To be able to achieve your goal, a healthy body is a must. Health is wealth. This is as important as your mind and spiritual health.

Nowadays, hospital bills are beyond reach for some of us that we may not be able to afford it. Not everybody has insurance and even if we do, there are times it doesn't cover some of the medical cost. Don't wait to get ill and apply corrective measures. It is more prudent to practice preventive measures.

It makes life difficult when we get ill. We must do our best to prevent illnesses so as not to hamper our quest to goal realization. To do this, we need to practice healthy habits; taking nutritious food, proper exercise, clean surroundings, an overall healthy lifestyle.

There is an ad in a developing country of an internationally known vitamin/mineral supplement that has something to do with one's health. It is advertised in its native tongue, when translated into the English language literally means: "It is against the law to get sick" or "You are not allowed to get sick". Exaggerated as it is, it makes sense. When economic conditions are so sensitive, it can make a big difference when one gets sick. Medical bills are beyond reach for majority of its citizens.

My medical know-how is confined to basics and practical thinking. What you are reading are personal preferences reflective of my own views.

Diet and exercise are the two main areas directly responsible to physical health. What we eat is what we are. Maintain proper diet. Your doctor, dietician and/or nutritionist is your best source of information, coupled with practical sense. The amount and type of food we eat directly affects our body system. While snacks between meals are not encouraged, taking something when you feel hungry is better than stuffing yourself full at mealtime. Age is likewise an issue when it comes to physical health. Younger people tend to eat more than middle-aged or seniors due to body metabolism. Older people who eat as much as youngsters tend to get fat for this reason. They cannot burn the calories as fast as the young. On the other hand, the young need more food to keep up with their active lifestyle.

Exercise regularly. Keep your body moving as much as possible. The gym and fitness center are not the only places where you can get exercise. Some of us may not agree that working is exercise. Working that requires physical exertion is a good form of exercise. Your home is a good place to do this. There are lots of housework that requires physical exertion so much so that if you do them, you are actually exercising and saving. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise. You may walk to and from your place of work as long as conditions permit like weather, distance, and time. Again, you are saving.

It is written in the Bible that God made man in His own image. From all indications, our physical body was designed by God to move, to be mobile. He designed it in such a way that our hands and feet, limbs, joints, among others will give us utmost mobility. If we don't use them as they are suppose to be, does that mean we are not satisfied with the way they were designed? It is like receiving a gift from a friend and we don't find it useful so we just put it in a corner to gather dust. The Lord may interpret it as if we don't need them anymore so He might as well give them to someone else who needs them. That way, they won't go to waste.

Seriously, get moving as much as you can. We never know when our tools of mobility will cease to be useful.

Even an automobile or generator laid idle for a considerable amount of time usually gets stuck. We need to heat it up once in a while even if we don't need it. Even an electronic equipment with hardly any moving parts has to be used every now and then to keep it in tip-top condition. Positive thinking stimulates our minds while physical exercise stimulates our body.

Depending on where you live (temperate or cold climate), sweating contributes to good health. What you are actually sweating out of your system are toxins and excess body salt, sugar, and fats (that is why our sweat tastes a little salty, slightly sweet, and feels oily). And sweating keeps you looking fit and trim as well. After a good sweat, do you notice that your joints feel more loose and relaxed as if they have just been lubricated. Be sure to replenish your body with fluids like water, fruit juices, and the like. Don't let your sweat-soiled clothes dry on your body. Change to fresh clothing.

To induce sweating in cold climate can be difficult. Try using a sauna. It may be available in your location. If it isn't, you can have your own sauna at home if your budget allows it. A spa helps to improve blood circulation to relax and tone both mind and body. There are various types of spas and your spa specialist is your best adviser. Hand massages done by masseurs are sometimes available in malls to loosen stiff joints and relieve aching and tired muscles.

A clean surrounding is also essential to good health so that we can breathe quality air. We are aware though that urban places have a higher level of pollutants compared to countryside locations even when the level is within tolerable limits. Vitamin/mineral supplements can help to counteract the effects of these pollutants. Keep in mind though to seek medical advice first to determine what kind of supplements will suit you. Each of us is unique in many ways. A good practice is not to overdo things like taking excessive vitamins and minerals. We may be right in saying that excess vitamins simply leave our system through body fluids or waste. Recent medical findings reveal that supplements taken excessively, in time, can damage some vital organs. Some minerals must be proportionate with certain vitamins when taken so that it is better absorbed by our bodies. Various reactions occur under various conditions. There is a good motto I follow (because I think it makes sense): "Take things in moderation, for even a good thing turns bad when taken otherwise". Food rich in anti-oxidants can replace certain supplements. Again, your doctor has the final say.

Medical research proves that there is a direct link between mental attitude and the body as a whole. A positive mental attitude results to a healthy body. For instance, when we are under stress, our body produces excessive amounts of cortisol which is a steroid. Some cells which are vital to our immune system are blocked, making our body susceptible to infection.

In other instances, which we are more familiar with, we know that blood pressure in our body shoots up when our mind is subjected to tension and worries without any physical exertion. Why is it we cry after hearing a sad story; why is it we laugh after seeing a funny situation; indications that thinking alone can affect health condition and body reactions.

Our mind was designed by God to think. Keep it active with innovative and creative ideas. Stress, self-pity, and defeatism are just some of the negative attitude that result to poor body health. Replace this with enthusiasm, self-confidence, and win-ability, you are on your way to a fit healthy body. Negative thinking are like debits on a bank account, positive thinking are credits. Don't wait till your accounts are on the red.

Equally important is an active spiritual outlook. It is food for the soul. Starve your soul and you starve your body and mind. Feed it with faith, hope, and confidence in the Lord and you will cultivate a healthy you.

Mind , body, and spirit; one is essential to the other; they are inter-related; make it work as a team.

With a willful spirit, what your mind can conceive, no doubt your body can achieve.