get is to base their diets on plant products. This means that one needs to eat more fruits, whole grains and vegetables. Fats are also an important part of a healthy nutrition, but should be based on healthy unsaturated fats only. Canola and olive oils fall in the healthy category. Another important pointer to wholesome food based nutrition is the need to keep the calories in healthy proportions. Consuming more calories than the body can use usually leads to weight gain.

Ideal health through nutrition can be attained if people learn to eat good carbohydrates contained in whole grains. As opposed to most what people think, carbohydrates are not bad for the body. Rather, it is the refined and processing that they go through before being placed on the store’s shelves that make them destroys the many good elements in them.

One should also pay attention to protein sources that he incorporates in the diet. The best protein sources of proteins are beans, fish, nuts and skinned poultry. More to this, the diet should have sufficient fiber. Fiber is available from whole grains, fruits and vegetables. More to this, one should incorporate variety of fruits in their diet. Nutritionists believe that brightly colored fruits and vegetables have more vitamins and minerals. As such, one should go for the dark red, orange, yellow and green vegetables and fruits. Overall, a healthy diet should contain vitamins, fruits, vegetables, fats, proteins, carbohydrates and fiber. One should only consider dietary supplements if he is not getting sufficient minerals or fruits.

The ideal starting place to healthy food based nutrition is one’s kitchen. By stocking the kitchen with healthy foods, the likelihood of cooking and eating unhealthy meals is greatly reduced. When shopping for food items, one should include fresh vegetables and fruits as their top-most priority. Carrots, spinach, apples, garlic and onions should make this list for any shopper. When shopping for grain, substitute white grains for whole grains. Consider purchasing brown rice, bulgur, and barley. Quinoa and oat berries are also other healthy options.

When shopping for proteins, avoid the temptation to purchase a stock of red meat to keep in your fridge. Rather, pick healthier options of fish, chicken, beans, eggs, tofu and nuts. Red meat should be eaten occasionally but not as part of the daily diet. Instead of fats, one should pick oils for stir-frying, general cooking and topping sandwiches.

Here is another leading name in the world of health and fitness exercise. With cutting edge top quality brands that any health and fitness buff would surely love to have right in their homes. The trademark may have had ups and downs in the industry but they have retained their quality brands which are tested in terms of their durability and sturdiness.

Keys Fitness products are sold across the US as well as around the world offering equipments ranging from home gyms, ellipticals, treadmills, plates and bars, dumbbells and many other tools including apparel and saunas.

Take for instance, some of its best products such as the KPS2050 which is innovatively designed and packed with multipurpose features that makes this home gym machine on top of the other equipments. Its distinctive press arm can be used to perform dips, conveniently folds down allowing you to supplement your exercise with dumbbell workouts. It has a better motion adjustment, ergonomic grip positions, and the design allows for a good body positioning thereby achieving maximum workout results. It comes with dual pivot arm uprights and adjustable pad for the lower workout needs. It is also inclusive with squat bar pads, revolving lat and straight bars, ankle and ab/tricep straps as well as two single grip handles. This is a total home gym where complete workout is packed fully in this machine and it even comes with a lifetime warranty, a lifetime warranty for everything in it.

The ST-IB International Olympic Bench is as good as the KPS 2050. It is constructed with 14 heavy duty gauge steel. It features oversized angle uprights 4″ wide requiring a 7′ Olympic Bar. The bench declines, flats and inclines. It includes arm and leg attachments with 6 oversized roller pads, an Olympic sleeve adaptor and a preacher curl with height adjustment.

Another best product is the ST-FID Bench inclusive with preacher curl attachment considered to be as one of the best Keys Fitness’ choices in home gym machine. Here is why: it has a full packed feature inclusive of 14 gauge steel, a decline, flat to military position with a preacher curl and comes with 8 adjustable positions, quality vinyl covered foam cushions and front and rear stabilizers. This is definitely a top of the line fitness product; a perfectly good choice for health enthusiasts.

Knowing that it is important to maintain good health, with the aid of regular workout, these Keys Fitness machines can be just the brand of you.

Let’s begin with a good health definition in general. The WHO health definition (World Health Organization), albeit from 1948: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Assuming that’s true, what’s the definition of physical health and does good health naturally mean that “all natural” is good, especially as it applies to food?

What’s the definition of physical health?

Is there one?

Based on the WHO health definition as it applies to physical health, is it safe to say that simply because everything is working as it should in the absence of disease or infirmity (weakness or ailment), that we’re not necessarily in good physical health?

