Holistic 101
by Camille Leon
6-15-12
From Men & For Men: More Health Tips from Men who make health work
It’s still Men’s Health month, and there are a variety of areas where simple actions can make a BIG difference in improving your life. The following recommendations come from a variety of men so that you can find the ideas that will work best for you!
Tips:
Want to boost testosterone and feel more healthy and vital? Trainer Migdoel “Dio” Miranda (www.diofitness.com) has some powerful suggestions:
1. Short- high intensity workouts- do not spend more than an hour in the gym.
2. Decrease cardiovascular exercises and change long distance running for sprint intervals.
3. Eat good fats such as Coconut oil and Avocado.
4. Make time to rest!
Are you outdoors on a regular basis, either for work or play? Astrologer Kramer Wetzel (www.astrofish.net) has an important reminder:
Wear sunscreen. Wear a hat. I spend, as both a fisherman and regular outdoorsman, an inordinate amount of time in the South Texas Sun. Besides seeing a skin doc twice a year, the most important trick I've learned is "sunscreen." The last time I fished, 8+ hours on a boat, doing research for “Fishing Guide to the Stars,” I came back marginally darker, but only burned in one spot -- the back of my hand where, apparently I wiped off the sunscreen. The last time I did this without sunscreen, I came back fried after only four hours on the water, and it took two weeks for everything to peel off. Wear sunscreen.
Are you concerned with overall wellness? Jeff Carrell, of Alamo Heights Chiropractic Health Center (www.ahchc.com)
I have a three-in-one perspective on health. The one is balance and trying to find it in three areas of our life. The first way is balancing the way we move. Most men tend to work out the muscles they can see (biceps, chest and abs) and neglect the back which leads to structural/posture problems. Most runners and walkers spend so much time moving in one direction they can develop repetitive stress problems and even balance issues. Move around, if you run spend at least a little time moving sideways (both sides) and backwards. You will lower your chance of injury and move better in general. The second balancing act is the way you eat. Your body works best when you eat reasonable portions that are a mix of carbohydrates, protiens and fats. The ratio between carbs and fats determines how well your body works on a chemical level. Most Americans eat too many carbs and often not enough protien. Your caloric intake should be roughly 40% carbs/30% protien/30% fat. There are a few tricks you can use to approximate healthy portion size. (just ask) The third area that balance is lacking is how we think. Stress has a major impact on our health from high blood pressure to excess belly fat. That's right, stress increases belly fat! Stress reduction requires mindful action. Sitting still isn't good enough. Exercise, yoga and dance have all been proven to lower stress. But meditation, even a simple breathing exercise with a little intentional thought can have a profound and nearly immediate effect on your mental and physical state. Three small steps with really big results.
Is stress getting in the way of making the lifestyle changes that lead to healthier habits? Keith Powell of Austin (TX) had the same challenge and found a solution that worked for him:
“Because of my ThetaHealing experience with Kathleen Fors (www.successthrubeliefs.com), I was able to release my stress-inducing unconscious habits and am now able to stay on track with my best health choice of being productive without having the need to be stressed out to get things done.”
Curious about simple steps you can take to maintain better health on a regular basis? Charles Lightwalker (www.thefamilyoflight.net) of Spokane (WA) has integrated several easy-to-implement actions into his schedule:
Every morning, I drink a cup of warm water to cleanse myself and I do yoga to wake up. I also take Vitamin D every day to keep myself balanced and I see Dr. Pat Dougherty (www.spokane-chiropractic.com) twice a month to keep myself adjusted. I walk 2 miles every other day and go to the gym 3 times a week for weight training, and cardio. If weather is bad, I use my rebounder to bounce on for 20 minutes a day.
Do you have a more specific health issue causing concern for you or a loved one? Jim Rizzuto (www.saltescape.com) “was inspired to open Salt Escape from watching my own daughter suffer from asthma with no alternatives other than stuffing herself with medications that have awful side effects. I’ve been amazed by salt therapy and the success stories I’ve seen.”
There are so many products, services and solutions available today that there is no need to get “stuck” in whatever is holding you back. Visit us at www.HolisticChamberOfCommerce.com and find a way that works.
By Camille Leon, Founder and Executive Director of The Holistic Chamber of Commerce, a national organization representing holistic and eco-friendly professionals and practitioners. All Professional Members are reference-checked. For more information, please visit www.HolisticChamberOfCommerce.com or call 310-490-6862 (PST).