Five Habits to a Healthy Life - Passion and Friends Are Part of the Package

By Connor R Sullivan Platinum Quality Author

Millions of people seek supplemental health benefits from antioxidants, liquid zeolite, ellagic acid and hundreds of other products. For many the goal is a longer and healthier life. Most people would agree that a healthy long life would be a desirable. Many of these people would readily take a supplement to better their health and life expectancy. Many of these same people want to consume the supplement without giving up the cigarettes, coffee, alcohol, donuts, or 40 hours of television a week. Humans are an interesting contradiction when it comes to behavior and belief.
There are many things a person can do to live a better quality of life and to live a healthier lifestyle. There are five basic areas that should be addressed when seeking to live well. Exercise is the first stone in the foundation of good health and can mean many things as will be noted shortly. Diet is the next obvious element to good health and can also mean many different things to many different people. Passion with curiosity is another element that seldom makes the list of qualities for good health but belongs on it nonetheless. Rest is a more obvious component of wellbeing and can also be defined in several ways. Finally a positive social network is crucial to a well balanced life.

Exercise should be a celebration of the body. Use the muscles that the body was born with and use them well. It might be three nights a week at the gym or it might be chopping wood or tossing bags of concrete. It does not matter so much how the muscles get engaged, but they need to be engaged. An active person keeps the muscles healthy, and the brain and heart are muscles or are like muscles that benefit.

A healthy diet can consist of certain types of food, portions size, meal time habits or any other combination of habits or ideas. The primary aspect to a healthy diet is of course portion size and the food consumed. Two simple behaviors can improve diet immensely. The first behavior is deceptively easy. Place smaller portions on a plate, then, once the food is eaten, wait ten minutes before getting a second serving. Take a few more sips of wine or sparkling water. If ten minutes pass and seconds are still kicking around the brain, indulge and enjoy. Once a person becomes aware of making a choice and listening to what the body needs the diet battle is half won. Second, eat as few processed foods as possible.

Being passionate about something whether it is butterflies or basketball, it offers health benefits as well. Intellectual engagement and spirited interest help keep the mind and spirit involved in life. Adequate rest, whether it is sleep or staring at a fish tank, can restore the body's energy levels. Rest allows for the mind and body to release tension and gain vitality. A close circle of friends also provides a key element to good health as humans are social animals. Exercise, diet, passion, rest and friendship are all important aspects to a healthy existence.