HEALTHY LIVING CHECKLIST
In the interests of helping you make 2005 your healthiest year ever, we present this updated version our Healthy Living Checklist. It’s a bit long, so feel free to print it off for easier reading and to keep it handy for daily use.
Nowadays people are not relying exclusively on doctors to tell them what they should and should not do in order to avoid or deal with disease. With the revival of interest in natural methods, we have come to learn that each of us can, to a large extent if not completely, take our health into our own hands. We go to practitioners, certainly, but we expect also to learn from them tips on improving health that we can use on our own. We read up on diet, exercise and other health info with the intention of using these to live healthier lives. Stroll through your bookstore — the amount of natural health literature published for the layman is vast.
It seems like a long time ago that people usually called the doctor for even slight symptoms and when most of us relied entirely upon a doctor’s judgment and mandate. Yet if we delve earlier into the recent past, we find times when homemade herbal remedies were common. But the do-it yourself and natural techniques were stigmatized as hocus pocus, quackery and old wives tales by the medical establishment, for obvious reasons. So, brainwashed that these approaches were foolish and inept, up until pretty recently most people relinquished responsibility for health to the men in the white suits with sheepskins (diplomas). Nowadays we know that we can turn to a naturally oriented doctor if we need to but we might first ask ourselves, “What herb or food can I take and what natural method can I bone up on and apply?” With books, teachers and the Internet, we are empowered and called upon to steer our own ships. Hooray and anchors up, we say!
These are changes we applaud. We have shifted from “man against nature” to “man as part of nature.” Phew…probably just in the nick of time, too. With nature viewed as helpful, not an annoying inconvenience, we are turning to ourselves, since we are natural and possess intuition and ability.
So, if we are tired, if we feel our age, if we look down and see a paunch instead of our feet, we are likely to think, “I can do something about this, something natural.” We might not yet know what that is, but we will find out.
We put together a list, updated it (for those who have read it before…new and improved!) of things you can do to live a healthier life. If you don’t feel youthful and radiant right now, or are not satisfied with your current condition, you may find some help herein. It’s in a checklist form to make it easier to use to reduce the dangers in your environment and to add good things to your life.
Also, with all the turmoil in this current world, the better shape we are each in, the more faculties we have for rationality and for helping straighten things out.
We suggest reading the entire checklist at least once before doing any step. Be sure to look up any unfamiliar words in a good dictionary.
There is always the “do it.” Putting the good idea into action. Resistance to and dislike of change can be more monumental than we like to admit. We’ve got habits and these can be sticky. Still, you may have noticed that once you know something, it’s a chore itself to just sock it away and pretend it’s not so. Plus, some changes toward healthier living are actually so delightful to implement and the results so rapidly felt that no further enticements need exist.
This checklist is very thorough. Do not be overwhelmed by how extensive it is. Even if you can only put 10 or 20% of this into practice, you will be better off than most people these days. Keep the checklist in a handy spot such as on your refrigerator, and refer to it often. Try to implement one or two new items on the checklist every week. As the weeks and months go by, you’ll find yourself approaching the ideal ever more closely. Please sensibly consult with a naturally oriented doctor as to changes you choose to make in diet and so on.
Let us hear back from you with your thoughts, successes, etc., all right?
STEP 1. ENVISION A MORE IDEAL LIFESTYLE.
Take a moment to imagine in your “mind’s eye” the sort of life you would like to lead, your “ideal vision” for each area of life. Look at your work, relationships, your home, your own body, your interests, your education, your hobbies and your goals. Imagine your ideal in each of these areas. Try to get a visual picture of your ideal life. It does not matter how far off in the future this may be. If you cannot imagine great things happening tomorrow or next week, set them further in the future. The point here is simple: the best way to get somewhere is to know what and where your destination is! For example, it would be very hard to end up being a pilot if you never thought about or decided to be a pilot. Do this step for each area of life and write down a sentence or a page describing the ideal as you see it:
A. My ideal vision for my work
B. My ideal vision for my relationships
C. My ideal vision for my home
D. My ideal vision for my body
E. My ideal vision for my personal interests
F. My ideal vision for my education
G. My ideal vision for my overall life
Even though there is a lot more activity to attaining your ideals in each area, this step is the first and is crucial to success. The more clearly you can define your destination, the more likely you are to arrive!
