What Are Healthy Habits? A Guide to Better Living and Well-Being

➤ Introduction

When we talk about What are Healthy Habits? Then we can say that “When the Mind, Soul and Senses are happy then the Body is healthy”.

Man’s happiness, efficiency, activity, and health depend on him. Health is a state of physical, mental and social skills. It is not measured by numbers, but health is something to feel.

A person behaves against the fundamental principles of nature or someone violates the natural rules, then that person’s health gets worse. Today we see that the number of restless societies is increasing. Individuals and society are responsible for this situation.

➤ The Fundamental Principles of Health

To maintain good health, certain natural principles must be followed:

• Diet
• Labor-Exercise
• Sleep-Rest
• Faecal Excretion
• Mental Balance
• Adequate Consumption of the Five Great Elements

➤ What Is Healthy Eating Habits?

Man survives by diet. Food is a base for humans and water is life. Due to lack of food and water, they (humans) will not be able to survive. A diet rich in Sattvic, Rajasic, and Tamasic foods has been outlined in the scriptures.

What kind of food should a person consume?
Human body remains healthy by consuming the right type of food in the proper quantity and improper diet can become the cause of human diseases.

➤ Choosing the Right Diet for Health

According to naturopathy, it is necessary to consume natural food that nourishes and cleanses the body. Essential nutrients are obtained from wheat, barley, rice, maize, lentils, chickpeas, milk, curd, whey, jaggery.

Different fruits and different vegetables are grown according to the seasons in our country. In every season some fruit grows. Seasonal defects can be removed by consuming this fruit.

Seasonal fruits and vegetables:
Winter: Apples, pears, almonds.
Summer: Melon, watermelon, etc.
Monsoon: Mango, jamun, sitafal.

Along with fruit, carrot, tomato, turnip, salad should be eaten raw. Mustard, spinach are also beneficial for the body and should be taken in the diet.

We make vegetables. But by frying in more oil, spices, this food is definitely delicious, but it does not provide nutrients.We drink beverages like tea, coffee, etc. and diet becomes the cause of our illness. That is why we should consume a healthy diet.
“The body is healthy with a healthy diet, the body is sick with a defective diet”!

➤ Guidelines for Healthy Eating

How much food should be consumed?
Pregnant women, children, old people, and young people should have different amounts of food intake. Also, the amount of food intake of a person doing mental work and a person doing physical work should be different according to the work. When to take food? And how to take it?Understand this as well, so that a person can live a healthy life.

When and how to eat food?

• Eat only when hungry.
• Chew food properly.
• Eat slightly less than required.
• Prefer eating twice a day for better digestion.

Be mindful of your food choices. Also, remember this We do not live to eat, but we eat to live.

➤ The Importance of Labour and Exercise

By doing physical labour, a person feels real hunger. He enjoys food. Digestion also happens properly. But those who do more mental labour than physical labour appear more unhealthy. Those who do mental labour and those who do not do physical labour can compensate for the lack of labour by doing exercise and yogasana. Those who do physical labour should also do yogasana. So that their body can also remain healthy and strong.

➤ The Role of Sleep and Rest in Health

Sleep-rest is necessary after hard work. Sleep removes body’s fatigue. The flow of life force is the same in the sleeping state as in the waking state. That is why deep and peaceful sleep is necessary. Two hours before midnight and two hours after midnight are considered to be the best time for sleep. Normal person should get eight hours of sleep. Many people sleep during the day; such people do not get deep sleep at night. 

At such times, their brain is full of tension and the mind remains restless. Lying down on the bed and doing relaxation exercises relieves the problem of insomnia. One feels more refreshed. Taking deep sleep strengthens your health.

➤ Faecal Excretion and Detoxification

When human body dirt, toxins, foreign substances, faeces, urine, sweat cannot leave the body naturally through the anus, large intestine, skin and starts accumulating in the body. This is where the alien enemy takes refuge in the body. Then man’s health deteriorates. This is an abnormal state of disease.

Cleanliness of the body is a natural characteristic. Cleanliness is more important for nature. Cleanliness of the body should be done internally and externally.

➤ Mental Balance and Emotional Health

Anger, impulse, jealousy, worry, fear, sadness disturbs the balance of the mind. Due to mental stress, a person suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and brain related diseases.

Menstrual health is the reason for physical health. Complete health is achieved only when the mind and body are healthy. To maintain mental health, it is necessary to do yoga, pranayam, meditation, prayer etc. Due to which the mind becomes calm. One starts feeling happy. Mental health becomes good.

➤ The Role of Panchamahabhutas (Five Elements) in Health

Our body is made up of five elements of universe – Sky element, Air element, Fire element, Water element, and Earth element. Five elements are required for body health.

Sky Element: Fasting is considered to be the best way to attain the Aakash Tattva. Gandhiji called fasting “Emperor of Health”.
Air Element: Air is life – without it, survival is impossible.
Fire Element:Energy is derived from fire. It is beneficial to consume the gentle rays of the sun in the morning, which provide energy for the health of the body.
Water Element: Water is nature’s best medicine and essential for detoxification.
Earth Element: Mud therapy and the importance of natural earth connection.

➤ Conclusion

What are Healthy Habits? It encompasses each and everything related to the balanced diet, proper physical exercise, good sleeping habits, timely excretion, mental balance, and alignment with five natural elements of nature. Neglecting any of these will result in health issues, while following them boosts your health. A natural-holistic lifestyle is the key for attaining the long health span. Start mindful practice today, prioritizing healthy habits for a healthy and happy life!