After exercising for approximately forty minutes daily, your heart will be pumping adrenalin throughout your body. Thus you don't only achieve outward looking fitness, but internal one as well; your heart will be pumping away happily for as long as you keep it up. What's forty minutes exercise in comparison to going (often stressing) about our daily grind. Surely it's a fair trade for a healthier body and mind.
“Whatever you do, just don't smoke”, movie legend Yul Brenner is famously quoting, mainly against developing cancer. Furthermore, smoking gradually depletes your body of oxygen; vital content of your life-sustaining blood.
A smoker will not only increase the chance of developing cancer of the lungs, but a related heart disease, blood clots, low immune system ,diabetes, brain tumours and crinkly skin.
There is a saying: “Cleanliness is close to Godliness”. It rings true. I know people who spend time, money and energy to keep their homes spotless, only to smoke their lungs out of existence. What's the sense in all this? It seems that God neglected to fix a window for us to have a peak at our internal organs when He created humans.
Personally I'd rather adopt the adage: “Treat your body like a temple”, albeit minus the incense burning.
After alcohol, tea and coffee consumption, ensure you match your water intake to re-hydrate, also to help your kidneys flush out unwanted residues. Besides, what's all the external beauty if one can not pass water properly?
The general rule is to eat everything you fancy in moderation, but to drink plenty of water beforehand, in between and afterwards. Your kidneys and liver will thank you for it.
To maintain a healthy brain, exercise it regularly by doing crosswords, sudoku or puzzles. Alternatively, have good discussions and meaningful conversations with those close to you. This routine will sharpen your wit and improve your problem solving ability. Use it or lose it.
Maintain a healthy diet, containing five main food groups: bread & cereals, dairy, fruit, vegetables and protein (red meat, poultry, seafood or alternatives). Prepare your own meals using fresh ingredients for well balanced, nutritious food. Not only it will save you money, it will save you trips to your doctors or dieticians for cholesterol excess.
Too busy to execute all of the above? No excuse! I've witnessed first-hand people who neglect to do one or the other listed above principles, only to suffer its dire consequences. Face lifts, stomach stapling, upper arm flap removal, double chin reduction, you name it, I've seen it done to individuals. Not only they're costly, but painful as well, with weeks of discomfort during recuperation.
Personally I'd rather spend an hour each day exercising and practice healthy food regime than otherwise. Adopt "reasonable bed-time rest" to avoid dark circle under your eyes. Have you heard the term “beauty sleep”? Lack of it will make you look and feel less beautiful and grumpy. Wouldn't you rather be happy, radiant and cheerful?
Let's all be pragmatic; not everyone of us is blessed with good looks and great bodies, but with a little care and dedication, we can all achieve our utmost potential. Now, let's get cracking and have fun along the way.
