Bernita S. Brazier of Just Being Healthy is a Registered Nutritional Consultant and Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and Body worker. Just Being Healthy is serving Ventura, A Soulful Spa Wellness Center, partnering with you to help you live longer and healthier.

www.justbeinghealthy.info or 805-901-6832

I Want To Live Longer, How I Am Going To Do It, Part I

Where is the fountain of youth? Why am I in so much pain? How can I live longer and healthier? With the rising costs of medical care, and co-pays where am I going to turn to? We can all stay healthy, fit, and awake, and feel our best, want to know how? Read on.

It's easy to do as one-two-three! There are 3 important elements of a healthy lifestyle, and it is not a secret: a balanced nutritious diet, daily exercise, and plenty of rest. A simple combination of these elements is the best way to look and feel our best.

We are bombarded by different diets, pills, and programs how can we choose wisely. One of the simplest things we can do is look at how we eat first. I was reading an article about "Ten Tips to boost your immunity" by Clare La Plante in Massage Therapy Journal, which stated, and I quote, "If we are what we eat, then most Americans would resemble the contents of a drive-through restaurant or pastry shop window. "We grow up with a palate for pizza, French fries, pastries and sweets," says Susan Levin, MS, RD, and staff dietician for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, based in Washington, D.C.

What does that say about our eating habits? Many have said if we eat more often, in smaller portions, we would generally be less sluggish with fewer cravings. The million dollar question is how do we transition from fast food frenzy to fruits, vegetables, and whole grains? Parents have a hard time eating the right stuff they know is good for them, how do they inculcate that in children?

I have found a few tips to help, try them on and see. First, get everyone involved. Make it a family project; find out what everyone likes to eat that can grow naturally. Some have found it helpful to plant a little garden, if concrete is available only, use planter boxes. There are lots of ideas in the garden department near you. Second, prepare in advance. Try buying different types of nuts, which the family likes, and take small baggies and divide them up as go packs for snacks. If fruit is available try cutting it up and putting in baggies, cheese can also be cut up in chunks in the same manner. Third, make sure meals are consistent, as much as possible. If soccer games, work, or other activities get in the way of consistency, use snacks as a way to curb hunger until the meal. Nothing is worse than "starving" and nothing is ready, ergo fast food pit stop. That is a warning that sugar levels have dropped, when sugar level drop, crankiness increases with short fuses and uncooperativeness.

Always have plenty of water, not juice, not soda, although these are nice once in awhile, on hand. A proper diet enriched with vitamins, nutriments, fruits and vegetables along with plenty of water will help control diet, and allow us to manage our weight in the healthiest way possible. When we manage weight, weight does not manage us. Water along with a balanced diet will also help us with our skin, to keep it healthy looking and reduce breakouts, if we are inclined to such.

Dr. Mark's Health Facts are something I would like to pass on to you: Eat like your ancestors: eat natural foods. "White ain't right"; avoid white foods, like white bread, tortillas, and rice-eat the brown, unrefined versions. And last but not least, Stress does a body BAD; learn to slow down and relax, plan time, and get organized". Nothing is worse than rushing at the last minute to get somewhere or meet someone, but what is worse is once there, we really aren't there. We are so tied up in how we managed to get there we haven't begun to cherish the moment we are in. Plan ahead of time and map out an efficient route, delegate when necessary, organize with flexibility. If it seems too much, let something go or make plans for someone else to take care of it. Be good to yourself and you are being good to your family. The present will never happen again, it becomes the past, a memory. The future is a promise that may or may not come to fruition. Enjoy life, live healthier and longer.