10 Principles of Wellbeing
These are the what we have found through science and studies to be the most fundamental principles of well being that can change your health but also your way of life. These principles can extend your life and make you happier. Why not try them with us?
Trust More, Stress Less
Did you know that 70-90% of all physician visits are stress related according to the American Psychological Association? That is quite a bit of time spent going to the doctor for stress management, not to mention to medical bills! It is natural for us to have stress in our lives, but how we deal with the stress will influence our physical health. Trusting in God has established these health principles with your benefit in mind and putting them to the test can go a long way in reducing your stress!
Have Refreshing Rest
Many people sleep, but they do not rest. But having refreshing rest is more than sleeping 8 hours a night - it means going to bed in harmony with the body's natural circadian rhythm. Having a proper sleep cycle allows the body to repair and restore itself, as well as to build the immune system and begin to detox. In addition, having refreshing rest helps to regulate hormones that effect your mood, appetite, and even improve weight loss.
Enjoy Sunshine
Although sunshine has been made out to be an enemy of health, it is actually one of its best allies and friends. Getting adequate sunshine is paramount to improving overall health including lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, and helping the body to convert cholesterol into vitamin D. It is recommended that individuals with darker complexions get between 40-60 minutes of sun exposure every day while those with a lighter complexion should receive 15-20 minutes, especially before the hours of 10 AM and after 3 PM.
Nutrition
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” These words uttered by Hippocrates, the recognized father of modern medicine, mean so much more today with advanced scientific knowledge in nutrition. Studies now show that a plant-based diet can improve the quality of life of individuals with chronic illnesses and even reverse them! In fact, those on a plant based diet have been shown to live 7-10 years longer according to the blue zone studies.
Exercise
Exercise is so important, that it actually influences all of the other health principles as well! It reduces stress levels, improves quality of sleep, influences food choices, and even increase vitamin D receptors, to name a few. So what kind of exercise is the best? A study published in the British Medical Journal describes walking as "near perfect exercise." Just walking 20-30 minutes a day at a moderate pace can improve health significantly!
Water
Did you know that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated? According to a report covered by CBS in 2013, this is the number of individuals that are dehydrated and may not even know it. Without enough water, blood moves more slowly and the brain is not able to perform as efficiently, since the blood is 83% water and the brain is 85% water. Drinking pure water helps lubricate our joints, improve digestion, helps to lower blood pressure, and even works as a natural laxative. Remember this quote: "Pure water is the world's first and foremost medicine." -Slovakian Proverb
Live Temperately
We have all heard the adage "all things in moderation", but does that apply to even something that is harmful to your health? Certainly not! Even too much of something healthful is bad for us. So the correct definition is abstaining from that which is harmful, and using in moderation the things that are good. Not only does it apply to the amount of food we eat, but also adequate rest, sunshine, and even exercise. Intemperate choices affect our frontal lobe, which is the seat of our will and drive and morality, and negatively influences the brain. One study showed that drinking just one small cup of coffee dropped blood flow to the brain by 40%!
Invest Time in Others
One of the most overlooked factors to peak wellness is the benefit that serving another person gives. Multiple studies show that helping others improves your mood, reduces stress, and even improve immune system health. In fact, in the American Journal of Public Health, it was found that because helping behavior reduces stress, stress was a significant predictor in mortality among those that did not provide help to others, whereas stress was not a predictor in mortality in those that did help others consistently. So consider investing time in others to further improve your health!
Fresh Air
According to the EPA, Americans spend 93% of their time in an enclosed environment (87% indoors and 6% in a vehicle). This means that most of us consistently breathe in recycled air because we do not spend a lot of time outdoors to receive the benefits of fresh air. Just taking a deep breath in nature shows that it can reduce blood pressure and stress levels, not to mention improve vitality as your cells become supercharged with oxygen. You can get some of these benefits by cracking open a window when you sleep, taking a walk in the early morning sunlight, taking a walk after lunch, and finding a park surrounded by trees and greenery.
Educate Yourself
Because the brain operates as a muscle, we have to exercise it. The more we use our brains, the easier it becomes to access the information and to understand new concepts. Reading is the best form of learning because it stimulates your frontal lobe and engages your reasoning functions while reducing your stress levels by up to 68% (University of Sussex, 2009). Any activity that gets you to actively process what you are doing - whether you are gardening, playing sudoko or crossword puzzles, or learning a new language or recipe - will contribute to improved brain function, memory, and learning.
Let us show you how these important principles can change your life.