What do you think?

I personally believe there is more to being healthy in the moment. On the other hand, I also believe that because we are only guaranteed the present, if you’re healthy, don’t take it for granted. Enjoy it while you can.

I also believe the state of our physical health depends largely on our personal health plan. In other words, it depends on how well we take care of ourselves on a regular basis. That includes:

• Eating habits
• Exercise habits or lack thereof
• Sleep habits
• Spiritual habits
• General living habits

Without seeming as though I am a pundit, expert or zealot about any of the aforementioned, that I am personally the definition of physical health, the definition of spiritual health, or anything that resembles the definition of good health, in a nutshell, what I’m saying is all the bullet points have a bearing on our physical health.

What do you think?

It’s about good health

One dictionary provides this definition of health:

“The general condition of the body or mind with reference to soundness and vigor: good health; poor health.”

The ancient Roman poet Virgil said, “The greatest wealth is health”.

I couldn’t agree more but I am a bit troubled by the amount of over-emphasis placed on physical health, as if it is mutually exclusive from the other aspects of health.

I believe health is about:

• Physical
• Mental
• Emotional
• Spiritual
• Financial

The “soundness and vigor” in which we pursue and maintain these factors has a direct and indirect effect on each and every one of the factors.

Furthermore, I find it troubling that the word wealth is so overly associated with money and financial wealth.

It’s not to say that I don’t see the importance of physical health and financial wealth. They are both key components of overall health but they are not stand-alone concepts.

What are your thoughts?

All Natural

The “all natural” phenomenon, especially as it applies to food, is one of the biggest marketing ploys ever. If it’s not a scam, it’s a joke.

It means nothing!

There is a HUGE difference between organic and all natural. Don’t confuse the two and by all means don’t fall for the propaganda that leads you to believe they are one and the same. They’re not.

Organic, at least as it applies to food, is highly regulated. It actually means something. However, keep in mind that just because it’s organic doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthy.

All natural can mean pretty much anything. As far as the food we eat is concerned, it is not regulated. It is a highly misleading tag.

Don’t be fooled.

I’m not saying don’t enjoy it. I’m not saying all natural is bad. I’m simply saying it’s about as superfluous term as there ever was. There is no depth to it.

My formula

For me, it all boils down to a few simple concepts and principles beginning with:

• Honesty
• Respect
• Best Effort

These are indispensable. They cost nothing and should be applied at all times.

Next are the 5 F’s:

• Food – Not just what we eat but includes anything we consume physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. If we are what we eat, this says it all.
• Fitness – Includes all the 5 bullet points mentioned above
• Finances – Affected by the previous two and affects the previous and next two
• Fulfillment – It’s about completion and includes all the bullet points mentioned
• Fun – The importance of how it affects health and is affected by it is often overlooked

I have tagged the 5 F’s as the components of a bulletproof life.

To sum it up, all the above is important but the proper balance is the key. I believe too many of us are simply out of balance. Furthermore, there is not a one-size-fits-all balancing act.

Last but not least, from the late, great Redd Foxx:

“Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.”

Agree? Disagree?

Leave comments.

Health problems are prevalent among modern adults more than ever. Could this be attributed to modern lifestyles? Almost entirely, but there is more to blame. The quality of the food around us is also an issue as we are often surrounded by high-caloric processed foods. We usually have to go to designated produce or “organic” food aisles to find rows of food that can be considered healthy.

Arguably, the lack of instruction is also an issue. Hundreds of years ago when meat and bread were staples as they were not mass-produced, it was not necessary to teach people about healthy eating. It is not like there was an abundance of carbohydrate options to choose from to replace the fruits and vegetables we need to be eating. Now, more than ever, we need proper instruction to ensure our lifestyle is not leading us down an unhealthy path.

In light of these facts, the point of struggle for many modern adults is not the lack of a commitment to their health. Perhaps surprisingly to you, most people aspire to have better health and well-being…

• no one wants to be a victim of Type 2 diabetes or heart disease.
• no one wants to have a protruding abdominal area due to obesity, not because their “younger days” have passed.

The majority of adults have either tried or are currently in the process of making an effort to improve their health; so the absence of intent or commitment is not the problem.

What is the length of time you have been committed? How long have your positive habits been sustained? How secure is your discipline and how resistant are you to the temptation to quit because it is inevitable? With any task, there will be a challenge and doubt. Moreover, unfortunately, it is the main reason why many people do not take their commitments very far.

