From an Islamic perspective health is viewed as one of the greatest blessings that God has bestowed on mankind.

It should be noted that the greatest blessing after belief is health, as narrated in the following Hadith:

The final messenger of God, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) mounted the pulpit, then wept and said, "Ask Allah (swt) for forgiveness and health, for after being granted certainty, one is given nothing better than health." Related in Tirmidhi

Health is indeed a favour that we take for granted. We should express gratitude to God for bestowing us with health, and we should try are up most to look after it. God has entrusted us with our bodies for a predestined period of time. He will hold us to account on how we looked after and utilised our bodies and good health. The preservation of this blessing can only be achieved through taking good care of ones health and taking every measure to maintain and enhance it. With this in mind every Muslim should make sure they undertake all necessary actions which are conducive to the preservation of good health. Healthy living is part and parcel of Islam, introduced with the inception of Islam more than 14 centuries ago. Furthermore, the Quran and the Sunnah outline the teachings that show every Muslim how to protect his health and live life in a state of purity. Numerous examples in Islam instruct its followers to live a healthy life, a selection are summarised below.

Daily prayer
Any health benefits derived from prayer or any other worship (fasting) are secondary in importance. The Salah or Islamic prayer comprises both physical movement and mental concentration. Performed five times a day at specific times of the day, the obligatory prayers provide a good means for the circulation of blood, breathing and general suppleness of joints. Though it is not physically over demanding, we know that anything done moderately and consistently is far better than sudden overexertion at infrequent periods.

Ablution before Prayer & Ghusl

Before a Muslim performs their prayers, they must perform the ablution which comprises thorough washing of the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms (up to the elbow) and the feet (up to the ankle). This ritual of self-purification when carried out five-times a day, leaves the worshiper clean, refreshed and ready to face his creator. Muslims are also required to clean themselves with water after urinating or defecating. Another act of worship which also helps to maintain good health is taking a shower, or ghusl. This is compulsory when one is in the state of ritual impurity, and is compulsory at least once a week before attending the weekly Friday prayer.

Diet & Nutrition

Various verses and texts within Islam promote the eating of healthy wholesome food and eating in moderation. God clearly states in the Quran:

Eat of the good things which We have provided for you. (2:173) Eat of what is lawful and wholesome on the earth.(2:168)

A healthy nutritious diet must also be balanced, in order to maintain the balance that God has established in all things, this is addressed in the Quran when God says:

And He enforced the balance. That you exceed not the bounds; but observe the balance strictly; and fall not short thereof. (55:79)

As we know, eating excessively causes harm to our systems. Many aliments are related to uncontrolled eating habits such as, diabetes, vascular diseases, stroke, heart attack etc. It has been said that the stomach is the home of ill health and is usually responsible in some way to ill health. Islam teaches us to eat moderately:

Eat and drink, but avoid excess. (20:81)

Over indulgence and wasting of food are further dissuaded in the Hadith of the of the Messenger of God:

No human being has ever filled a container worse than his own stomach. The son of Adam needs no more than a few morsels of food to keep up his strength, doing so he should consider that a third of his stomach is for food, a third for drink and a third for breathing Ibn Maja

Fasting
Fasting during the month of Ramadan from dawn till dusk, is undertaken to seek the pleasure of God and to practise self control and restraint in all aspects of living, with the idea being to continue this state of God consciousness and piety after Ramadan is over. It is an ideal time to remove the impurities and shortcomings in ones life.

O you who believe fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you can learn Taqwa (God consciousness)

Fasting in Islam is not like crash dieting, it is adequate in calorie intake and involves no malnutrition. All foods are permissible to eat in moderation, once the fast is over. Many processed foods we eat contain chemicals which over-time can be stored by our bodies as toxins within cells. Fasting can assist our body to purge these toxins while also allowing our body and digestive system to rest. Research has indicated that fasting can lower blood sugar levels and cholesterol, suggesting it may be advisable for moderate, stable, non-insulin diabetes, obesity and essential hypertension.

