It's no secret that we live in a toxic world. The sad irony of the situation is that everyone is looking for the fountain of youth in a world where the only fountains we have access to are contaminated with chlorine, fluoride, and every other toxic chemical brew under the sun. The world's leading healers from every indigenous culture will tell you that the key to everlasting health is a three-limbed model of mental, spiritual, and physical nurturing, the end goal of which is ultimate balance. In western culture we call this anomaly disease prevention. The three-limbs correlate as the following 1) detoxification, 2) complete nutritional conciliation accompanied with regular physical exercise 3) total psychological and spiritual symbiosis via stress control, meditation, and body/mind vindication . 

This body, mind, and spiritual model for happiness is not new, in fact, it is one of the oldest models in religious, medical and psycho-spiritual history. The model is actually quite simplistic in juxtaposition to the desultory backdrop of an information-inundated, chemically ADD-invoking, homogenized complex modern world. Unfortunately, we westerners have the indelible talent of complicating almost everything that we deem worthy enough to methodically delve into.  We relish in the drama of materializing the value of wealth, and devaluing the presence of self-ingenuity and the commitment to persevere. We have traded the cavalier endeavors of study, commitment, and application to propagate the instantaneous ad-driven and propaganda-fueled google default for our professional and personal enrichment and education. Instant gratification and convenience has replaced hard work and perseverance. Something that was once as simple as reconnecting to nature and looking to our inner self for strength, has been replaced and diminished by looking externally for situational and material happiness.

The paradox of living in the age of information is that instead of being "tuned in" we have all now "checked out" in pursuit of a plastic and unreachable goal of perfection, that has, since birth been inserted and conditioned into our consumerist- washed brains: that the more money and power we have, the more fulfilled lives we will lead.  But to spare your eyes from glossing over and my hands from cramping, I will say this: happiness, however we may define it, is much closer than we think. 

And so the question should not be: how do we live in the real world in this crazy and overly-idealistic way? The question should be: How do we live in this crazy world in a real way? In my book, physical, mental, and spiritual vindication are completely and irrevocably intertwined. And the first step in that three-limbed equation is physical health. But the fact of the matter, is that most people do not consider their health until something has gone terribly awry; then it's the only thing they can think about.  Disease prevention, a top priority in many eastern cultures, is just now in the past two decades or so, becoming successfully integrated into our western medical culture. The symbiotic amalgamation of western and eastern medical philosophies will inevitably change the future of the medical frontier as we know it; the marriage of the two converging rather than diverging for a complementary, holistic approach to the human body's emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.

According to the world's most famous and in-demand naturopathic doctors, including world-renowned Dr. Brian and Dr. Anna Maria Clement, it has been discovered (and scientifically proven) that there are basic steps we can take to boost our physical and mental health to a whole new level. Here are just a few simple and demonstrable habits we can pick up on a daily or weekly basis to become pro-active about claiming our health and longevity. We are empowered as human beings to take back control of our health, and therefore our happiness! Granted, a lot of these things are common sense, but in this day and age, I think it's not unfair to assume that a lot of our common sense has been thrown out with the bathwater.

1.     Water- Make sure to drink the equivalent of one-half your body weight in ounces per day, about 8-10 glasses of filtered or spring water. Be weary of bottled water, as BPA leaches into the drinking water when water heats up as it gets shipped. You can distill your own water, or drink natural spring water in glass bottles. If you can afford a water purification system, Wellness Water is the way to go.

2.     Nutrition- Get the earth back in your food chain. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. Choose organic whenever possible. If you can, try to aim for 50% raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, and greens in your diet. Raw foods are the most easily digestible, nutritionally whole and complete foods on the planet. If struggling with health issues, then a 100% raw organic vegan diet is recommended. Eat regular meals in a relaxed environment. 

      CHEW YOUR FOOD. Eat whole foods and avoid processed and refined "food". Include healthy fats (omega 3,6,9), which you can always supplement with Udo's oil (can find at any whole foods or natural foods store in the refrigerated supplement section).  Minimize intake of meat, dairy, refined sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and cooked starches, as these foods both offset the pH balance of your body (making it far too acidic), as well as severely clog the colon, which is essential to keep flowing smoothly for optimal health.

• Supplements- Be careful to steer clear of less-than reputable companies selling pharmaceutical-grade, chemically-laden brews that are completely non-absorbable and in some cases even dangerous. I implicitly trust the company LifeGive, as this brand of supplements is manufactured and distributed through Dr. Brian Clement's Hippocrates Health Institute (the world's preeminent leader in the field of natural and complementary health care and education since 1956).