What are you currently doing to improve your health? How long have you been committed to improving your health? If you have been trying to lose weight, think back to when you started your current objective which means the day you decided to commit to weight loss as opposed to the day you said enough is enough. Now that could have been years ago. If the latter was when you put your commitment into play, you would not be looking to lose weight still, would you?

Short-term commitments do have their place when they are carried out correctly. However, if we are talking about the big picture – which we should be when it concerns your health – then we ought to be talking about your long-term plans. If you are not ready to put forth a consistent effort for a long-term commitment, you are not prepared to improve your health. Harsh but true.

How much does good health matter to you?

Chamomile flowers are a member of the daisy family with their bright gold cones shining in the center of white petals.

With more than one million cups of chamomile tea consumed every day and supplements of chamomile capsules, liquid extracts, ointments, and essential oils in wide use, chamomile is one of the most highly used and research-proven medicinal plants. It has been studied for use with insomnia, heart conditions, colds, inflammation, skin eczema, upset stomach, osteoporosis, anxiety, sore throat, wound healing and more.

Chamomile for Sleep and Insomnia

Chamomile has long been used as a natural sleep aid and insomnia remedy. The powerful oils contained in its flowers provide a calming effect for sleeplessness, nervousness and anxiety. In one study, heart patients were given chamomile tea and then fell into a deep sleep. In another study with animals done in Japan, relaxation was increased and the time needed to fall asleep was significantly reduced. In an 8-week study of people with anxiety, chamomile was shown to greatly reduce symptoms and increase well-being.

Stomach Conditions Helped by Chamomile

Chamomile is one of the main “go to” herbs for digestive disorders like upset stomach, ulcers, diarrhea and gas. It helps to relax muscle contractions, particularly in the smooth muscles that make up the intestines. In one journal study from Switzerland, the herbal combination of iberis (an herb in the cabbage family), peppermint and chamomile were shown to be effective in the treatment of stomach indigestion, irritation and inflammation.

Eczema and Skin Conditions

Inflammation of the skin is widely treated and remedied by topical chamomile preparations. It has the ability to penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and help with eczema and other skin inflammations. In a European medical journal, a cream with chamomile extract was tested against a hydrocortisone cream. After a 2-week treatment, the chamomile cream showed a mild superiority in effectiveness over hydrocortisone.

Osteoporosis and Bone Health

In the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, chamomile extract was studied for its ability to prevent the bone loss that can occur as people age. Chamomile demonstrated the ability to help mineralize bone cells and showed an anti-estrogenic quality. The researchers noted that this may be due to chamomile having a quality as a possible regulator of excess estrogen in the body.

Calcium and Chamomile – A Winning Duo

Calcium is also directly related to our good sleep. In one study, called “The Nutritional Relationships of Magnesium”, the author notes that the type of insomnia associated with a calcium deficiency causes difficulty with falling asleep. This same study says that “Muscle cramps associated with a calcium deficiency often occur at night and without exertion.”

In another study published in the European Neurology Journal, researchers found that calcium levels in the body are higher during some of the deepest levels of sleep, such as the rapid eye movement (REM) phase when most dreaming occurs. This study discovered that disturbances in sleep, especially the absence of REM deep sleep or disturbed REM sleep, are related to a calcium deficiency.

Summary

Anyone who has a strong allergy to plants like daisies or ragweed (with its tiny green flowers) should start with a very small amount of chamomile, whether using it as a tea, supplement or skin ointment. Most people can gain benefits from chamomile without any reactions. It is one of nature’s most potent herbs and can help with calming insomnia, anxiety, muscle spasms, PMS, skin inflammations, stomach disorders, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, arthritis and more.

As a first line of defense against sleeplessness and insomnia, chamomile and calcium are good bets. Coming from the worlds of herbal and mineral sleep aids, they are normally taken safely without addictive qualities or side effects.

Introduction

I recently wrote a critique of Dr. Ken Cooper’s “12 Steps to Good Health.” One reader suggested that I offer my own 12 Steps to Good Health.

So I did. Enjoy.

1. The WELLNESS REPORT

Subscribe to the AWR and read a total of 12 editions. This should not be difficult. Subscriptions are free and all 763 previous editions are readily accessible, electronically. It won’t matter which twelve you choose – any combination will set you on the path toward a REAL wellness mindset. If you doubt this, look into the eyes of veteran readers, notice how they carry themselves, their ease and harmony, their effervescent vapors and comportment valves, their self-poise, independence, candor and free spirits. Don’t overlook their embrace of reason, love of exuberance, enthusiasm for athleticism and love of mental as well as physical freedoms.

