What kind of beverages do you often drink?

	Coffee
	Black teas
	Green, white, or oolong teas
	Herbal teas
	Soft drinks or carbonated drinks
	Just plain water
	Other

Staying Healthy

Keep Your Body in Good Health

Even though we want to be always happy, healthy, and energized, some times, for some reason, we feel less than great. Below are some suggestions for staying healthy and when your body is sick, for recovering faster.

Some Tips:

Get enough rest. Sleep is a basic need for survival, but often we forget and put our other “needs” first. If you’re feeling tired, stressed, or fatigued, book yourself some extra rest over the next few days. Sleep will give your body the chance to heal, recover any imbalances, and fight off disease.
Drink lots of water. Another simple thing we often forget. Aim for 6-8 full glasses of purified or spring (not tap) water. Water aids the body’s cleansing system to flush out toxins and waste.
Vitamins: Both Vitamin C and Zinc have been found to fortify the immune system. Echinacea and other herbal teas can also help. These vitamins can also be part of your healing diet (found below).
Eat right. Some people separate illness and diet into separate categories and don’t give credence to the idea that one may affect the other. These days more reasearch is linking the two, although it is still difficult to establish exactly to what degree they are connected. Regardless, when I am sick, I would rather not risk any harm on account of the food I am eating. Therefore, cut back on meat and dairy (injected dyes and hormones are not helpful; dairy causes more mucuous production) and load up on fresh, fruits and vegetables (organic if possible) which are filled with nutrients that enhance and help create a state of bodily health.
Keep clean. Cleanliness is taught in the limbs of yoga and can be very effective tool for healing and change. Hot baths, steam roooms, and saunas are known for their immune-supporting effects, but even simple showers or baths twice a day will affect your energy and personal health. If you are sick, keep yourself clean by washing regularly, brushing your teeth, washing your hands, etc. and also give your body environmental support by washing your clothes, bedding, linens, and towels. We are constantly shedding dead skin cells and while we are sick germs are present in the air we breath and on our skin. By keeping things clean, we get rid of excess pathogens and free the body to heal more rapidly.

Some Other Tips:

Treat illness as something temporary. Have patience with yourself and your body but also become a “victim” to the weakness (this is happening to me). Instead give yourself the power to learn, heal, and move forward (what can I do to get over this more quickly?).
Have the right attitude. If you love and care for your body, it will become more happy and healthy. Knowing that your body is not “you” (your true self), accept your body and learn to listen and respond to its needs. By providing it with love and the things listed above, your body will thank you with increased resilience, faster recovery, and better appearance.
Use the experience as a teacher. In my experience, illness or injury may be a result (direct or indirect) from past choices but it also brings a lesson. When we are sick or injured, we may ask, “Why did this happen?” If we truly reflect and try to understand the cause, we can use our knowledge to grow through the experience.

All the best in health and peace,

Kaity