STEP 2. REMOVE TOXINS (POISONS) FROM YOUR ENVIRONMENT.
Toxins are poisons of various kinds. We refer broadly to all types of poisons both physical and mental.
A. Remove “toxic news” from your environment. It’s challenging enough to remain positive and upbeat personally these days, without being beaten down by upsetting “bad news” from newspapers and other media. Lay off the newspaper and TV newscasts. Read inspiring novels or listen to music or write or draw or visit friends or fix the house in the time you would have spent getting bad news. You may find your attitude improving each day you avoid getting hammered by upsetting news.
B. Handle “toxic people” in your environment. If you know someone who likes to spread rumor, bad news, gossip and the like, or is just an all-around negative person, take a vacation from him or her. If you cannot get them to stop spewing icky stuff your way, then politely go elsewhere, out of range.
C. Maintain your personal integrity. Just as other people can either uplift or oppress you, your own actions can help or hinder your well-being. Strive to be fair, honest and encouraging in your dealings with others… and remember to be kind to yourself!
D. Avoid taking harmful drugs if possible. This does not mean only illegal drugs. Many people are conditioned by doctors and advertisers to solve problems of all kinds with prescriptions. The pills rarely solve the problems but instead just mask them. Drugs usually have side effects, often worse or more dangerous than the original problems. Get educated on drugs and their effects. Excellent books exist on the subject. See your doctor with the information you have studied and ask him to lay out your alternatives, if any, to the drugs you may be taking. Furthermore, alternative health practitioners such as Chiropractors, Naturopaths and others may offer safe, effective non-drug approaches to your medical problems. Americans now visit alternative health professionals more often then they do regular medical doctors. There are good reasons for this! (Remember, though- before changing or discontinuing any medical drug you may be taking, seek the advice of a licensed and qualified professional.)
E. Stop using toxic products on your body. Remember, your skin can absorb what you put on it. If you put poisons ON your body, they can end up IN your body. 99% of soaps, shampoos, skin care and other personal care products on the market today contain toxic chemicals. Read the labels on each of your existing products. If these contain chemical names you cannot pronounce or understand, they are probably toxic. Common toxic or suspect ingredients to look for include: Propylene glycol, sodium lauryl (or laureth) sulfate, methyl or propyl paraben, imadazolidnyl urea, petrolatum, mineral oil, stearalkonium chloride, triethanolamine, synthetic fragrances, synthetic colors, fluoride, etc. Some commonly used ingredients may cause cancer, allergic reactions, damage to liver, kidneys or other internal organs, immune system weakness, mental depression, agitation, etc. The best strategy is avoidance. Choose only 100% natural, organic personal care products.
F. Avoid using the new “anti-bacterial” soaps that are being heavily marketed. If you use these, you are being exposed to antibiotics that can kill good bacteria your body actually needs to function properly. These soaps also can create highly resistant super-strains of bad bacteria. Then, if you do get an infection, it may not be possible to knock it out. (Man keeps trying to zap Nature with things like antibiotics, pesticides, drugs and such. Sooner or later, Nature zaps Man right back, and without mercy. How long can Man survive if he doesn’t get the message to work with Mother Nature instead of against her?)
G. Avoid using underarm antiperspirants. These can block the flow of toxins out of the underarm area, where important lymph nodes (part of the waste removal system of the body) are located. Trapped poisons can lead to disease, so avoid anything that blocks your skin’s ability to breathe or sweat. Antiperspirants with aluminum are highly toxic. There are a few safe deodorants, but one must read the labels very carefully and avoid anything with aluminum (alumino-, alum, aluminate, etc.), propyl alcohol, propylene glycol, and other harmful ingredients.
H. Women should avoid wearing bras or at least tight ones. Bras can exert pressure on the lymphatic system in the chest and underarm areas and block lymph drainage. One can imagine what might happen to the health of breast tissue if it is unable to rid itself of poisons and metabolic waste! Evan can pass on to you alternatives she has found to wearing bras.
I. Women should seek to use natural (non-hormonal) means of contraception, not the pill. The pill may cause changes in the body that could predispose some women to certain health problems. Why take the risk? See your physician for more information.
