Secrets for Good Health

1. Drink two cups of very warm water soon after rising in the morning

2. Drink a total of two to three liters of water every day, more if the weather is hot. Drink some water 10 minutes before eating or after about one hour after eating, but never during meals. During cold weather, drinking warm water is often best. Make sure the water is pure that you drink. Boil your drinking water if needed.

3. Eat a big breakfast between 6 am and 8 am. Your body needs lots of energy for your work.

4. Do not eat even one bite between meals. Save treats or snacks to eat with your meals. Only eat at regular mealtimes. Try to keep the meals the same time every day. Regularity is very important for your health.

5. Allow 5-6 hours between meals to allow the stomach to empty completely and have time to rest before putting anything more in the stomach.

6. Eat breakfast "like a king," dinner "like a prince," and supper "like a pauper (poor person)." In other words, eat the first meal as your biggest meal; eat a very good dinner, but a small evening meal, if anything.

7. Eat the last meal of the day 3-4 hours before going to bed. The stomach needs to rest when you rest. All the food should be out of the stomach before you sleep.

8. Eat only easily digested foods for the last meal of the day, such as fruit and toasted bread or puffed rice (not fried foods, peanuts, etc.). Eat rice, dal and vegetables at the first or second meal, not in the evening.

9. Chew your food thoroughly. Many people only chew a large mouthful of rice, dal and curry about 6 or 7 times, then swallow most of it whole. The digestive enzymes from the mouth need to be mixed thoroughly with the food so it can digest properly. Each particle should be chewed to a fine paste. (Your stomach doesn't have teeth!)

10. Eat your food with thanksgiving and rejoicing. It is not good to eat while angry, worried or upset.

11. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains (such as brown rice, whole wheat flour, whole corn or millet) and some nuts are the best foods. White rice and white flour have plenty of calories (energy foods) and protein, but most of the vitamins and minerals have been robbed from these grains, so are not best for health.

12. Exercise is very important for good health. Daily active work in the garden or yard for at least 30 minutes is the best. If that is not possible, a 30-60 minute brisk walk is also very good.

13. Bathe at least two times per week. If the weather is cold, bathing with warm water is fine, but should be finished with a brief cold-water pour. Otherwise, chilling may result.

14. Keep the hands and feet always warm. Do not put more layers of clothing on the chest and abdomen than on the arms, legs and feet. If the hands or feet are cold, warm them 1) by the fire, 2) by drinking hot water, 3) by putting more clothes on the legs and feet, 4) by putting a hot bottle of water at the feet or hands or 5) by exercise.

15. Sleep at night with fresh air coming into the room through an open window or ventilator. Do not cover the face at night. Use a mosquito net if insects are troublesome.

16. Make sure all the bedding and clothing is free of mustiness. Put them in the sunshine frequently. Make sure the quilts, blankets, pillows, and mattresses do not gather moisture (humidity). Dry them by a fire if necessary before sleeping in them. Many aches and pains and life threatening diseases can be prevented.

Do Not Use:

-Tea, coffee, cola drinks, chocolate - These foods contain caffeine, methylxanthines, theobromine and other stimulants. They do not provide energy (unless sugar is added). It is like whipping a tired cow to make it plow the field faster.
-Tobacco, chewing tobacco - This leads to many kinds of cancers, emphysema, heart disease, strokes and paralysis, high blood pressure, to name some of the illnesses.
-Pan and Betel nut - This is also addictive and stimulating, like tea. It discolors the teeth and can result in mouth, throat and stomach cancer.
-Alcohol, Beer, liquor, etc. Every drink destroys thousands of brain cells. It causes diseases of the liver, pancreas and immune system. Alcohol leads to quarrels fighting, spouse and child abuse, to name a few.

Avoid:

-Sugar - This leads to diabetes, tooth decay, and a weak immune system which results in many more sicknesses.
-Animal products - Many animals are sick or diseased. Many of these diseases are transferable to humans. Meat is a stimulating food, like tea or coffee. TB (tuberculosis), cancers, diarrhea and many other diseases are acquired this way. Fish especially carry tapeworms and cancers. Pork (pig meat) should be avoided, actually it should never be eaten, even though it may taste very good.

Your good health is mainly up to you ;)