| One humorous cartoon puts it well: "I've read that | | | | you sow. Statistics show that over 400,000 people die |
| smoking can cause cancer... so I stopped reading!" | | | | of smoking-related illnesses in the US. Yes, smoking |
| Truly, your health is largely in your hands. It is a matter | | | | may look "cool" or it may be relaxing, but eventually |
| of choice, determined by the habits that you keep. In | | | | this bad habit will get you. If you know what is good for |
| this article, we are going to look at five top habits that | | | | you and your family, quit smoking now. If you are a |
| we can do in order to maintain good health. | | | | nonsmoker, stay away from second-hand smoke; |
| Habit #1: Physical Activity. The human body is a | | | | you've been careful not to smoke yourself, so why |
| wonderfully created machine that is designed to move. | | | | should you inhale someone else's exhaust toxic |
| Not exercising, not engaging in physical activity, too | | | | fumes? |
| much sleep or rest -- all these may seem as "not | | | | Habit #4: Shun negative thoughts. Negative thoughts |
| overloading" the body, yet our muscles actually shrink | | | | and emotions like worry, fear, jealousy, and anger rob |
| and atrophy when not used. By moving around often, | | | | you of energy and vitality. And they do affect you |
| by doing physical work, by doing exercise and anything | | | | physically, causing more stress hormones (cortisols) to |
| to get our muscles and our hearts pumping, we are | | | | be produced by your body which could lead to high |
| extending our lifespan and improving our quality of life. | | | | blood pressure and coronary heart disease. Think |
| Our blood pressure improves, our blood cholesterol | | | | positive and learn to manage your anger. Learn to |
| profile gets better, and even our minds are set free | | | | pray or meditate. |
| from stress. So be active and move, move, move! | | | | Habit #5: Reduce exposure to pollution and dangerous |
| Habit #2: Eat right. Yes, this is a no-brainer. Food can | | | | chemicals. Sadly, in this modern age and time it is hard |
| be a medicine or it can be poison. We can literally eat | | | | to avoid environmental pollutants. Unless you are living |
| ourselves to an early death by engorging on all the | | | | in the deep Amazon, there is no escaping smog, |
| trans-fat/saturated fat, high-sugar, and salt-laden fast | | | | strong electromagnetic radiation from cell phones and |
| foods that we love so much. A healthy diet rich in | | | | power lines, and chemicals in your food or household |
| nutrients but low in calories can actually prolong our | | | | items. But certainly you can educate yourself on these |
| lives. These healthy diets are usually characterized by | | | | risk factors so you can minimize your exposure to |
| an abundance of fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and an | | | | them. Doing so will lessen your chances of getting |
| avoidance of animal fats and processed foods. | | | | some types of cancer. |
| Habit #3: Quit Smoking Now. Just like the cartoon | | | | By following these five guidelines, you can assure |
| quoted in the beginning of this article, many smokers | | | | yourself of a healthy, productive life free from most |
| choose to ignore the perils of smoking. You reap what | | | | illnesses associated with a modern lifestyle. |