J. Eliminate chlorine from your life. It is very important not to let chlorinated water come into contact with the body, as it kills the friendly bacteria in the intestines, which results in many bad health effects, including the proliferation of bad bacteria, yeast and mold. Don’t drink chlorinated water, don’t clean with it, bathe or swim in it. To eliminate chlorine, put filters on all your taps or on the whole house. You may also drink spring water, but try to get it in glass not plastic bottles. (Most plastic bottles contaminate the water.)
K. Avoid using toxic cleaning supplies, You can do most of your cleaning with such things as distilled white vinegar, borax, etc. If you wish to purchase ready-made cleaners, make sure they are natural ones.
L. Same goes for toxic pesticides — don’t let them anywhere near your home or yard. Use boric acid, citrus-based sprays, etc. You can now find natural pest control companies in most major cities.
M. Avoid using aluminum and non-stick cookware. These can add toxins to foods. When dining out, ask the restaurant if they use aluminum cookware. Aluminum can get into the food and cause serious health degeneration, possibly including Alzheimer’s Disease. The ideal cooking pots are made of glass, which adds no toxins to the food. Also avoid alum (yes, aluminum) in pickles, relish, and other crisped prepared vegetables, and aluminum in most baking powders. Rumford® brand baking powder has no aluminum and is sold usually in health food stores.
N. Remove toxic air from your environment. Fresh, pure air is vital. Inspect your cleaning supplies, your furnishings and floor coverings. Particleboard furniture and cabinetry outgas formaldehyde into your air for years after they are manufactured. Modern carpeting usually emits dozens or hundreds of toxic chemicals. Eliminate all possible sources of toxic chemicals and fumes. Opening all the windows of the home and letting in fresh air can help. If you must use heating or air conditioning, put high quality filters on your system and change or clean them often. Electronic air purifiers can also be helpful. Putting in air purifying plants can be of great help as well. These include spider plant, aloe, chrysanthemum, philodendron, and Gerber daisies. These plants help to remove poisons in the air and make your air fresh and clean while adding oxygen. Indoor plants improve both the appearance of a house and the air quality.
O. Avoid or reduce exposure to toxic energies such as microwaves, cell phones, televisions as much as possible. Do not use microwaves no matter how convenient they may be. Evidence exists that they can damage the food molecules and produce toxins. In one U.S. hospital a nurse was using a microwave to warm infant formulas. Some of the babies got very sick and it was traced to the use of the microwave, so the hospital (and now many others) forbids the use of microwaves to heat infant food. Shouldn’t we adults also be concerned for ourselves and for our children? The same applies to cellular phones. Modern cell phones emit microwaves! The phone manufacturers claim these are low-power and safe, but we seriously doubt this. We get almost immediate headaches when we use cell phones for even a short period. Placing a microwave emitter right next to your brain for minutes or hours a day does not sound like a good health practice to us. There are shields that can block some of the waves, and we suggest you use them. Even better is to use an extension cord so the cell phone does not get near your head.
STEP 3. IMPROVE YOUR NUTRITION
A. Learn what your body needs and give it those things. The best books we have found on diet are The Metabolic Typing Diet, by William Wolcott and a similar book Total Health by Joseph Mercola. Wolcott discovered that each of us is biochemically unique, and that you and I may have very different food requirements. For instance, some people will crash and burn on a vegetarian diet, while others will thrive. A life-saving diet for one may be a life-threatening diet for another. Even some foods that are supposed to work a certain way will do that in some people but will work the opposite in others. You may have heard of the blood type diet made popular in the book Eat Right For Your Type. It turns out that blood type is just one of nine separate factors that really define your biochemical uniqueness. The blood type diet just does not work for everyone, because it does not represent the full picture. Wolcott’s book IS complete and includes self-tests that you can take to help you know what you should be eating. You can order the book from us or from Amazon.com. (Please note that the rest of the dietary information below applies to all body chemistries. What will vary are the relative amounts of proteins, carbs, fats, and so forth that are right for you, which is why you should get the book. But we do know that virtually everyone should eat more fresh foods, not just cooked, and that eating organic is preferable to foods laced with pesticides. So, with that understanding, here we go…)
B. Add plenty of fresh, live foods (fruits and vegetables) to your diet. An excellent way to get the maximum nutrients from fresh raw foods is to juice them using a juice extractor or VitaMix. You get loads of nutrients from juices and the body does not have to work very hard to digest them. Include freshly squeezed or “VitaMixed” juices every day and drink these soon after juicing them.
