TO YOUR HEALTH
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REMEMBER 6 POINTS
They will help you live better. Healthier.
Breathe. / Drink Water. / Eat Living Food. / Move ! / Rest. / # 6 I’ll save for the end.
Don Colbert, MD., wrote a little book some years ago entitled: The Seven Pillars of Health. He sites scripture often and talks about the spiritual side of health and living. Though it was not written specifically for older adults, I think it applies more so to us who are older. I’m going to mention only five of his seven points but I’ll add a sixth of my own.
His book is still in print and is available from Amazon and can be ordered online and through a bookstore.
These six points are such common sense and yet we ignore them.
Breathe
We don’t breathe We don’t use ½ our lung capacity. Just stop right now and take a deep breath. Feels good doesn’t it? Relieves stress doesn’t it? Pay attention to your posture. Strengthen the muscles that hold the body more up-right which allows room for the lungs to fill. I find myself walking with shoulders and back slumped. When I straighten up, my lungs fill with life giving oxygen. I feel better and think better. I think I look better.
We all live in a stress filled world. One thing everyone should do to relieve stress is to just breathe. Inhale deeply counting to 4 and exhale counting to 4. Do this several times a day. It will not only get you more oxygen, it will relieve stress.
Water
Water is the single most important nutrient for our bodies. It is involved in every function of our body. Your body is 70% water. Your body loses about 2 quarts a day. If you wait until you are thirsty to drink water, then you are most likely already dehydrated. If you are dizzy or feel faint – remember to drink water. If you have a headache – remember to drink water. When I told my doctor about feeling faint from time to time – she first asked about how much water I was drinking. And she was right, I would work outside for hours and never stop for a drink. I’m 76 and long stretches without drinking water is not a smart practice.
Diet / Eat Living Food
Shop the outside rim of the store, it will be mainly fruit and vegetables AND BREAD – but make it whole grain never white. It needs to say “whole wheat.” (No – 100% Whole Wheat) Just watch advertisements on TV. We are pushed to be meat and fried food eaters. That along with salt and sugar is killing us. We need to think about having more fruits and vegetables with each meal. In fact, try making them the main course and a meat as a “side.” Even adding one serving of vegetables a day can lower your heart disease risk, says Dr. Colbert. According to USDA, the current recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables (5 to 13).
Move (Exercise)
No marathon or the iron-man events / Just keep moving. Gentle slow stretching. The single greatest factor in successful aging is exercise. And you may not believe this, but the single best form of exercise=Ball Room Dancing. My wife and I love dancing. Especially west coast swing. I’ll talk more about this later.
Every night your body, as you sleep, repairs itself. Immune system recharges / major organs are restored, old cells are replaced with new ones. Give yourself 7-9 hrs. daily. I admit this is one piece of advice I fail at the most. But I’m learning.
Expand Your Social Network
Now – this is me talking. All the above is from Dr. Colbert, MD, But now – this is me talking.
Expand Your Social Network
For us as Christians this is spelled – “C H U R C H.” The pandemic did a number on us all. One of the wonderful things is that it pushed us to develop the ability for members who are unable to attend services to still be somewhat connected using television and computer. DON’T ! Don’t give into this unless it is absolutely necessary. It’s a wonderful thing but you need more. You need your friends to hug. You need those too few minutes at the Lord’s Table and communion. You need the feeling of being surrounded by “church.”
Here’s another observation. The pandemic caused us to stop passing communion trays and using these individual packages. OK, I get it. But we better be careful. A few Sundays ago someone made an observation that really made “cents”. Yea I know, wrong word, but I used it on purpose. We used to pass the offering plate. Remember? Tell me about helping your little children put money in the plate. Offering plates used to have quarters and dimes in them. They don’t anymore. We use credit cards and bank draws. Convenient, yes. But at what “cost.” I wonder what else we have lost. You talk about a “slippery slope” !
There is a power in the physical act. There is a power that comes by shaking hands and hugs and smiles. It’s medicine for the soul.
And so I say
Expand your social network
Nurture the Spirit within
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