Good health is a goal toward which many of us strive. After
all, we know that, in great measure, our physical well-being determines the quality of our
life. But deciding which approach to a healthy life-style will best improve or maintain
personal heal th is no easy task. It is virtually impossible to read a newspaper, watch
television, listen to the radio, or browse in a book-store without being bombarded by
information from experts and so-called experts on the art of staying healthy. It is no
wonder t hat confusion abounds.
Are vitamins the elixir of the
Fountain of Youth? Will regular attendance at a spa, gym, or fitness center keep us in
shape, or is jogging or running more sensible? Should we worry most about our weight, our
cholesterol intake, the food we eat, or the air we breathe? If we give up that cocktail
before dinner, eat organic foods, get regular medical checkups, and follow the advice in a
best-selling exercise manual, are we guaranteed to live a longer, healthier life?
Unfortunately, the answers we
hear to these questions too often come from entrepreneurs, advertisers, or well-meaning,
but ill-informed advisers rather than medical experts. The truth is that there is no
secret or complex trick to optimizing your chances of living a long and healthy life. All
it takes is following such simple health habits as avoiding smoking, drinking in
moderation, eating a well-balanced diet, controlling weight, reducing stress, and
exercising regularly. By under-standing the basic principles of healthy living and
applying them with sense and moderation, people can vastly improve the quality-and may
well increase the length-of their lives.