Prohibition of Intoxicants
Islam strictly forbids indulgence in intoxicants such as alcohol and drugs for good reason. The limited pleasure of such vices causes immense long-term damage to both mind, body and the social fabric of society. Particular schools of thought include smoking within the list of prohibitions because of its harmful affects on the body. It seems that if Muslims adhere to the teachings of Islam, they would automatically lead a healthier lifestyle. God says in the Quran:

Mind and reason are an essential part of Islamic thought and legislation. One could not exist without the other. What exactly do we refer to when we talk about the mind? There are two kinds of reasoning by the mind that have been identified. The first is intuitive reasoning that includes: the capacity to comprehend, make rational conclusions, form speech and behave sensibly. The second kind of reasoning is acquired from our environment, such as the things we have been taught or become familiarized with. I shall discuss intuitive reasoning for it is what God has granted to all, and it is what makes us accountable for our behavior. One who does not possess a mind or has lost his mind cannot be fully responsible for what he does. Often, a person will have a good mind, and then choose not to use it or restrain it from thinking logically when it comes to matters of religion and faith. He will end up being one of the unfaithful and will be held accountable for his ignorance in religion. And it is not for any soul to believe, except by the leave of God, and He lays abomination on those who have no understanding. (Quran 10:100) It is no wonder that the punishment of those who do not believe is equivalent to that of those who do not understand. Whoever Allah wishes to guide, He expands his chest to Islam, and whoever He wishes to leave astray, He makes his chest narrow and constricted as if he were climbing up to the sky. So Allah lays abomination on those who do not believe. (Quran 6:125) These two verses point out that one cannot possibly purify his heart unless he puts his mind to work, allowing faith and security into his heart. The Quran refers to the mind in different ways depending on the nature of the task being dealt with: 1. The mind is able to understand and process speech. Do you (Muslims) expect that they (Jews) will be believers, while some of them used to listen to the revelation of God (Torah), then intentionally tamper with it, while they understood it and knew it was the Truth? (Quran 2:75). We have revealed it an Arabic Quran, that you may understand. (Quran 12:2) The reason the Quran was revealed in Arabic was so that the minds of the people upon whom it was descended would be able to grasp it and appreciate its meanings. 2. The mind is able to project coherent and non-conflicting thoughts.

O people of earlier scripture! Why do you argue about Ibrahim, when the Torah and Injeel were not revealed until after him? Do you not have minds?( Quran 3:65). Those who claim that Ibrahim was a Jew or a Christian are contradicting themselves, since both Judaism and Christianity came long after the time of Ibrahim. The surah of alAnaam (Chapter 6), verse 91, also refers to the Jews contradicting themselves: And they did not attach the proper esteem to God when they said, Allah has not revealed anything to any human. Say, Who then sent down the Book which Moses brought as a light and as a guidance to people, which you divided into fragments, part of which you show to the people, and most of which you hide from them, and you were taught knowledge which neither you nor your fathers had possessed! Say, It is God, then leave them to churn in their vain discourses. The verse points that the Jews cannot claim to believe in the prophecy of Moses, and in the Torah, then go on to say that God did not reveal anything to any humans, because those are contradicting thoughts. 3. The mind is able to understand proof and evidence of truth. He has set for you an analogy from your lives: Have you, among that which your right hands possess, partners in what We have bestowed on you sharing with you equally, and you fear them as you fear each other? Thus we make clear the signs for people who understand. (Quran 6:28) Say, If God had pleased, I would not have recited the Quran to you, nor would you have had any knowledge of it, indeed, I have already lived among you for a lifetime before it, do you not understand? (Quran 10:16) 4. Actions must correspond to words. Do you enjoin the performance of good deeds on the people and neglect it yourselves, while you read the Scriptures, do you not have any sense? (Quran 2:44). This verse is reprimanding the people, not for encouraging others to adhere to the way of God, for that is always a virtue. The verse, however, is pointing out the contradiction of the people who are giving good advice but not taking it themselves. In any case, how the giver of good advice behaves does not reduce the value of the advice, such as a smoker or an alcoholic warning his children against the harms of those behaviors. It is far better than encouraging them to take on such harmful habits and better than not giving them any useful advice at all. Still, it does not make much sense to recognize the value of behaving in a certain way, and encourage others to do so, while

