How to Be Healthy 101

When I was 18 years old, I was blessed to have taken a job at a local juice bar down the street from my home. During the following years, I created a healthy habit and absorbed as much information as I did nutrients.

I know the stigmas attached to juice bars and how a lot of people think they are outrageously priced (which in some cases is very true), or they are just another fad for the "hippy-dippy" crowd. For me, working there changed my life and in turn has given me the knowledge to better the lives of those around me. Now, I feel that it is my duty to share this information with the world, so that anyone can read this article and really begin to discover their best life!

Juices and smoothies. All organic produce. Fruits and vegetables. That is what you are missing in your life. YES. You can still consume meats, cheeses, animal products, grains, and whatever you insist on keeping in your diet. However, I will note that you should be considerate of how much of these ingredients you are putting into your body and do your research on them. You should stay away from processed foods that are not healthy no matter what the label says.

Eating healthy is common sense! Think about what kind of food people consumed hundreds of years ago. Our ancestors ate from the crops, the livestock, the fish in the river, along with berries and seeds that grew naturally. While that sort of lifestyle is no longer available for every modern human being, grocery stores and local farmer's markets are great resources that should never be taken for granted.

I recommend making a habit out of healthy eating in the beginning until you learn to LOVE healthy food. Once you have begun to tip the scales in your favor and you really begin to seen notices in your behavior, energy levels, and sleeping patterns, you will be living in power. You do not need to hire a nutritionist. You do not need a college degree (contrary to popular belief). All you need is some willpower and the desire to be consistent.

How will I be saving you money? I cringe when I hear people say things like, "Eating healthy is just too expensive, I'm perfectly fine with my McDonald's every morning."

The TRUTH of the matter is this: strive to eat two healthy, well-balanced meals a day and I guarantee you spend less money in the long term. The only thing scarier than being in the hospital for a dietary related illness, is the cost of the medical bills you will receive for being there...

But the real fun comes from making money.

If you needed anymore of a reason to eat healthy, let's take the fact wholesome foods feed your brain and actually make you smarter and more productive during the day. It's going to be hard to impress the boss or get that bonus at the end of the month if you're still sluggish from poor foods!

I challenge you to get creative. Go to the supermarket and do the majority of your shopping in the produce sections. Buy a blender and make smoothies every day for breakfast. Fruit smoothies are delicious and nutritious, and the best part about them is that you can't taste the mound of spinach you just threw in there! Let's be real, is there really any better way to eat a pile of raw spinach everyday?

I also recommend juicing your vegetables as well. No, it is not a fad. Yes, it is time consuming and not for the faint of heart. Juicing is a great way to supplement your diet, it does not replace your diet. My tried and true advice to you is to stay sane. Once people get on this kick, they fall out of line one day and eat their favorite pizza. They beat themselves up and forget how well they've bee doing thus far. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO LIVE YOUR LIFE AND EAT WHAT YOU WANT FROM TIME TO TIME. The goal is to be MOSTLY healthy.

Think of your health like the stock market. If two out of the three meals you consume each day are balanced and densely nutritious, that one unhealthy meal a day is not going to kill you. Your stock market is not going to crash, in fact, it will be rising steadily which is very good news for you. It's a win-win method.

Don't believe me? Find out for yourself.

Some great books to get you excited and started in the right direction:

• In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan
• Colon Health: The Key to a Vibrant Life, by Norman Walker. (This man lived for 99 years! I don't believe that is any coincidence.)
• Nourishing Traditions, by Sally Fallon

These are my top three! Discover yours along your journey to better health as you inspire others to do the same!

P.S. There will be periods of time where you will eat relatively unhealthy and struggle to get back on track with yourself. Be positive! The most important thing to remember is that you know how to eat correctly. Most people do not have that luxury and in the end learn the hard way.