More than any other time in history, people are all vying to have the best, healthiest body possible.  The health and fitness industries are making billions of dollars every year on herbal supplements, fitness equipment, gyms, and special diets.  If you watch TV or read magazines, there is always some intriguing commercial asking for money to help you get into shape.

While many of these options are good and healthy, others you should stay as far away from as possible.  Recently, a professional baseball player died at the age of 23.  In his locker, a bottle was discovered containing Ephedrine.  The FDA just issued a warning that people need to heed.

Now that you have made a commitment to take care of your body, both internal and external, it is critical to your overall health that you do it the right way.  Here are some tips for both health and fitness that will help you lose weight, discover ways to maintain a better healthy lifestyle, and be in the best shape of your life – all the smart way!

For sake of clarity, we have broken this down into two categories.  One for health, which focuses on herbal supplements, weight loss, dieting, rest, and everything you need to know about taking care of your body on the inside.

The other section is fitness, which has both internal and external benefits.  One the outside, fitness includes weight lifting, running, sports, walking, things you can do to enhance, tone, and build muscle.  However, fitness also has benefits for the inside such as great cardiovascular benefits among others.

HEALTH

First, we will start out with Health:

1.    Acupuncture

The use of acupuncture dates back more than 2,000 years.  This is a traditional medicine of Japan, China, and other Eastern countries.  The use of acupuncture is beneficial in that it stimulates areas of the body that have a direct correlation to internal organs.  By placing fine needles into specific points, the body is encouraged to promote natural healing, improve function, and provide an overall boost to your system.  When these needles are inserted, they go into Meridians, which are channels somewhat like streams within the body.  Just as there might be a boulder sitting in a stream blocking the flow of water, it can be the same for the channels of blood in your system.  Acupuncture helps to remove these obstacles by providing stimulation, thus improving health.

2.    Biofeedback

Biofeedback is a method used to help blood pressure, muscle tension, heart rates, brain activity, and other bodily functions.  Basically, biofeedback is a painless system that is hooked up to your body and then through electrical signals received from tightening of your muscles, you would be able to receive those signals by a light telling you that you are tightening your muscles.  This in turn trains you to be aware of when you are bringing on stress and to help you identify when you need to relax your body.  Biofeedback is very successful and can be used for migraine headaches, chronic pain, high blood pressure, epilepsy, and much more, which can occur when you tense up.

3.    Therapeutic Massage

You might be thinking what does getting a massage do for my health other than to make me feel good.  Actually, therapeutic massage has many benefits.  For example, it can help alleviate pain, reduce stress, and promote good health.  When a person gets a therapeutic massage, they are actually getting the benefit of function improvement with circulatory, muscular, skeletal, nervous systems, lymphatic, and can even help the body heal after an illness or injury.  Depending on what the specific health issue, there is a Swedish Massage, which is a more relaxing massage good for headaches, back stress, and muscle cramps, Pressure Point Therapy, helpful for some injuries as well as circulation problems, headache and muscle tension, insomnia, anxiety, and more.  Finally, Sports Massage focuses on muscle groups used for different sports.  Licensed masseuse can help with the issues mentioned as well as allergies, arthritis, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, digestive disorders, myofascial pain, limited range of motion, sinusitis, and TMJ.  The next time you tell someone you are going to get a massage, you can simply explain that it is for the benefit of your health.

4.    Eat Less Later in the Day

Everyone knows, whether they want to admit it or not, reducing calories will help you to lose weight.  However, just as you should reduce the calorie intake, you need to know when to eat.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and the one meal that should not be missed.  Lunch should be healthy but a less than what you ate for breakfast.  As you approach dinner, eat healthy but light.  Avoid after dinner snacks or eating before bed!

5.    Saucy but Healthy

Eating bland foods is boring, unsatisfying, and if that is what your diet consists of, more than likely, you will be off it shortly after you start.  If you enjoy good tasting food, some sauces and spices can enhance your food while not adding calories to your food.  The next you grill meat, consider using one of these:

§    Reduced-salt Soy Sauce
§    Mustard
§    Salsa
§    Worcestershire Sauce
§    Vinegar (this comes in wonderful flavors)
§    Teriyaki Sauce
§    Tomato Sauce
§    Hot Sauce

6.    Supplements and Vitamins

While some supplements and vitamins on the market are not worth buying and some, such as Ephedrine, have been proven dangerous, other sources are healthy.  Most important, you need to understand what it is you are taking, and strictly follow dosage just as you would medication that has been prescribed.  If you are unsure, check with your physician, a nutritionist, or a reputable health food store.  Many supplements that are good for overall health include grape seed extract, Glucosamine, aloe vera, and Selenium.  Vitamins to consider would include Vitamin E, Vitamin C, B-12, Iron, Magnesium, and Calcium.

7.    Eliminate Stress

You have probably heard this before.  Stress is a key contributor to poor health.  Study after study has found that when a person is stressed, the body reacts.  The result of stress could be high-blood pressure, tension headaches, upset stomachs, poor posture, and so on.  Keeping stress in check will help you manage your overall health much better.

8.    ZZZZZZZZZZZ

Does sleep really affect health?  You bet it does.  During sleep, your body is resting and recovering from all the work is has done throughout the day.  Your serotonin levels are brought back in line, your muscles relax, and mind is allowed to clear itself in preparation for the next day.  If you are not getting the proper amount of sleep, you will notice it in a physical way.  While there is no magic number, usually between six and eight hours a night is appropriate.  If you have difficulty getting to sleep, before you climb into bed, try Yoga, listening to soft, relaxing music, a glass of wine, or if you can talk someone into it, a good massage.

9.    Laugh it Off

The medical field has proven that laughter actually works with your body toward good health.  Have you ever heard the expression, “Laughter is the best medicine”?  The truth is, when you laugh, several positive things happen.  Your muscles relax; stress hormone product is reduced; you forget about pain; your body’s immune system is improved; high-blood pressure is lowered; the heart and lungs are strengthened; and overall, you feel better!

10.    Nutrition

People often confuse “dieting” with nutrition.  Your body needs to have nutrients replaced, whether through foods being eaten or supplements.  Do you remember what you learned in elementary school about the four major food groups?  As adult, eating balanced meals from these groups still applies.  It is important to remove the “junk food” from your diet and stick with healthy foods.  If you do not like certain things such as fruits or vegetables, be sure you are taking a supplement to get the nutrients needed.  Another consideration is if you are a vegetarian.  There are certain benefits taken from meat such as iron and B-12 that you should consider taking a supplement for in exchange for the meat.