To achieve and maintain overall good health is everyone’s goal
Aug 14,2006 12:00 by Freelance Writer

To achieve and maintain overall good health is everyone’s goal.
The secret in achieving this goal can be described in a single
word—balance. If you balance the physical, mental and social
facets of your life, you make a strong move toward good health.

Certainly our lives are complex, juggling the stress and strain
of everyday living in our modern, fast-paced world. Yet, you
need not be overwhelmed in your quest to be healthy if you
begin with an approach that emphasizes balance. This slightly
cumbersome term, a biopsychosocial perspective, merely means to
keep your physical (bio) body, your mental (psycho) condition,
and the social parts of your life in balance.

Taken one at a time, each area of your life can be analyzed,
using simple steps to assess and promote homeostasis, that is,
to maintain balance. Our physical or biological state is always
adjusting to maintain a balance; when we are overheated, we
perspire so that we may cool down. When we are lacking energy,
we become hungry so that we may re-fuel our bodies. When
thinking about the physical aspect of your body, remember to
think of its basic needs and how well these needs are being
met. Of primary importance is the fuel or nutrition you give
your body. Begin by knowing how much you should eat and drink
to maintain your weight. Each day, consume the calories that
you know you will burn. Strive for at least 30 minutes of
moderate physical exercise each day. This allows your body to
burn calories, as well as helping you maintain good physical
and cardiovascular fitness.

Your body requires a variety of nutritious foods to stay in top
condition. The key here is nutritious—it is not enough to merely
feed your body, you must be sure you are providing it with
balanced nutrition. Optimally, you will choose foods like
vegetables, fruits, whole-grain products and low-fat dairy
products. You will include adequate protein in your diet,
including fish. Limit the foods and drinks that are high in
calories but low in nutrients, and remember to limit saturated
fats, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium.

If your eating habits are less than perfect, or you know you
tend to avoid a specific food group, you can augment your diet
with multi-vitamins or specific vitamin supplements. As with
any supplement, you should always consult your primary care
physician when making your decisions. Purchasing vitamins to
help balance your eating habits need not be expensive, thanks
to quality discount vitamins available through the Internet or
at large drug stores and pharmacies.

The second key to good health is to be sure the mental aspect
of your life is balanced by minimizing stress and maintaining
good sleep and work habits. Psychologically, the body works
best when it is functioning with a positive outlook, has
adequate rest to allow for both physical and mental
recuperation, and is not in a constant state of stress. While
some stress in our lives is inevitable, the body is ill
prepared to remain in a constant state of siege.

Two factors that contribute to your overall positive mental
health include enjoying the work that you do, and knowing how
to handle the stressors that life presents. If one or both of
these areas in your life is in need of improvement, you can
take steps to move in a healthier direction. Consider a
different focus at work or sign up for training to add
additional skills to your current knowledge; take a class for
fun, to allow yourself to relax and unwind. Talk to your
friends and family about your plans and goals, and they may be
able to contribute new ideas for staying mentally active and
involved.

And this brings us to the third segment of a balanced and
healthy life, that of your social and community activities.
Research tells us that people with adequate social networks
live longer, healthier lives. Friends and family are the part
of your life that brings your mental and physical states
together in activity. Positive interactions with others allow
your mind and your body to thrive. These interactions begin at
the very closest level, with family and close friends. They
form your immediate support system, as well as your purpose in
doing and giving to those near to you.

Next comes your interactions with those in a wider community,
the people you work with and pass on the street each day. These
social exchanges, if positive, can directly affect both your
physical well being as well as your mental state of mind. These
acquaintances also allow you to design your own groups, people
who share your passion for classical music, or who love to play
a round of golf with you on a Sunday afternoon. Whatever your
activities with others, positive social experiences contribute
to good health.

On a larger scale, the social arena of your city or even your
state can be a way to positively interact, by earning a living
and by contributing to a higher purpose such as promoting
justice in our society. While your social focus may be far
reaching in the people it touches, it continues to have a close
and personal impact on your own health. Just as with nutrition,
when you sometimes need to add more nutritious food or to
purchase affordable discount vitamins to supplement your food
intake, you may want to add more positive social interactions
to your life, in the form of friends or community activities.
As with diet when you restrict your intake of saturated fats,
you may also decide to limit social activities that are more
stressful than they are rewarding.

Maintaining a balance in your life, keeping your body healthy
(don’t forget to research for discount vitamins and start a
vitamin regimen), keeping your mind alert with positive
activities, and your social interactions productive and
positive will reward you with one of life’s greatest gifts,
that of overall good health.



About The Author: By VitaNet® Health Foods at
http://vitanetonline.com/ who sells quality vitamins and herbs
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