acting in an opposing manner. For this reason, the good prophet in the Surah of Hood (Chapter 11), verse 88 said, He answered, My people, can you not see? What if I am acting on clear evidence from my Lord? He Himself has given me good provision: I do not want to do what I am forbidding you to do, I only want to put things right as far as I can. I cannot succeed without Gods help: I trust in Him, and always turn to Him.
I have spent many years working on my health and my happiness. I learned early on how my thoughts and my mind can affect every experience I have. Therefore I began researching and learning about the health of my mind and how I could use my mind to benefit my life and my overall happiness. I figured there are enough obstacles to deal with out there in the big world and I didnt want to be sabotaging myself from within. There are several different factors that affect health and happiness including nutrition, lifestyle, exercise, stress, family and career. However the one big factor that in my experience often gets overlooked is the health of the mind. It seemed to me that in order to create and maintain a healthy and happy life the work must begin with the mind. Your thoughts are extremely powerful and can control all aspects of your life including your health. The majority of people are only partially aware of the thoughts that go through their head. What are You Thinking? I can honestly say that back in the day I was only vaguely aware of all the jumble of thoughts that passed through my head. I wasnt even remotely aware of how those thoughts could be affecting my reality and my feelings. To actually focus and be aware of each and every thought form that you think can be exhausting and not to mention a little scary as well. Thoughts can become habitual and many people have been conditioned from a very early age to have negative thought patterns. Those negative thought patterns get stuck within the subconscious mind and can literally shape who you are and how

you react to your environment. The good news is that habits are meant to be broken and it is very possible to take control of your thoughts and make them work for you as opposed to working against you. I can remember the day several years ago when I decided that I would take note of my thoughts and feel how they were affecting me. At the end of the day I clearly remember thinking Oh boy, I have some major work to do here! With that realization my journey began in taking the proper steps to create a healthy mind with the hopes of creating a far healthier and happier life. Below are five key steps that have shown to help change your thoughts patterns, increase the health of your mind as well as create a more balanced and positive outlook on life. 1. Create the Intention Changing negative habits and creating new positive habits is a fairly simple process but not an easy process and takes a commitment. It is important that you make the decision and be clear about your intention in order to create change. Think it and write it down as well as say it out loud. In this way you are making a commitment to yourself to do what it takes to accomplish your goal and create a healthier mind state. 2. Be Conscious of Your Thoughts As mentioned before thoughts are habitual and it can be quite difficult at first to consciously be aware of every thought that passes through your head. Before you change them for the better you must be aware of exactly what you are thinking. Make it a priority to take notice of what thoughts pass through your head as you go about your day. Take note of what thoughts come up as you are dealing with different people and situations. Be careful not to judge your thoughts, for now simply be aware of them. 3. Make the Switch

Now that you are aware of your thinking patterns you can then begin to change them. We all have the capability to choose what we think and you have the power to change a negative thought into a positive. When you notice a negative or non-affirming thought in your head consciously decide to change it. Do not worry if at first you do not believe your new positive thought as overtime that will change. By switching your negative thought to a positive each and every time you will eventually create new thought patterns and habits. You will also be creating a positive energy within yourself as opposed to a negative. This method is simple yet not easy, but it works very well. It is a matter of sticking with it one hundred percent of the time. After a period of time your negative thought patterns will no longer have the power to affect or limit any aspect of your life including your emotions. Your new positive thought patterns will send out a different energy and create a more positive way of being which will in turn attract new positive energy within your life. Over time with practice you will notice that when a negative thought pops up you will habitually switch it immediately to a positive. Then before you know it the negativity will be gone and it will be replaced with a positive and self-affirming way of being. 4. Positive Brain Frequencies Once you have begun to practice the first three steps you can also begin to work directly with your brain frequencies. The brain is constantly emitting very specific frequency waves that influence how you feel and act. You can work with your brainwaves through meditation or by using an external stimulus such as brainwave audios. By meditating or using brainwave audios such as binaural beats you are able to bypass the conscious mind and work directly with the subconscious mind. In this way you can make huge progress by tuning the brain to a specific frequency that helps with stress, anxiety and overall well being. If you combine these methods with

