Ten Features of a Natural, Healthy Lifestyle

What is a natural, healthy lifestyle? It is difficult to define exactly what a natural, healthy lifestyle is as opinions vary.I have found that the terms 'natural' lifestyle and 'healthy' lifestyle are almost synonymous in meaning as a natural lifestyle is a healthy lifestyle. After considering the topic for some time, I have come up with ten features that possibly contribute to natural, healthy living as well as to a happy life.

Ten Features of a Natural, Healthy Lifestyle

1) One of the most obvious features of a natural and healthy lifestyle is spending time in nature.So many of us live in cities because of work responsibilities. We can now shut ourselves away in heated or air-conditioned rooms, in front of computers and be completely cut off from what the weather is doing outside. We run around to keep up with appointments. It is important to spend time in the local park or at the beach or in the mountains if possible, to slow down and feel the earth or sand under our feet, to relax and enjoy the natural world around us and to have a break from the computer and mobile phone. This helps to keep us balanced.

2) The consumption of organic food is becoming increasingly important to many people as we become more concerned about chemicals and pesticides in our environment. Eating organic food supports local communities and helps us to avoid GMOs. ( See previous post. 'Ten Good Reasons to Choose Organic Food.') Access to a good water supply is also important with more people turning to distilled water or collecting rainwater.

3) I have always believed in the idea of  what is right for you might not be right for me. I certainly think this is true of diet and lifestyle as we are all different. There is alot of confusing information now about which foods are healthy and which are not and there are so many different diets but I think the truth is that a food that could be beneficial for one person could be detrimental to someone else and the practise of following a particular diet just because it is supposed to be healthy, even more so. This has long been understood in Chinese and  Indian ayurvedic medicine and continues to be backed up by studies in epigenetics. It is beneficial to find out and eat what is right for us individually.

4) Not only is eating organic food part of a healthy, natural lifestyle, but also using organic products such as skin care products, oils and perfumes and also organic materials, such as cotton. For example,non-organic cotton uses more pesticides than any other major crop.The cultivation of organic cotton promotes and enhances biodiversity as well as protects surface and ground water quality. It reduces the risk in insect and disease control by replacing insecticide with the manipulation of the ecosystem and eliminates the use of toxic chemicals used in the production of non-organic cotton.

5) It goes without saying that awareness and concern about the environment is part of a natural , healthy lifestyle and even though this is a vast topic, we can all do our bit to help, whether it is through recycling or cultivating our own organic garden. It all counts.

The five points above deal with the outer aspects of a natural, healthy lifestyle but we can also attend to our inner world.

6) Most people regard a spiritual practise as being part of a natural, healthy lifestyle.

7) Being true to ourselves leads to greater happiness. Society has created so many boxes for us to fit into that being true to ourselves can be quite a challenge but one that is worth it.

8) We all have our unique talents and abilities and the development and use of these helps us make our contribution to the world. For many, an important part of a natural and definitely a healthy lifestyle is to spend time engaged in activities we enjoy and it is even better if we can work doing something we love and express our life that way.

9) With all the information available now about health and lifestyle, even though it can be confusing at times, it is important that we all take responsibility for ourselves. Yes, there are doctors, scientists, naturopaths and many different kinds of 'experts' out there but more and more people are becomng aware of the need to take responsibility and not blindly follow their advice. Our lives and decsions are ultimately our responsibility, although there is nothing wrong with turning to the 'experts' for advice when we need it. The same applies to relationships with others and now the time for blame and co-dependency has passed. This is time of self-responsibility.

10) Another feature that leads to happiness and could be considered as part of a healthy, natural lifestyle is having supportive, friendships and interacting with the community. We are social beings and it is nice to have virtual friends but healthy interaction with the people around us is good too. Some people find it beneficial to live among a group of like-minded people.

Any more suggestions about what constitutes a natural, healthy lifestyle??