The ball has dropped. Christmas ads have been replaced by tax-prep ads. January is in full force. And, if you fall into the majority, your health and wellness top your list of resolutions. Time to repent for the sins of last year.

Until, of course, old habits get the better (or worse) of you and drop-kick you back into all the reasons your health and wellness are mediocre at best.

It’s tragic that most people don’t treasure their health until they don’t have it. They treat it like something they can wager based on how they feel in the moment.

It’s no wonder, then, that all those healthy New Year’s resolutions barely make it out of the starting gates.

Research shows that 95% of resolutions are fitness-/health-related, but only 10% of people believe they will stick after three months.

And heck, 43% of the people who make fitness/health/wellness-related resolutions flat-out don’t expect to be keeping them by February!

Why is there so little appreciation for this precious gift: your health and wellness?

We say it constantly: There is nothing – nothing – more valuable and important than your health.

When you stop to ponder the sheer magnificence of existing in this life as a spiritual being in a physical body, that should sink in.

Your body and mind are vehicles for the work you were sent here to do. If you are going to live your purpose fully and happily, you simply must be proactive in creating and maintaining optimal health.

Remember, holistic health is about the whole being – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Your work here is holy. And that’s why “holy” is the root of “holistic.” It’s just that important.

Let’s review the fundamental habits of optimal health.

1. Nutrition.

   You wouldn’t put sugar in your gas tank and expect your car to run. So why would you put junk into your body and expect it to function well?

   You need 8-10 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Not spread out over a week. Every day.

   How many servings does the average American get? Barely 2.2.

   Everything you need to buy in the grocery store can be found on the perimeter. Fruits, vegetables, meat (you need the taurine that is found only in meat), eggs, dairy are all on the perimeter. The middle aisles are just shelves of processed poison.

   Sugar and wheat, in case you didn’t get the memo, are not “food.”

2. Supplementation.

   Even those with healthy eating habits need supplementation. Between fluoride in our water and pollution in our air and soil, even the best foods are not what they once were.

   Vitamins C, D3, and B-complex are essential.

   If you’re not getting enough fruits and veggies, Nature’s Bliss Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate is a delicious supplement for at least a couple servings a day.

3. Don’t. Smoke. Just. Don’t.

4. Exercise.

   Your body was created to move. But just doing chores and walking to the mailbox doesn’t cut it.

   You need a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise five days a week.

5. Sleep.

   There is no way to be healthy without sleep. You need at least 7-8 hours nightly.

   Skipping even one hour a night will make you a full night sleep-deprived by the end of the week!

   Lack of deep sleep is also dangerous. Not only do you not function optimally without enough sleep, you become worse than a drunk driver on the road.

6. Reducing stress.

   Stress is the primary underlying cause of almost all illness and disease.

   You will never be able to eliminate all stressors from your life. But you can take action to reduce them and modify your response to them.

7. Autogenic Training.

   Improving your health and wellness isn’t limited to what you feed your body. It also involves – perhaps more so than anything else – what you feed your mind.

   Autogenic training is at the heart of our Biogenics® course. By making this a part of your daily discipline for just minutes a day, you can dramatically reduce anxiety, depression, and even chronic pain.

Now let’s apply some of these habits to just two specific concerns our patients often have.

Osteoporosis.

As for all osteoporosis, vitamin D3 tops the list. For people 140 pounds and over, the recommendation is 50,000 units once a week. For those under 140 pounds, the recommendation is 50,000 units on the 1^st, 10^th and 20^th of the month.

Because bone is a combination of calcium, magnesium, and boron, all need to be supplemented.

Magnesium is poorly absorbed through the mouth. Therefore, we recommend magnesium lotion.

For boron supplementation, depending on your weight, take up to 12 milligrams a day.

Finally, a moderate amount of exercise is important for keeping your bones dense and strong.

High Blood Pressure.

Assuming you are not taking any medications that could create a negative interaction with taurine, take 2000 mg of taurine three times a day (6000 mg/day).

(If you are on medications, be sure to get a holistic physician’s advice and guidance for stopping them at the proper pace.)

Blood pressure also responds well to Autogenic Training. Remember, Autogenic Training is about connecting your mind and body with positive, calming, healing messages. Therefore, it’s the perfect complement to taurine for lowering your blood pressure.

Of course, the other habits of health – nutrition, exercise, sleep, not smoking, reducing stress – will also help to lower your blood pressure.

Folks, there is simply nothing more important than your health and wellness.

The world is greatly in need of the purpose you are here to fulfill. And your body and mind are your only vehicle for doing that holy work.