affirmations you may notice your thought patterns and energy changing for the positive at a far quicker rate. 5. Take Time to Enjoy Practicing positive thinking does not mean that you will never again have a negative thought. However it does mean that you will have the conscious awareness to change the negative to a positive and allow that positive energy to shape your life as opposed to being influenced by the negative. Once you have made these changes and adopted this new healthier mind state it is up to you to get out there and enjoy life. Take little steps to do more of what you enjoy and be proud of the fact that you have given your mind the attention it needs in order to create the healthy life you deserve to enjoy.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mental health describes a level of psychological well-being, or an absence of a mental disorder.

[1][2]

From

the perspective of 'positive psychology' or 'holism', mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life, and create a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve psychological resilience.
[1]

Mental health can also be defined as an expression of emotions, and as signifying a

successful adaptation to a range of demands. The World Health Organization defines mental health as "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community".
[4] [3]

It was previously stated that there

was no "official" definition of mental health. Cultural differences, subjective assessments, and competing professional theories all affect how "mental health" is defined.
[5]

There are different types of mental health

problems, some of which are common, such as depression and anxiety disorders, and some not so common, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Most recently, the field of global mental health has emerged, which has been defined as 'the area of study, research and practice that places a priority on improving mental health and achieving equity in mental health for all people worldwide'.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[6]

This article is about the human condition. For other uses, see Health (disambiguation). Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living organism. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind and body, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain (as in "good

health" or "healthy").
[2][3]

[1]

TheWorld Health Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in 1946

as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Although this definition has been subject to controversy, in particular as lacking operational

value and because of the problem created by use of the word "complete," it remains the most enduring.
[4][5]

Other definitions have been proposed, among which a recent definition that correlates
[6][7]

health and personal satisfaction.

Classification systems such as the WHO Family of International

Classifications, including the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and theInternational Classification of Diseases (ICD), are commonly used to define and measure the components of health. Systematic activities to prevent or cure health problems and promote good health in humans are undertaken by health care providers. Applications with regard to animal health are covered by the veterinary sciences. The term "healthy" is also widely used in the context of many types of non-living organizations and their impacts for the benefit of humans, such as in the sense of healthy communities, healthy cities or healthy environments. In addition to health care interventions and a person's surroundings, a number of other factors are known to influence the health status of individuals, including their background, lifestyle, and economic and social conditions; these are referred to as "determinants of health."

How to Have a Good General Healthy Body

1. Practice healthy living styles with proper food habits and exercise. To achieve a healthy body, we cannot be lazy and lethargic. We need to work hard, both physically and mentally to be fit and healthy. Exercise and eating healthy foods is essential to promote a healthy body.
2. Avoid junk foods which make us lethargic and dull. Check and follow your healthy weight chart for maintaining healthy weight to an optimum body weight in order to be healthy. You will stand a much higher percentage of suffering from health problems if you are overweight and obese. 3. Consume a healthy diet, such as vegetables, fruits, fish, nuts, lean meat. Don't forget to intake 8 glasses of liquid. Take minerals and vitamins supplement and get some healthy recipes that you prefer. Take some healthy snacks between meals. Avoid refined and junk foods. The main source for poor health and sickness is improper healthy eating habits. Many people suffer from sickness like diabetes, cancer, obesity and etc because of this. Changing your bad diet will contribute a great difference within a short period and can improve your health benefits drastically. Try to avoid smoking and heavy alcoholic drinks, moderate alcoholic drinking will benefit you. 4. Exercise 30 minutes 5 days a week. Exercising in the morning can leave you with a refreshed feeling throughout the day and can put you in a good mental health and it will be easier for you to think positively and generate a better appetite. You can also get involved in activities such as

swimming, biking, walking or playing your favorite sport in order to keep you healthy. Go for activities that you enjoy and not force yourself to activities that you despise, whereby you will lose interest and stop exercising and try to do your activities in the open air. In this way, you will feel more refreshed. You should start off with small changes and make sure you enjoy it. You should not make drastic changes excessively in your lifestyle. Try to make small changes over a period of time pursuing it into your regular habit in order to achieve long term success. Besides exercise, you need to have good sleep and rest in order to be healthy. A good sleep can refresh your mind and make you feel healthier. 5. Realize that positive thinking is very essential in order to be healthy. Clear out your mind of all negative thoughts and fill it with positive ones. You will have to remove all the depressing and negative emotions and thoughts from your mind and replace it with healthy and positive thoughts. These positive thoughts can be extremely energizing and always lead to good things in life. You can get involved in practices such as meditation and yoga to get rid of the negativity and force yourself with positive thoughts. Warning

