5 Steps to a Healthy, Happy You

• 1). Relax Your Mind.
  Stress not only can cause emotional symptoms such as anxiety and depression, but it can also bring on physical symptoms like back pain, muscle tension, indigestion and shortness of breath. Take 20 minutes a day to sit in a quiet place and breathe. Listen to soothing music, a meditation CD, or sit under a tree. Breathe in and out, slowly and deeply through your nose. With practice you will find that it is possible to quiet your mind and just be.
  
  
• 2). Move Your Body.
  Thirty minutes a day, just enough so your heart beats faster, your breath is stimulated and you break a sweat. This keeps your heart healthy, releases toxins and produces healthy endorphins, improving body and spirit.
  
  
• 3). Eat Whole Foods.
  Whole foods are food that have not been processed. They don't contain synthetic, artificial ingredients or preservatives and are naturally rich in nutrients. Many whole foods contain omega-3 fatty acids, important fats that help your body eliminate trans fat. These foods contain active plant-food components called phytochemicals, powerful antioxidants found in tomatoes, carrots, squash and berries. Unlike processed foods, whole foods contain fiber, which helps keep the digestive tract moving and lowers blood cholesterol. According to nutritionist Julie Daniluk, "Phytochemicals have the ability to alter enzyme functioning in a way that helps stave off disease."
  
  
• 4). Spend Time with Friends.
  Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health cited brain health as being much better in those who maintained strong social ties. "Staying socially active lowers stress levels," Rebecca G. Adams, a professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina," stated. "Friendship has a bigger impact on our psychological well-being than family relationships."
  
  
• 5). Have a Good Laugh.
  Dr. Lee Berk and researcher Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University published studies as to the effect of laughter on the immune system. They discovered that laughter raised the levels of infection-fighting T-cells, lowered blood pressure and boosted the immune system.