C. Drink plenty of clean water. Natural spring water in glass bottles may be the best bet. City water is often very contaminated. Do not drink water from reverse-osmosis filters. This water is so devoid of minerals that it can strip minerals out of your body and cause deficiencies. If you do filter your water, get a high quality filter that includes carbon as part of the filtration media.
D. Muscles, including the heart, as well as other tissues depend for their integrity on collagen, a substance in the body that holds things together. Collagen requires sufficient vitamin C to be strong. Foods that are high in vitamin C include green peppers, cherries, oranges, grapefruits, limes and plums. Make sure to include such in your diet. Organically grown food has been proven not only cleaner but many times more nutritious. Eat organic foods!
E. Avoid “low fat” diets. The body absolutely needs fats in order to survive. This includes, believe it or not, saturated fats and cholesterol. The brain itself is largely cholesterol. Hormones are built from cholesterol. And saturated fats can provide needed energy and even immune system stimulation. Avoid however any heavily processed fats or oils, such as “hydrogenated vegetable oils” (margarine). These can contain a type of fat called “trans fat” that is quite deadly, leading to heart attack and stroke. Coconut oil is an excellent fat source, as is organic butter if available.
F. Avoid foods that contain preservatives in them, as these can kill off the good bacteria we need for intestinal function. Avoid other chemicals such as monosodium glutamate, aspartame (Nutrasweet®), hydrogenated oils and other dangerous things in prepared foods. Avoid foods that have been irradiated and genetically engineered. The best way to do this is to eat certified organic foods that bear labels that they are not genetically modified.
G. Do not eat white sugar and white flour. These have no nutritional value. And to add insult to injury, sugar feeds molds and parasites. It can give us a rush of energy at the expense of our health and causes serious decline. Use the natural plant sweetener called Stevia or the kiwi fruit sweetener called ThermoSweet® to sweeten foods and drinks, baked goods, etc. White flour turns to a glue-like glop in the intestines and so clogs them. There it invites molds and parasitic growth.
H. Replace the friendly bacteria in the intestines lost through bad diet and stress. Take an effective probiotic (“friendly bacteria”) supplement. (The term “probiotic” shows contrast to “antibiotic”). The friendly intestinal flora help keep the walls of the intestines clean, chase off the bad bacteria, molds, parasites and viruses, make B-vitamins in the intestines, help digest proteins and assist with virtually every part of digestion.
I. If you eat animal products*, seek out organic sources of these to be sure they are free of pesticides, hormones and antibiotics. Also, meat from animals fed grains is very unbalanced. Animals were meant to eat grasses on the open range, not stuffed with grains (and chemicals!) in a feedlot. It is now possible to obtain “grass-fed” beef and other meats. Avoid eating a LOT of meats, however. Many meat-eaters eat far more than their bodies actually need. Be moderate. Fresh vegetables, some fruit (but not too much due to the sugar content) should also figure prominently in most diets. Remember that restaurant meat is not organic, so it is wise to avoid it when eating out. Another major concern is the issue of “mad cow disease” and its link with the human brain degenerative disease called Kreuzfeld-Jacov disease. This made headlines a few years ago in England when it was discovered that a significant number of English cows were infected with mad cow disease and a number of Britons died of Kreuzfeld-Jacov disease. Mad cow was detected in the U.S. more recently but the extent of the problem may not be as tiny as
we’ve been told by officials and the media. This bears careful research by consumers. Some may wish to act on the side of caution and avoid beef products.
J. Eliminate pasteurized, homogenized dairy products. If you cannot get certified organic, tested, raw, whole dairy, skip it. Cooked (pasteurized) dairy is really toxic gunk per some researchers, not worth having. On top of the destruction caused by pasteurization and homongenization, regular dairy herds are fed hormones, antibiotics and unnatural feeds that render the milk unfit according to these researchers. The chemicals in milk have been linked to obesity, diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis. Unfortunately, even organic milk may not be up to snuff. Bacterial spores that can survive even in pasteurized milk have also been linked to a painful intestinal illness called Crohn’s disease. While some natural healers suggest that totally raw, unprocessed, organic dairy products might be okay, the integrity of the source is a major issue. When in doubt, simply avoid dairy.
