The Virtue of Health
Posted by G G on January 4, 2009
First, let me say Happy New Year to everyone! May this new year bring you all of the blessings you need. I thought a good topic to do a blogpost on was a resolution that I made for this new year of 2009. I made a resolution to dedicate myself to getting healthier in general. Believe it or not, I see good health as a spiritual virtue insofar as one can control one’s habits. God tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and that we must care for ourselves as best as possible. I have a list of things that I’ve decided to do for the new year to help keep myself healthier, and I urge others to do the same:
1. Stop drinking all soda, including diet soda, and don’t eat white bread (eat wheat bread). None of that stuff is good for you. I’ve only stopped drinking diet soda over the past few days, and I already feel better. I don’t eat white bread to begin with, but it’s not good for anyone really. Reduce your salt intake as well.
2. If overweight, join Weight Watchers like I did. If you stick to the program, it can work wonders. Don’t do things like Atkins that can cause your body too much trouble.
3. Work on getting more sleep, but not too much. To readjust your sleeping patterns, try melatonin or a temporary sleep aid, but be careful since some of them can become addictive. Consult a doctor first.
4. Take a multivitamin, along with fish oil (with your doctor’s permission of course).
5. Pay attention to your dental health. Brush along the gumlines, floss and use mouthwash. I read a study that suggests a possible link between the plaque on your teeth and the stuff that clogs our arteries.
6. If you smoke, work on quitting. Your doctor can help you find ways to do that, such as nicotine patches or gum, as well as certain prescription drugs like Wellbutrin. If you are an alcoholic, look into Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar program. If you chew tobacco, work on stopping that too. Not only are those habits expensive, but they are dangerous as well.
7. Drink at least 32 oz of water a day.
8. Use Aveeno lotion for rashes and dry skin. It works on me.
9. DON’T use antibacterial soap or anything with triclosan in it. Some scientists think that could be contributing to superbugs like MRSA. Use regular soap instead. In the same vein, don’t take antibiotics unless you really need to (if it’s not a bacterial infection, antibiotics will do no good), and if you do, finish the whole bottle unless told otherwise.
10. Stop drinking coffee and caffeinated beverages. You’ll suffer withdrawal symptoms, but it’ll be worth it in the long run.
Good health habits are virtues not only because they can help us be healthier and thus happier, but because they also benefit other people as well. When we care for ourselves, we can inspire others around us to take care of themselves. Less hospital visits can also reduce insurance premiums and other shared costs, which is a good thing given our economic situation. America is not a very healthy nation right now. While we have great health care and technology, we have high rates of obesity, heart disease, cancer and other such problems. America needs to collectively work on making itself a healthier nation, not only for our own sakes but for the sake of our friends, families and our children, and all those who love us.
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