Most of us know, at least in a basic sense, what it takes to be healthy. Yet so many of us don't do anything about it. We did not introduce health as an issue till this point for a reason. Although so many do know what it takes to be healthy they choose not to create a healthy lifestyle. We hope that the creation of a life plan will help you create and
maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The following are some basic tenets to create a healthy life for you.

A Healthy Food Plan.

Experiment until you find a food plan that works best for you and follow it as much as you can. Research shows that no one-food plan is best for everyone. Your genes, your environment and even your blood type will determine if you are a vegetarian or carnivore. American cancer pioneer, Nicholas Gonzalez, estimates there are 10 types of people with 10 types of food plans, ranging from rabid carnivore to the vegan. Choose foods native to your cultural heritage and try to buy seasonal produce. Whatever you choose, we suggest to eat organic fresh whole foods whenever possible. Pesticides have been implicated in many illnesses. They can even change the genetic potential of your children!  Also, we recommend that you avoid   anything canned, fried, preserved with nitrates, packaged, processed or refined. Sound impossible? It's not.  But it takes time and effort to change your life.  Just taking out things like margarine and hydrogenated oils from your diet is a start.  They contain trans fatty acids that have been shown to create cancer in our bodies.  Look at the labels of what you eat.  Many, many products contain hydrogenated oils!  Breakfast cereals, crackers and breads contain this, read the labels and purchase only things that do not have this ingredient.  Even if it is from a health food store, it does not mean it is safe for consumption.  It is important to read the labels of EVERYTHING you buy.  After all you only have one body!!!

Vary your food as much as possible. Most allergy specialists claim that allergies
are more likely if you repetitively eat the same foods. Make fruits and vegetables your main foods. Countless studies have shown that vegetables protect against all the major degenerative diseases. Eat at least five servings per day.  Limit or cut down on sugar, white flour, coffee and black tea. Find other sources of calcium than milk products. Eat foods that contain the essential fatty acids. These include salmon, tuna, kidney and haricot beans, linseed and walnut oils. Cook with olive oil that is mono-saturated and does not get damaged when heated. Make grains and vegetables, rather than flesh foods the majority of your diet. 55 to 60 % of your caloric intake should come from these sources. Consume good bacteria in the form of live yogurt or fermented soy products. If you are vegetarian get enough complex proteins.

• Supplements
  Unlike our forebears we live in a world of highly processed, polluted and nutrient depleted food. Unless you live on a farm and grow all your own organic produce you probably need supplements. It's almost certain you have vitamin deficiencies. Choose a good multi-vitamin supplement that has been tested for efficacy. Try to avoid those that contain herbs as they are like drugs and can have effects that are unwanted.
   
• Environment
  Try to live away from power lines, electrical lines and power substations as they have been shown to be a risk for leukemia and other cancers, especially in children. If you cook with gas consider switching to electric, as the byproduct of burning gas is nitrogen dioxide. Inside where you cook with gas has been shown to be equivalent to some of the worst air pollution monitored anywhere in the world. Don't drink tap water. The chemicals used to disinfect tap water are probably worse than what these disinfectants are trying to remove. Check the radon level in your home. Too much radon, a naturally occurring radioactive material is known to cause lung cancer, especially amongst smokers. If you have lead pipes in your house, either have them removed or move! Whenever possible, consider having wood or tile floors and rugs. Carpeted homes have more allergens and chemicals than those that do not. Stay faraway from television and computer screens. The currents of differing radiation from these sources are known to cause cancer. Cut down on your use of indoor chemicals for cleaning. Last but not least make sure your painted surfaces do not contain leaded paint.
   
• Your Children
  Get healthy six months before you conceive. When you are pregnant, minimize your exposure to prenatal tests like ultrasound scans. Studies have shown that ultrasound has not made one bit of difference to the ultimate health of mother or child, yet does increase your risk of losing your baby. Consider having your children at home. Just make sure to have an experienced home birth attendant. Breast-feed your baby at least the first year. Consider a substitute for cow’s milk. Get informed about the risks and benefits of vaccinations. Severely restrict your children’s exposure to sugar. Too much sugar causes blood sugar levels to plummet, making a child irritable and hungry and likely to crave more sugar. Determine if your children are allergic to foods, chemicals or food additives. Many chronic illnesses are actually caused by allergic reactions. Above all else make sure they are loved and get exposed to all the possibilities that await them.
   
• A Healthy Lifestyle
  Choose a reasonably vigorous exercise routine and stick with it regularly. Exercise has been shown to reduce all types of cancer and also keeps the mind sharp. Try not to settle for anything less than challenging work or an activity that you love. Again studies show that people at peace with their lives and their life's work live longer than those that are warring with the world or don't keep their minds active. Try to be of service to others, on and off the job. Reduce the number of poisons you put into your body. Smoking, drinking, salty processed foods and caffeine are perhaps the main culprits in breast cancer and are also linked with joint problems. Also be wary of other household chemicals. Keep your exposure to a minimum. Make your home your sanctuary and refuge. Fill your environment only with objects, friends, family and animals that are supportive. If you don't live in a rural area with land around be sure you get into nature often. Be connected with others and yourself. Only half of all  heart disease is caused by a sedentary lifestyle and high fat diet. The other half appears to be caused by isolation – from other people and our own feelings.

Making friends, expressing your feelings and even owning a pet could prove to be a lifesaver. Cultivate some sort of spiritual connection. Evidence shows that prayer actually has a positive effect upon the body. A study of centurions shows that faith in a god was one common element to which they attributed their longevity. Engage in regular relaxation techniques. Yoga, meditation and other disciplines are likely to put you in touch with your spirituality. By practicing these disciplines you will reduce stress and be more in touch with your authentic self. Don't hold grudges. Cultivate a sense of forgiveness of your enemies, your family and friends. Most importantly, forgive and love yourself. Get rid of the unfinished emotional business in your life. Take responsibility for your own health. You will cultivate the psychological benefit of staying in charge and you will not become victim of your doctor's decisions.

• Stress Management
  As said earlier, stress is a major factor in many illnesses. Stress is experienced from three general sources: the environment, your body and your thoughts. Although you have some control over your body and your environment, you have much more control over your thoughts. A significant part of stress management focuses on how to change your appraisals of situations you consider dangerous or threat full. Unmanaged stress has dire consequences to our physical and mental selves. The techniques for managing stress include: behavioral approaches, relaxation techniques and cognitive or thinking approaches. The behavioral approach includes exercise and a healthy diet. Schedule time for leisure and pleasure which provides for a more balanced and fulfilling life. The relaxation method includes a variety of techniques designed to effectively manage body/mind tension. Progressive muscle relaxation is an active form of relaxation where you individually contract the major muscle groups of your body for about five seconds and then you relax the individual muscle groups for a five second hold. Some of the more passive forms of relaxation include listening to music, reading and using saunas and hot tubs to relieve tension. Meditation and visual imagery are used to relax the mind.  Meditation teaches you how to clear the mind of stressful and distracting thoughts. Visual imagery is designed to help the individual visualize coping with the stressor that was previously experienced as overwhelming. The cognitive approach identifies our thoughts or internal dialog that is negative. After identifying these thoughts we must then recognize the consequences of holding onto this negative and rigid dialog. The third step is that once you are convinced the dialog is negative, you must replace it with a healthier and more productive internal dialog. To do this you must ask yourself thought changing questions like: "why must I perform perfectly in order to believe that I am a valuable human being?"  And " how does the opinion of this other person reflect on my personal worth?" By replacing rigid dialog with more realistic, flexible dialog you are more likely to feel healthy emotionally and behave more rationally and productively.