*Note: There are many reasons why an individual may choose to be vegan (one who eats no animal products of any kind). For many, these reasons boil down to religious or philosophical principles, while others may feel they have scientific grounds for this choice of lifestyle. We believe that there is no “universal” diet that is right for every individual at all times. This is a reasoned position based on a great deal of study and personal experience. We highly recommend that you read the books by Wolcott and Mercola books for more information and then make your own informed choices in this area.
STEP 4. ADD EXERCISE, SUNSHINE AND EARTH TO YOUR LIFESTYLE.
A. Aerobic exercise as well as body work such as massage are essential, because they help move toxins out of the body via the blood and the lymphatic system (the body’s key waste collection system). The lymphatic system does not operate unless we exercise. Frequent exercise also helps tone and strengthen the muscles and can help support the spine and keep it in better shape, which can help reduce or eliminate back pain and other spine-related problems.
B. Daily exposure to direct sunlight, at least 10 to 20 minutes a day, is very helpful. The body needs some natural sun exposure to create certain vitamins and essential hormones. This should come as no surprise – we are part of nature. Being cut off from it has never been shown to promote health.
C. Get yourself in contact with the bare earth now and then. Go walk on the beach or in the grass (but not in areas where they use toxic chemicals on the lawn!). Some researchers suggest that actually grounding our bodies electrically in this way is an essential part of health.
STEP 5. GET CREATIVE.
It has been said that the most healing activity of all is creativity. There are a thousand creative things you can do that would lift your spirits and quite possibly help others at the same time. You can sing, write poetry, paint, sculpt, do crafts and so on. Some people love to restore old cars.
Others create wonderful flower gardens. Many find fine cooking a creative outlet. Practically anything done with the intention to make a positive impact can fulfill this creative role in your life.
The trick is to choose something that YOU WANT to do, not that you HAVE to do and then do it with love and integrity to the best of your ability. Never put yourself down or go about comparing your work to that of others in a destructive way. Have fun, make all sorts of things and don’t be afraid to just waste something you are not happy with. You are in charge in this realm.
Learn the skills you may need to become a better creator. But don’t let study become the end in itself. Produce your creations while learning more skills, realizing that experience is often the best teacher.
Share your creations wisely. Don’t bother approaching people whom you know will be critical or negative. Seek out positive people who will likely appreciate you and your efforts. If anyone tries to belittle you or your work, politely remove yourself from that person’s presence and move on to supportive folk. With persistence in your creative activities, you can amaze yourself and become a much happier and more powerful person.
CONCLUSION
The guiding principle in all of this is to give your body the most natural, cleanest, most wholesome possible environment and nutrition, while giving yourself spiritually the safest, calmest and most creative environment.
Treat your body well and it can reward you with a long life of health and vigor. Treat yourself, your spirit* well and you’ll be all the happier to live that life!
*Our understanding is that your spirit is YOU. Not something apart from you. The spirit is not something you have. It is who you are. The one who does the hoping, thinking, planning, creating, relating with others – the one you think of when you say “I” – that is you, the spiritual being, as independent of the physical form called the body. It’s every bit as important to take care of you as it is to take care of the living machine called the body. Hence your goals, dreams, plans, hopes, interests, relationships — all spiritual factors — are all a great part of this condition we call health.
Anything that enhances these spiritual factors is a good thing. So attaining health is more than avoiding bad chemicals and eating good foods or taking vitamins, it is also about nurturing the spirit and effectively dealing with spiritual challenges.
Contrary to what we are often taught in “modern” materialistic schools and universities, we are not machines! The “man as machine” view has provided no solutions to individual and societal problems. Fortunately more and more people are becoming aware of this situation and are returning to a more spiritual viewpoint, a welcome trend.
Thanks for reading, hope this is helpful, and our best to you and yours!
Sincerely,
Evan
Disclaimer: This information is offered for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, prevent or treat any disease. Consult your licensed physician before implementing this checklist.