2. Reassess Your Mindset

This is especially critical if said mindset is not an original.

No matter how comfortable you may be from having gone along to get along, it could be that your ideas really suck in the grander sense of things and, most vitally, do not enable the enlightenment or level of happiness you might otherwise enjoy. Of course, maybe your mindset, regardless of beliefs in impossible things and ludicrous rules, are just dandy per your way of seeing things. Either way, you still might be better off on the whole if you take a close look at what you were told about life’s persistent questions, to borrow a phrase from Guy Noir, Private Eye, the fellow who once inhabited the 12th floor of the Acme building on many a dark night in a city that knew how to keep its secrets.

(In case you’re puzzled by this reference, it’s a famous line from regular skits featured on Garrison Keillor’s much loved “Prairie Home Companion” radio show.)

3. Minimal Exercise

Beginning today or, if it’s late at night and you need your sleep, tomorrow, go out and exercise for at least 20 minutes with no fewer than five pace pickups, raising your heart rate for 30 seconds to a minute. Do this daily for the rest of your life. Doesn’t matter if you walk, run, bike, swim, row – whatever, just do it every day. Naturally, best if you mix it up, make it fun, dress appropriately for the activity and find others to join you, if socializing while exerting appeals – whatever it takes to keep a commitment to a daily exercise regimen.

4. The Best Diet

Experiment with and, if you can pull it off, become a vegan, or as much of one as you can manage. Only a relatively few (6% of Americans at present) so disposed can pull it off, myself not included. I’m a mostly-vegan who caves now and then to the lures of gruyere cheese, egg whites, shellfish and cream in coffee. Ecotopia is not the goal. A vegan diet is great for your health (e.g., weight control), there are unlimited yummy possibilities and, most important, it’s essential for a better environment. The extent of animal cruelty alone warrants giving veganism an earnest attempt; so does slowing global warning via reductions of emission-heavy animal agriculture. The appetite-whetting possibilities will excite and delight your taste buds.

5. Heroism, Your Style

Perform a heroic act. There is no official definition of a heroic act. I use the term to describe an epic and triumphant experience. In order to accomplish such an experience, that is, moments in time when, after a period of months of disciplined preparation, you complete that which was challenging, special and meaningful, in your eyes, and celebrate the fine-tuned state that you’ve managed, with a little bit (or a lot) of luck, and with support from special aiders and abettors and much hard work via energies wisely expended. The possibilities are rich and varied. A heroic act has only a few criteria and these are but suggestions – you of course can set your own standards. I recommend the heroic act be something physical, that it requires at least three months of preparation, that it’s difficult but possible and even enjoyable in some ways (besides when successfully completed) and that it not be a one and done deal. That is, once you have completed one heroic act meeting these criteria (or your own), follow up with another – once a year, every two years or whatever feels right.

Don’t be tempted by or lured into extreme quests, such as racing non-stop up the Empire State Building, finishing an Ironman triathlon, climbing Mt. Everest or playing in the NFL or NBA. For most of us, such quests would be unrealistic. Choose something possible, but arduous and demanding, yet within your range.

Just know that, to accomplish heroic acts, you’ll have to do a lot of what it takes to land a gig at Carnegie Hall. (Hint: practice, practice, practice.) Good luck.

6. Conscious Meaning Re Life

Ponder and decide on the MOL, that is, the meaning of life or, alternately, the meaning and purposes of your life, at the present time, until new information and insights come along. There is value in bringing to conscious awareness what you believe about why you’re here, if indeed you decide there is anything more to your presence than improbable good fortune, or not such good fortune, depending on how you feel about living.

In “Unweaving the Rainbow: Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder,” Richard Dawkins writes that the fact that we are going to die makes us the lucky ones. Here’s an excerpt wherein he makes this case for this claim:

“Most people are never going to die because they are never going to be born. The potential people who could have been here in my place but who will in fact never see the light of day outnumber the sand grains of Arabia.”

So, buck up folks. Suppose you are too rational to accept the idea that a sky god put you here for a purpose. What then? Let reason be your guide – adopt a set of purposes for your life that will keep you going in good spirits. Maybe you’ll decide, like Ingersoll, that there is meaning and joy contributing to the happiness of others. Perhaps you will find ways to nurture and express your talents, thereby “reaping your greatest reward in being loved by those whose lives you have enriched.”

