Your Physical and Emotional Health

It should never be underestimated how adversely your physical health can be affected by stress.

In order to maximise your ability to cope more effectively with the stresses of every day life, we must first address the issue of your physical health. If attended to with care and sense, this begins the process of mind and body healing together.

You should always consult your Doctor before changing your diet, especially if it is a weight reducing diet. Also it is important to attend your free well woman / man clinics for a check up as they will run routine checks.

We must learn to take responsibility for our bodies and health.

A balanced diet is essential to your health. Certain foods if taken in excess can actually contribute to a feeling of malaise and sluggishness, as well as causing skin complaints, dull hair and lack of energy. Over-eating causes a lack of energy and can lead to unwelcome weight gain, which in itself can be destructive to health and self esteem. Try to achieve and maintain a comfortable weight for your height as this can help reduce the risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, bowel cancer and many more illnesses.

Try a Natural Stress Management remedy made up from plant extracts has excellent stress reducing properties and helps control stress-related eating

Generally

•    Eat less fatty foods especially foods containing saturated fats, beware of
     hidden fats in food, but do not cut out fats.
•    Increase your fibre intake by eating more wholemeal / wholegrain products
•    Eat  5 portions of fresh fruit or fresh vegetables per day.
  
•    Cut down on carbohydrates and increase your protein
  
•    Cut down on sugar and salt many foods already contain them so there is no
     need to add extra
•    Cut down on caffeine
  
•    Drink 6-8 glasses of fresh water per day (filtered if possible)
  
•    Remember moderation in everything helps to maintain a healthy balance.

For some people 3 large meals a day is ideal, but this is not a rule, for others 5-8 small meals is more suitable for their tastes and lifestyles. Start the day with a good healthy breakfast; this can be very beneficial as this is the best time to eat well. Eating smaller quantities more frequently means our metabolism is able to work more effectively as it has less food to break down this prevents our metabolic rate slowing down as our body realises that it will receive food regularly.

It is worth mentioning as a comparison to modern day over indulgence that the Stone Age man had a very healthy diet. He mainly ate fresh ripe seasonal and mostly raw foods. He also ate the whole food not just the nice bits. His diet also consisted mainly of eating one type of food at a time, which is a lot easier on the digestion, also he had to catch or grow all his food thus providing him with good exercise.