Do you desire a healthy life, but feel like the road to that lifestyle is an impossible one? The truth is that a life of vitality and energy is within your reach. If you're willing to take a few simple steps toward your dreams, they can become reality. And this can happen quicker than you might think!
 
Follow these strategies to begin experiencing the healthy life you deserve, starting today:

1.  Change your dietary habits. Small changes can make a big difference. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, for example. Choose whole-grain foods, and eat as much fiber as possible. Cut back on the sugar.  

2.  Stop smoking. Certainly you already know the health risks of smoking. Quitting smoking offers you many wonderful consequences. You'll experience smells that might have been absent from your life for years. You'll breathe easier and have more energy. If you smoke, the most powerful thing you can do for yourself and your family is to quit.  

3.  Reduce or eliminate alcohol. Drinking occasionally is okay. But binge drinking is harmful to your liver and other organs. Drink responsibly by limiting your intake of harmful alcoholic beverages.  

4.  Drink plenty of water. Water detoxifies your body and provides cells with much-needed hydration. If you feel low in energy, you might be surprised at how effective a glass of water can be at perking you up. Low energy is often a sign of dehydration. Drink water when you wake up, before each meal, and as often as you can.  

5.  Keep your body "regular." Maintaining a regular bowel habit will produce lots of energy and make you feel healthy.  

• Eat greens as often as possible to keep yourself regular.

• Fiber also helps your body to flush out toxins and fat. Eat as many whole grains, fruits, and vegetables as possible to add as much fiber as you can to your diet.

 
6.  Exercise. Incorporate physical movement into your lifestyle for added energy and confidence.  

• Try going for a walk at least 30 minutes a day, cleaning your house, gardening, or playing outside with the kids.

• Exercise increases your heart rate and respiration rate, providing more oxygen to your cells.

7.  Keep your mind fresh and healthy. Read as often as possible. Play mind games, like crossword puzzles and logic problems. Challenge yourself to games and recreational activities that are outside of your comfort zone. A fit mind works in tandem with your fit body to help you create the lifestyle you crave.

8.  Stay up to date with your doctor visits. Most family doctors recommend that you see them at least once a year for a routine physical. Other checkups, like regular prostate or breast exams, may be recommended more often. So check with your family physician. 

9.  Let plenty of rest. Everyone needs a different amount of rest. For most, a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of quality sleep is a must for optimum health.  

10.  Hang around with like-minded people. If you want to be healthy, spend time with people who are healthy. Seek friendships with people that consider their health a priority in their lives. Spend less time with people that sit around all day and more time with active people. If you do, you'll have a tendency to become healthy like those people. 
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A healthy life is within your reach. If you follow these simple strategies and remain patient, you'll see, feel, and experience the amazing benefits of the healthy lifestyle you deserve.

The cold and flu weather season is upon us not and no one likes getting sick. Catching colds and other ickys can put you in bed for several days, which could mean missing out on important events, having to skip a week of work and experiencing plenty of disruption in your life. Apart from that, you'll feel awful and will spend days wondering when you're going to feel better and what you can do to help yourself recover. Unfortunately, once you've caught an illness, getting rid of it is a lot harder than preventing it in the first place. Therefore, boosting your immune system is one of the best ways to help yourself stay healthy and fit. Below are some of the best ways to give your immune system a boost - naturally:
 

1. Give yourself Vitamin C - You can get Vitamin C from oranges, apples and other fruits and vegetables. Have a glass of pure orange juice at the beginning of the day if you struggle to eat fruits and vegetables. Another way to get this vital vitamin is by taking a Vitamin C supplements. You can get Vitamin C from oranges, apples and other fruits and vegetables. Have a glass of pure orange juice at the beginning of the day if you struggle to eat fruits and vegetables. Another way to get this vital vitamin is by taking a Vitamin C supplements. The immune system is strongly influenced by nutrients and the cells need the vitamin to perform optimally.
   
2. Quit smoking - If you smoke, quit. It's really that simple.  You could begin by cutting down on the amount of cigarettes that you smoke but the end goal should be to stop altogether. It's important to recognize that smoking will have a negative effect on your health, both in the short term and the long term.
   
3. Exercise regularly - If you have a busy routine, this can be one of the most difficult things to incorporate into your lifestyle. However, it can really help to boost your immune system, and the knock-on effects, such as better heart health and a healthier weight, will also improve the way you feel.
4. Eat plenty of vegetables - Vegetables and herbs such as broccoli, carrots and garlic are great at improving your overall health and thus boosting your immune system to help prevent illnesses taking hold. If you feel like you are about to develop a cold or flu, improving your diet can help to keep it at bay.
   
5. Vitamin D is important too - As well as getting enough Vitamin C to help your immune system along, you should also get Vitamin D too. While it's not always possible to get this from the sun, taking a Vitamin D supplement is a great addition. Vitamin D acts as a switch in your body, turning on or off genes and processes that your body needs to maintain health. Sufficient levels of Vitamin D  strengthens your innate immune system.

The immune system is amazingly complex. It defends the body against foreign invaders. It can remember millions of different enemies, but if weakened other diseases result. Avoid this by following the tips above and avoid the ickys during this cold and flu season but all year because the ickys never go away.