The possibilities for human flourishing via personally satisfying, challenging forms of meaning and purpose based upon your unique character, talents, personality and circumstances are nearly unlimited. It’s up to you.

7. Healthy Models

Surround yourself to the extent possible with others who seem to have embraced wellness mindsets, that is, people who take good care of themselves, are positive and kind, cheerful and realistic. Also favor those who are optimistic, embrace the common decencies and look after their families, friends and associates. Oh, and also be partial to making friends with people who carry on in ways consistent with reason, exuberance, athleticism and liberty.

In the midst of such company, having and sustaining good intentions will be much easier.

8. Daily Learning

Invest time and energy, more so than ever, in learning and exploring. Pursue education and new activities that broaden your perspectives. Doing so is invaluable at all ages, but more important than ever in the later years. This is a time that too often invites slowing down as important body parts and organs become trouble spots, to put it mildly. Thus, renewed gusto should be summoned and directed at creative ways to sustain and even escalate the vitality that a REAL wellness mindset invites. Think of the possibilities out there as if the world were (for it actually is, sort of) a massive museum. Check out the vast collections on offer, and be a traveling dilettante experiencing the kaleidoscope of arts, history and culture, science and nature – so many choices.

Live it up – you can’t take it with you, since you’re not going anywhere when you die. Be courageous and don’t shy from looking realities in the eye. Keep in mind that you will soon enough become infirm, your mind will expire before the rest of you and you’ll become a burden on everybody, though few will let on. By putting the fact of death out of mind as much as possible, it becomes too easy to take life for granted, to get caught up in jejune concerns and waste precious moments.

9. Humor

Laugh more often, unless your days are already filled with more crackups than a roller derby. Ingersoll suggested that “no one should fail to pick up every jewel of joy that can be found in his path.” Instead of looking for trouble (or love in all the wrong places), look for ways to laugh more often throughout the day, every day! It’s good for your demeanor. By enjoying more of it, especially good old fashioned belly yuks – the kind that bring tears to your eyes. Humor will boost your health status and nearly everything else (social relations, work satisfaction and bodily functions) will improve, as well.

Opportunities for humor are everywhere – you can’t escape it. Humor is more popular than porn, and much more socially acceptable. Best-seller books and TED talks celebrate the power of laughter in business and personal relationships; humor conferences (CEU credits available!) address the science of comedy, as do learned medical journals.

Humor takes many forms, including satire, absurdity, mischief, incredulity, surprise, awkwardness, puns, mockery and affectation, to note a few. You can have a ball with more humor in your life. Make a conscious effort to look for it – you can’t wait for it to seek you out or opportunities will be missed.

However, exercise a measure of caution if you decide to be the one spreading humor. For starters, know your audience. Humor is subjective in the extreme and can be hazardous. While nearly everyone loves to laugh, what is experienced as funny is highly subjective. A gut-busting joke or situation explained with surprises and wit can crack one person up but make another want to crack a bottle over your head. For example, you would not want to make fun of certain people, like Kim Jong Un. What’s amusing to some is definitely offensive to others. Forget jokes about blonds, ethnic groups or even lawyers. (Why don’t sharks bite lawyers? Professional courtesy.)

So, look on the bright side with a few more laughs daily than you otherwise might if not looking for such opportunities. There’s little danger of an overdose or adverse side effects.

10. Effective Thinking

Fine tune your decision-making skills at every opportunity. Not only is the media filled with fake news (and this is not a reference to media reports Trump doesn’t like) but con artists, bogus healers, Russian hackers, get-rich hucksters, slick prosperity gospel preachers, lonely hearts seeking long walks on the beach with generous soul mates, and other charlatans on the prowl as never before – and they all want your money! So, consider this: whatever they’re selling, it probably doesn’t work, you don’t need it anyway, the claims are likely untrue and you shouldn’t fall for any of it. Skepticism, doubt and wariness will stand you in good order until you’ve had time for due diligence.

Learn as much as possible about the three-pound wonder that constitutes the real you. Our brains are naturally attracted to simple explanations of complexity, therefore, we are easily seduced by pseudoscience, conspiracy theories, absurd dogmas and superstitions, quackery and other forms of deception. Religions are another reason for faulty thinking because they teach obedience, not critical thinking. Religions frown on skepticism, doubt and wariness, vital tools for functioning in rational ways that enable better choices.