Reading can improve your mind, and widen your vocabulary. It's always good to pick up a good book by good authors, such as George Orwell, Stephen Fry, and perhaps a screenplay by Shakespeare. Avoiding junk foods can make your body be full of ENERGY! All these small changes in your lifestyle can improve your health and fitness and certainly lowering your health care bill. You will feel a sense of well being, both emotionally and physically. It is very important to improve your health in order to be happy and enjoy life. Having a pet may make you feel healthier and happier. Particularly if the pet requires some form of exercise that you can join in with (for example, a dog who needs to be walked).

How to Maintain Your Health

1. Know how our health can be harmed. There are mainly three factors that harm us, micro organisms[microbes], malnutrition and injuries. The microbes use our body for satisfying their needs. This eventually harms our body as it starts to run out of vital cells and nutrients, we fall sick. There are times when we might even receive a life long effect or damage. Our body has it's defence mechanism against diseases that consists of special cells that are assigned only in the destruction and disposal of such microbes. They require different nutrients. The second factor is malnutrition. Our body requires different substances for it's complete functioning. Apart from building cells, it also produces substances like gold. Scientists do not know how or why the body produces such substances. But it appears that they are vital. In order to produce these, the body needs the required nutrients that can be supplied only through a proper meal. The third factor is physical injuries which can only be avoided, not always prevented.
2. What you need. The basics that everybody says: "proper food and exercise." But this article is meant to give the details. 3. Get the food you need. It's absolutely correct that you are what you eat, which means that if you want to stay healthy then you must eat healthy. Eating healthy means eating proper food. Meals must be properly cooked and must supply the nutrients your body needs. Accordingly, the food must

always be properly cooked in every form and salads should be thoroughly clean in order to avoid entry of harmful bacterias and fungus. The second thing is the nutritional value. Your food must contain calories but only to the amount you can burn. Your meals must also contain: green vegetables, nuts, onions, grains and yogurt. These must be had every day. The green vegetables enrich the blood and help the hemoglobin. They have large amounts of minerals and protect against diseases. The nuts are nothing but concentrated fats and minerals, making them the ideal breakfast munchies. Onions are not so tasty but they help in purification of the system. They protect against asthma and stomach cancer. The grains and yogurt help in the digestion as they provide fibers and enzymes for the body. The fruits are the second thing to keep in mind. Fruits are best had in the very season that they ripen in. - eg: oranges ripen in winters and provide vitamin C which prevents the damage to the skin that is caused by the cold and dry weather. 4. Drink water. Water, water everywhere. Yes, water. and that though plenty of it. A recent scientific research has also stated that healthy people must drink at least 8 glasses[250ml] of water. This simple procedure purifies your immune system from all impurities and therefore helps fight pimples. It purifies by removing the toxins that trigger stress and other harmful emotions. 5. Exercise. After all that eating, you need to went it out. All this energy can get accumulated if not used properly and dieting cannot control it. The only way is to exercise if you don't have a job that can drain your energy. This is important and the only solution to obesity. Apart from the gym, try doing exercises that strengthen the muscles. These can be learned from any body builder or wrestler. If you are unable to do any exercise, then certainly do start to walk. Don't jog or walk fast, simply walk at your comfort level. This will also help you mentally. 6. Get some sun. When they say that sunlight is important for all life forms, they mean that every life form requires sunlight even if they do not perform photosynthesis. Our body requires vitamin D which it will produce on it's own when the skin comes in contact with sunlight. The best time for sitting in the Sun is during the start and end of winter. 7. Reduce stress. This point does need a highlight. Some people who are prone to stress or have a tension filled life must stop. If you are one of them, then stop this schedule right now. All efforts will go waste[even this article] if you take stress. Stress can be curbed by the one hour walk suggested above. But the first step will be to take a leave for at least 2 days. Then you should start walking and during this break, forget work. Nice excuse but very important because stress can cause a lot of harm. A lot. If you really are stress prone, do consult a doctor. 8. No risk. When it comes to health, never take a risk. The value of health is most understood when you lose it. So don't risk it. How to be healthy: 1. Stop engaging in risky behavior. Taking unnecessary risks is hard on the body and mind and can have devastating long-term consequences. Serious or established patterns of risk-taking can also be indicative of deeper psychological problems, in which case you should talk to a health care professional who specializes in a relevant field. Start by setting your sights on one of the following achievements:

Have Safer Sex Stop Binge Drinking

Quit Drinking without Alcoholics Anonymous Quit Smoking Beat Drug Addiction 2. Drink more water. Adult humans should be drinking a litre or more water per day; six eight ounce cups of water. That is in addition to diuretics like tea and coffee. Water keeps bodies at the correct temperature and removes toxins that are the inevitable result of metabolism and industrial life. Water-rich foods are an even better idea. 3. Eat well. A light organic breakfast is sufficient and, when combined with a snack mid-morning, will see you through until lunch time. A good time for a healthy, easy-to-digest evening meal is between 5pm and 8pm depending on your work/study schedule; it is best to avoid late night snacks because they fill you with unnecessary calories and can disrupt your sleep. Once a steady eating pattern has been established, your body will feel more comfortable. Remember that not all fats are bad for you. Good fats can be found in oily fish like salmon and tuna, avocados, nuts and olive oil. These are essential to a well-balanced diet. Read How to Eat Healthy for more facts.

Learn how to cook. Cooking your own meals is a wonderful experience as you can try out different recipes while saving money at the same time. A high-fiber diet can lower your cholesterol, control your blood-sugar level, improve your bowel health, and make you less likely to overeat. The recommended fiber intake is 30 grams a day for men and 21 for women; after the age of 50, this jumps up to 38 for men and 25 for women. Some good sources of fiber include fruits and vegetables (with the skin), whole grains, and legumes.[1] Increase your intake of antioxidants to fight the free radicals that have been linked to cancer, heart disease, atherosclerosis, among other diseases.[2] Maintain a weight that is suitable for you. Our physical frames vary in size and weight. An individual with a large frame can carry a little more weight while a person with a light frame will be able to carry less. Do not use any form of crash diets. There is no magic bullet for weight loss and even if there were, starving your body of vital nutrients wouldnt be it. A slow change in your eating habits is much safer and the long-term benefits for your physical health are greater. If you dont want to go on a diet, read How to Lose Weight Just by Exercising. Just remember that only serious athletes are able to burn off enough calories to be able to enjoy massive indulgences and even so, they tend not to because its hard on the body. Even if you do consume more calories than are recommended for you, be sure that they are nutritious; your heart, brain, muscles, bones, organs, and blood cant run forever on empty calories. 4. Bolster your immune system. Maintaining healthy habits and a high level of energy is difficult for anyone who constantly battles fatigue, colds, infections, or any other effects of a weakened immune system. Read How to Develop a Strong Immune System for more information. 5. Improve your sleep quality. When you sleep, your body produces cells that fight infection, inflammation, and stress which means that getting too little sleep or poor-quality sleep not only makes you more prone to getting sick, but also increases the time you need to recover from illness.[3] On top of that, a study conducted by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition demonstrated that men who slept for 4 hours consumed 500 more calories than they did after sleeping for 8 hours.[4] Read How to Sleep Better for tips.

