Not A License To Get Reckless

February 2, 2010 · Filed under General · Tagged health, new start, running

Last month, my cousin-in-law died at a young age of forty-nine, a victim of a heart attack.  It had been quite a while since he began experiencing chest pains.  He used to engage in a walking exercise program.  But when he felt better, he started indulging in excesses anew.  The eating splurges that came with the recent holidays finally took a heavy toll on his already fragile heart.

I began to ask myself if I am better off physically than he was.  Maybe yes, since I am into running.  But again, this is nothing to gloat about.  Running does give you an edge in terms of physical fitness, but this does not give you the go signal to eat anything you wish or crave for.  In fact, the opposite seems to apply more.  Engaging in running makes you more careful of what you eat, which is not really surprising as this is in consonance with your healthy lifestyle.  We are what we eat, and runners are no exception.     

Runners should be aware that their passion is only one component to a healthier body.  The other components are summed up in the acronym NEW START.

N – nutrition.  Raw is better.  Raw food contains all the enzymes you need to help strengthen your immune system.

E – exercise.  This is where running and other forms of cardiovascular activities come in.

W – water.  You need to drink at least 10 glasses of water each day to stay hydrated.  Drink more when you exercise.

S – sunlight.  Sunlight is the best source of Vitamin D.  Recent studies have proven the role that Vitamin D plays in combating many chronic diseases.  You need an exposure of about 20 minutes for the body to produce its daily Vitamin D requirement.  This is based on the optimal time (less time needed) for sun exposure, which is from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. 

T – temperance.  This is a test of one’s will and resolve.  This means abstinence from drugs, alcohol, caffeine, smoking and sugar.

A – air.  Oxygen is essential for the body’s normal functioning.  You need fresh, clean air to revitalize the cells in your body.

R – rest.  Rest allows your body to rejuvenate.  Enough sleep at the right time allows the body to reap the full benefits of hormones.  Healing hormones are released between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.

T – trust in God.  The body will not heal itself if you do not believe that it will do so.  You need to have full trust and confidence in the power of the Almighty to do the things that are deemed impossible by man.

Running is good for the body.  There is no need to debate about this, as numerous studies have proven this to be true.  But if you believe that running is a panacea, think again.