• Wheatgrass- try to ingest 2oz of wheatgrass at least once a week, if not once or twice a day. If you are doing nothing else with your diet or lifestyle, just doing this once a day will completely turn your life around for the better. Visit here to read more about the incredible benefits of wheatgrass. 

• Enzymes- More and more, research is showing that enzymes are quite literally the missing link to solving the ever-present quagmire of anti-aging and reversing the aging process. Since we are born with only a certain number of enzymes at birth, the depletion of our bodies' enzyme reserves is believed to be the main cause of aging and disease. Without enzymes our bodies cannot properly digest food, combat illness, defend against immune system assaults, repair old damage, or fight off serious inflammatory diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. You can buy LifeGive's digestive enzymes online here.

• Miraculous Supplements: The Algaes- Every where you turn you can't help but read about "superfoods". "Superfoods this" and "superfoods that", everywhere you look! There is no such thing as a superfood people, there's just nutritious food, and junk food. EXCEPT for the algaes. Spirulina, Chorella, and Blue-Green Algae are quite literally the most healing, oxygen and enzymatically-rich, phyto-nutrient-filled miracles on the face of the earth. Blue-Green algae was the first life form on this planet, serving as the original DNA structure for all subsidiary life on the planet, and is therefore the most complete. Particularly blue-green algae has been scientifically proven to promote optimal brain function, as well as reverse cases of ADD/ADHD and learning disabilities at a jaw-dropping rate.

3.     Blood sugar regulation- Blood sugar disregulation is a very common and it has serious health consequences, including diabetes, heart disease, infertility, obesity and more. Blood sugar disregulation can be combated by eating small, more frequent meals that contain protein/fiber/healthy fats, avoiding simple sugars and saturated fats, and by engaging in regular exercise.

4.     Healthy Digestion- A healthy digestive system is essential for absorbing nutrients, excreting waste, keeping unwanted substances/pathogens out of the body, and maintaining a healthy immune system and nervous system. Avoiding food sensitivities and supporting the system with natural digestive aids and probiotics are keys to a healthy gastrointestinal tract (the best probiotic supplement is manfuctured by LifeGive), but you can also get good probiotics by eating fermented foods such as rejuvelac or sauerkraut.

5.     Elimination/Cleansing- Ridding the body of its normal metabolic waste in addition to the toxins accumulated from the enviroment is essential to proper functioning. Ground flax seeds, castor oil packs, skin brushing, sweating (saunas or exercise) support healthy elimination. Another great tactic (kids cover your ears) are weekly enemas, they clean and hydrate the colon for optimal functionality.

6.     Movement/Exercise-  Movement is important for SOO many reasons-stress reduction, circulation/cardiovascular health, weight control, mood, sleep, blood sugar, bowel function, and respiratory health are all affected. 

      Getting outside and moving daily is a great goal. Exercise is especially important for your brain's ability to produce certain "happiness" hormones; so yes, those people jogging down the side of the road at dusk actually ARE on drugs (well, organically-induced naturally occurring hormones, but nevertheless...)

7.     Sleep- A good night's sleep will improve your memory and immune system, and is essential to balancing your hormonal systems, which rely on a circadian rhythm. Get between 7-8 hours of sleep in absolute darkness every night for optimal wellness.

8.     Stress Reduction- An essential component of healthy living, stress reduction can come in many forms, including breathing exercises, medication, yoga, tai chi, visualization, music, walking in nature, communing with pets, and more. I don't know about you, but parking my butt in front of the TV or on a couch with a good book for an hour or so releases a ton of stress and allows me to unwind every night.

9.     Play/Spirit-Do something FUN every day!!! Laughter is essential for stress management and a healthy heart. Connection with something beyond oneself is also a vital part of health and well-being. If that means setting aside one hour out of every day to browse through trashy gossip magazines then so be it! Or it could be something as simple as grooming yourself, to something spontaneous like trying out that new pole-dancing cardio class your gym is offering!

10. Sunshine Therapy. 

      Get outside in the sun daily for optimal brain function, immune function, cancer prevention, mood, bone health etc. You will find no Vitamin D supplement on the market that is a better substitute then pure unadulterated sunlight. Be careful not to go into direct sunlight. Try to go out between 9-11am, or 2 hours before sunset, and when using sunscreen, make sure to use only ORGANIC sunscreen such as Aubrey Organics (can be found at Whole Foods or natural health food stores!)