6. Get in shape. In addition to helping you lose weight and gain confidence, exercising has a host of other benefits for your body and mind. For example, having good cardiovascular health has been linked to a decreased risk of Alzheimers.[5] Exercising also boosts your immune system; even a change as minor as walking briskly for twenty to thirty minutes a day five days a week can improve your immune system by increasing both your antibody and T-killer cell response.[6] Exercising is also one of the absolute best ways to sleep better at night[7] which, as previously mentioned, can help you lose weight by keeping you from overeating. Read How to Get Fit for more details. 7. Maintain your personal hygiene. Wash your hands often, especially after visiting the bathroom at home or using the restrooms in a public place. Floss and brush your teeth and tongue after eating; food particles are often the cause of bad breath and gum disease. Visit your dentist regularly for cleanings and to catch any problems before they become serious. See How to Be Hygienic for more details. 8. Find emotional balance. Even if you master every other aspect of health, it wont feel complete if youre suffering from inner turmoil. Everyone needs a pick-me-up sometimes, and there are many small things that you can do to feel better about yourself. If the problem extends deeper, you may need to learn to cope with emotional pain or evendepression.

Once you have worked on yourself, you should work on your approach to interpersonal relationships. Learn how to recognize a manipulative or controlling relationship and, if necessary, deal with emotional abuse so that you can have a healthy relationship. 9. Exercise daily or if not possible twice or thrice a week. It will increase your metabolic rate and you'll feel fresh the whole week.

How to Develop Healthy Eating Habits

Schedule three meals a day into your routine. It's important to be nourished adequately throughout the day to prevent fatigue and to perform at an optimal level. Eat a healthy breakfast. Include grains and fruits. Try a high-fibre cereal with low fat milk and sliced bananas. Eating small frequent meals can be less taxing on your digestive system. Snack between meals to curb your appetite and provide a little energy. Try a piece of fruit or a few crackers with peanut butter. Do not let yourself become so hungry as to overeat at mealtime. Overeating burdens your digestive system. Drinking water or having a small bowl of soup before meals may keep you from overeating at your meal.

Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly to aid in your digestion. Take time to savor your food. Obtain protein from a less complicated source, such as nuts, legumes, grains andsprouts. Choose low fat dairy products, lean white meats or wild fish if animal products are desired. Combine vegetables and grains with a small amount of protein for a synergistic effect. Choose a variety of whole grain products to include millet, barley and buckwheat. Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables that are deep in color, such as the dark orange of a carrot or the deep green of spinach. They contain more nutrients. Choose organic products to eliminate chemical exposure. Chemicals are harmful to overall health. Avoid processed food as it contains ingredients that have been changed from their natural state. These unnatural foods are difficult for your body to assimilate. Choose sea salt as it is equivalent in nature to the salt within your body. It is very cleansing. Refined salt causes fluid retention and increased blood pressure. Eliminate sugars or choose an unrefined sugar, such as turbinado or honey. Drink plenty of clean water to aid in flushing toxins and the waste products of natural cell metabolism. Gradually wean from large portions to achieve a healthy weight. Eat less in the evening if you are no longer exercising throughout the remainder of the day. Use moderation when developing new eating habits. The important thing is to develop a plan that you'll find easy to accomplish and easy to maintain. Keep a positive attitude focusing on long term results. Eat at least one nutritious meal per day with your family to encourage their good eating habits.

How to Have a Healthy Mind

People having healthy minds live a richer and more fulfilling life.So, whether you are 16 or 60 its a good time to think about yourself and your mind.Lets find out some great ways to keep our mind healthy. Health and Happiness may be the foundation for a good life.But in today's life realities are something different and being happy seems a dream. In today's fast life we argue more, cry more and stress more.We are more short tempered these days as we don't have much time for

ourselves.Reducing stress not only keeps our body healthy but also improves mental health.Find some great ideas to improve mental health: Identify your settled emotions and accept them for what they are. Start doing Regular Meditation and some physical exercise. Have fun in life. Take some time away from work and daily chores to just enjoy life. Be Social:Having social network reduces isolation and stress which stimulates the brain through shared learning experiences. Eat Healthy:Food can really "up" your energy in 3 ways - a)providing the body with sufficient calories. b) by delivering stimulants such as Caffeine (short term energy-boost) c) by pushing the metabolism to burn fat efficiently. Get plenty of Mental exercise:Taking tasks such as thinking through problems or avoiding the calculator for simple arithmetic. Challenge your brain:Learning and experiencing new things is a great way to challenge your brain. Learn Art, Dance, Music, or Chess.Whatever you may enjoy.