* Do you concentrate on and have thoughts of good health?
OR…
* Do you think more about illness, disease, germs, and viruses?

Do you realize that your mental attitude has much to do with your physical well being? This is great news, because it means you have a lot of control over your health. So then, what are some of the things you should be thinking about and concentrating on to build and maintain your health?

1. Eat a good balanced diet. The advice your mother always gave you is still true and reliable. Include lots of green and yellow vegetables (5 servings a day), whole grains, protein foods like chicken, fish, turkey, and some beef and pork.

2. Go easy on refined sugar, pop, candy, cake, ice cream, fast foods and junk foods.

3. Take a good hefty multivitamin/mineral supplement.
4. Eat 3 meals a day. Don’t over-eat. Try stopping while you are still a little hungry.

5. Do some walking or other cardiovascular exercise at least three times a week. Weight lifting builds muscles and strong bones.

6. Do deep breathing exercises, upper back and abdominal exercises at least four times a week.

7. Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative and don’t mess with Mr. In-between.

8. Read a good devotional and pray every day.

9. Include chiropractic care as part of your maintenance plan.

Do not do any of the above, if…

1. If you enjoy being sick half the time.

2. If you don’t mind the prospect of having more and more sickness as you grow older.

3. If you don’t mind having to make more and more medications year after year.

4. If you don’t mind the side effects (sometimes lethal) of medications or combinations of medications.

5. If you don’t mind the thought of unnecessary surgeries in the future.

6. If you don’t mind dealing more and more with HMOs, insurance companies, the government, and filling out reams of forms.

7. If you don’t mind spending more and more time in medical doctors’ offices and hospitals.

8. If you don’t mind putting your family through more and more stress and concern.

9. If you don’t mind missing out on a happy, productive, useful life.

10. If you don’t mind going to an early grave.

11. If you don’t mind being unattractive to the opposite sex.

Well, it’s all up to you now. It’s your choice.

This is not to say that we don’t need healthcare providers from time to time. They should definitely be a part of your health maintenance plan. But the most important part of your plan for good health should be a positive mind set.

This has been an unpaid announcement.

Copyright, Dr. Harold E. Martin, D.C., July 1999