Ingersoll, a promoter of effective decision-making regarding religions, acknowledged that “reason is a small and feeble flame, a flickering torch by stumblers carried in the starless night, blown and flared by passion’s storms -and yet it is the only light. Extinguish that, and naught remains.”

In the modern world (with our much-evolved but not entirely well-adapted two million year-old brains), reason is indeed a small and feeble flame, but still the only light. Guy Harrison, author of half a dozen books on reason, including “Good Thinking: What You Need to Know to be Smarter, Safer, Wealthier and Wiser,” recommends such skills “be elevated to a moral issue – because an epidemic of poor reasoning looms as humankind’s great unrecognized crisis.”

11. Service to Others

Expect nothing in return. Seek no credit. Do it for someone or many in need, to advance a great principle (e.g. separation of church and state), to help a community, promote animal welfare, save the bloody planet – possibilities for selfless service are inexhaustibly diverse.

While personal rewards are not the point or purpose, service to others invariably brings a bounty of healthful and satisfying returns. Doing good, over time, adds to your sense of worth, purpose and the like, even if nobody notices.

Studies sponsored by the folks who gave us International Good Deeds Day (April 15 this year) suggest that such endeavors decrease stress, increase life expectancy, promote happiness and feel good, due to the fact that such service sparks the release of endorphins, the brain’s pleasant mood chemicals.

A 2012 study published in the journal Psychological Science found that thinking about times you’ve helped others make you want to help again. Service to others is self-reinforcing. The research indicates that reflecting on your past good deeds makes you feel selfless and motivated to do more. What a deal – personal health gains for you and help for others – a good deal for all concerned.

12. Beyond the Pale Blue Dot

Keep ever-present in mind the ultimate, fastest-acting stress management technique – thoughts about the cosmos. Who cannot at least diminish for a spell the unpleasant emotions associated with grudges, worries, fears, jealousies and/or upsets after only a few minutes, even seconds, thinking about space and time? What’s the big deal about life’s spilled milk equivalents – if you remember this advice from the Monty Python classic, “The Meaning of Life:”

“Whenever life gets you down, Mrs. Brown, and things seem hard or tough, and people are stupid, obnoxious or daft, and you feel that you’ve had quite eno-o-o-o-o-ough… “

(Thanks, Eric Idle, for the “Galaxy Song” – a wonderful stress release song.)

This reliable stress reliever involves shifting your mind, just briefly, to the fact that there are hundreds of billions of stars in our Milky Way galaxy – which is but one of hundreds of billions of galaxies, each containing hundreds of billions of stars. And don’t get your hippocampus in a knot struggling to sort out how many planets are out there, each revolving around its own special star. Perhaps there are planets somewhere in the misty deep teeming with inhabitants, most of whom have also been led to believe that they are the center of the universe, and the highest purpose of some grand design.

All the best. Stay weller than well.

Many men and women only seek pedicure treatments during the spring and summer months when shoes leave toes and heels bare. Of course, presenting a polished and clean foot is a great idea, especially when anyone can see them. What about the months when your foot is encased in boots and trainers, though? Do you think that there are any good reasons to maintain a foot care regimen through the colder months of the year? Your answer should be a resounding yes.

Even though your feet are not visible to others during the winter, you should continue to receive pedicures on a regular basis. Pedicures do not just help you to show off pretty toes, but they can also help maintain the health of your skin and joints. If you enjoy a regular pedicure during the summer months, then you are probably already aware of the benefits, but just in case they have slipped your notice, you can refresh your memory here.

Every pedicure begins with a spa soak that is meant to soften the skin for easier manipulation. What you may not realize is that the spa bath for your feet is encouraging circulation through the lower legs and ankles, which can reduce any pain and swelling that you might suffer as a result of sitting or standing throughout the day. The softened skin can also reduce the formation of corns and calluses that can be painful, especially when encased in snug winter boots.

Your nails should receive regular attention during winter months, as well. You might not realize it, but cold weather can act as a drying agent on your skin and nails. Dry, brittle nails are prone to splitting and breaking, which can be painful, but also can cause infection. A regular pedicure from a Vancouver nail salon can ensure that your nails are always in the very best of health, and reduce the chances of ingrown nails or painful breakage.

Finally, the massage that each Vancouver nail salon offers with every pedicure can further encourage better circulation in the lower legs and feet. This can loosen tight muscles and promote better joint performance, especially when the cold weather is actively working to cause joint and muscle pain. Contact a Vancouver nail salon as soon as possible to begin a regular foot care regime, and you will quickly realize the many benefits that are involved.