LEARN HOW TO BE HEALTHY THE "NATURAL WAY"

Naturalistic practice is a system of personal care that concentrates on maintaining the body in a healthy condition. It’s sometimes referred to as natural healing, and those who follow it have more energy and fewer illnesses. Eating a well-balanced and nutritious diet is, of course, a part of any program for health. But natural healing goes beyond this. This kind of preventive program represents a "vitalistic" tradition and, whenever the body has illnesses, these same practices support the person's own healing capacity. By working with a person's vital force and respecting the natural healing processes, all kinds of ailments can be overcome without the use of Western medicines and surgery.

So, what are the bases of natural healing? (You’ll be happy to hear that no commercial products are necessary for this program, and that only dedication to a healthy lifestyle is the key to natural healing.)

Get outdoors and enjoy some sunshine everyday.
Just 10 to 15 minutes of sitting or walking in the sunshine gives us a lot of energy and helps keep our spirits high. If you don't live in a zone with temperatures warm enough to be outdoors for part of the year, make yourself a sun room or sit in a window when the sun comes in. This is particularly good to do when you eat your meals. By exposing your skin to sunlight, you'll get the necessary Vitamin D that your body must have for good health. While your outside, touch your bare hands to a large tree, and just simply breathe. All these actions help to "ground" or stabilize the energy of the body. Mother Nature has many ways to cure her children, but you have to connect with her to receive all the benefits.

Feet were meant to be bare (at least part of the time).
Try to go barefoot for an hour or more a day. Walk barefoot on grass or sand whenever there is an opportunity.  When conditions aren't right for being totally barefoot, wear (preferably all leather) sandals without socks for some hours of the day. Wash your feet with warm water before going to bed and rub them with a light oil.  Sleep at night without socks if the room temperature permits.

Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.
The list is long, but here are some fruits and vegetables that are very nutritious. Raw foods are especially good for you, so plan to eat some raw fruit and a big salad everyday.
* Apples
* Asparagus
* Avocados
* Beets
* Broccoli
* Cabbage
* Carrots
* Cauliflower
* Celery
* Cilantro
* Cucumbers
* Garlic
* Green Beans
* Hot Peppers
* Kale (mustard greens, collards, dandelion greens, etc.)
* Lettuce
* Olives
* Radishes
* Sweet potatoes
* Wild or brown rice
(Don't eat a lot of tomatoes, white potatoes or mushrooms.)

Learn to enjoy simple meals.
Eat a whole grain cereal in the morning along with a fruit, and choose fruit that is grown locally or regionally. Eat a brothy vegetable soup for lunch, accompanied by a whole grain bread with a nut or bean topping. Eat whole grain rice with vegetables for dinner along with a green salad. Eggs, beans, nuts, and fresh (not aged) cheese, like farmers' and cottage cheese, can be added to the meals in small quantities. Try to eliminate all sugar from the diet except for honey and maple sugar (and use even those with moderation). Have a snack of fruit during the day. Apples, grapes and pears are great for vitamins and fiber.

Some other dietary tips.
Learn to add all kinds of herbs and spices to your meals to enhance what otherwise might make for bland and repetitious meals. Make sure you add some apple cider vinegar to all soups and salads. Drink a lot of water and other liquids during the day – especially when you get up in the morning and throughout the day. Too many liquids in the evening can disturb your nightime sleep with extra trips to the toilet. Eat your evening meal before 7 pm.

Say a blessing before your meals.
Take a minute and hold your hands over your plate to thank God for your food and ask that the food be used for your own good and for you to be able to help those around you. Ask for God's mercy on others who are hungry, sick, or afraid.

Practice gentle or moderate exercise for 30 minutes everyday.
All healthy exercise and fitness activities, including walking, yoga, dancing, running and other sports, help your heart rate, increase your oxygen intake, improve circulation, and pump up your lymph (infection-fighting) system. And, working up a sweat is one of the best ways to rid your body of toxins. The endorphins and other happy hormones that you feel after a good exercise session are guarantees that the energy is flowing through your whole system.

Do a "Chinese pat-down" in the morning.
First thing in morning, before or after a shower, pat-down all your body with the flat of your hand or with a loose fist. Start at the feet and pat all the parts that you can reach all the way up to you head. This will stimulate all your vital points, giving you extra energy and better immunity. This can take several minutes. If you don’t have time to do a full pat-down, try a shorter version. Do a pat-down with one hand, from waist to wrist and back on the outer part of the body.  Do this on both sides of the body for a couple of minutes. Then, take another minute or two for a pat-down with both hands (fists) around the lower back and sacrum area.

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