Here is a great definition of good health by Sarah BanBreathnach author of Simple Abundance: “vitality, vigour, high energy, emotional equilibrium, mental clarity, a healthy heart and reserves of stamina and creative energy to draw on.” In this last article of the year I want to give you something to ponder on as your look ahead to the next 12 months dreaming of better days to come. If you don’t have your health you don’t have anything. Just ask anyone who doesn’t have it! Here are some habits to form in order for you to get it back or to keep it.

1.               Listen to your body: Long before an illness befalls us our body, in its wisdom, will send us signals. Signals of pain like a headache, stomach ache or a back ache. What do most of us do? Reach for more ibuprofen or other pain medication. If the pain is gone you think that the problem is gone, but the body in its wisdom brings back the pain again and again. Finally you might see your medical doctor who might try to find the cause, but generally they are better able to provide stronger pain medication! The best physician is within yourself. All you have to do is listen!

2.             Open yourself to the resources around you: An immutable law is found in nature. Very near to a poisonous plant growing in the wild is the natural antidote. Answers are being provided all around you, all you must do is open your ears and eyes to the possibilities. Talking with a patient who is very new to all aspects of naturopathic medicine they are in marvel that there is something called “Almond Breeze” (almond milk) readily available in most major grocery stores in town offering a lovely alternative to cow’s milk, one of the top three food allergens in the world! The misconception is that if it is “good for you” it must either taste bad or be too expensive for limited budgets. Quality Foods for instance with their “Make Your Own Special” card offers Almond Breeze at one of the best prices in town.  Be open to possibilities and optimize your resources.

3.             Employ a “Health” Specialist: When you want your car to run for 10-15 years you employ a good mechanic. When you want your body to run in a healthy manner for 75-85 years employ a good naturopathic physician.  If you wait until your body is in a state of emergency then you are no longer in control. Your medical doctor and your nurses are, no doubt the ones who will save your life. However when you get back on your feet you might want to take stock and have a thorough “sit down conference” with your body and a naturopathic physician. These well-trained physicians are experts in “health care” not “disease care”.  They help you understand what your body has been trying to tell you for years. The persistent headache you have had for the last 6 years might be due to food allergies or lack of magnesium, in addition to that injury you had back then.

4.             Take responsibility, only you can be the caretaker of your life: Too often we blame our stressors on our bosses, spouses or co-workers when really all of our stress comes from our “reaction” to those around us. As soon as we truly realize that we have the power within us to create change and ultimately our health, then we can start to heal. Learning to say “no” may be the first step in getting the time you need to be the caretaker of your life. Don’t believe it when the higher powers of our society tell us that this and that chemical or drug is good for us. Do your own research. Find out what might be right for you.

5.             Setting goals for your health. Write down a few goals you have regarding your health for 2007. Do you want to get off those antidepressants once and for all, do you want to sleep better and then hopefully have more energy, do you want to reduce the number of colds and flus you get next year or do you want to feel 100% so that you have the energy to go on your dream vacation? Writing them down is the most powerful first step. The next step is to break them down into baby steps so that you can make it happen. Have you already seen a naturopathic doctor and just haven’t yet fully committed to what needs to be done to create a healthier you?

6.             Prioritizing: making healthy eating a top priority takes time. It means developing recipes and meal plans that are easy and delicious and if you are busy like the rest of us it means taking time out on the weekends to cook ahead. A big batch of chilli or beet soup is easily frozen and pulled out at the last minute for a variety of lunch ideas. Eating out for lunch not only eats away at your pocket change but also makes it difficult to eat the healthiest choices. With just a little planning and a few minutes in the morning a lunch is quickly put together and taken to the office. The next most important thing to prioritize is “time to be quiet”. Our lives are way too busy with noise, clutter and people. Instead of using recreational drugs or drink to find solace, find it in quiet meditation or even in a refreshing 15 minute nap!

7.             Correcting deficiencies: due to the pollution and the deficiencies of most of the soils on our planet many humans have deficiencies of nutrients important for the prevention of chronic diseases. You have seen me write many times about these including minerals such as calcium and magnesium, essential fatty acids found in cod liver oil, B complex, selenium, vitamin D and iodine. Most of these should be in the water supply they are so important! I call this approach “A health insurance policy” because we suffer less as we age when we have fewer deficiencies.

I wish you all success in having your healthiest year ever during the coming New Year! Blessings of the season to you all!