N.E.W.S.T.A.R.T for a new year

Food has the power to both heal and destroy our bodies. I have come across many people who have fallen into the trap of eating a poor diet and are now seeking knowledge on how to change the way they eat. Eating healthily is good, but for optimum health it has to go hand in hand with some other factors. 
 
NEWSTART history 
In the early 1970s a group of people dreamed of having a non-profit health centre for the prevention and treatment of degenerative disease. Through the generosity of many Seventh-day Adventists in giving work time and money, the Weimar Institute of Health and Education was opened in May 1978. What is now known all over the world as the NEWSTART Principles, was only a list of the modalities of healing. During the first session, one of the health guests put the principles into the easily remembered NEWSTART acronym which stands for Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunshine, Air, Rest, Trust in Divine Power.
 
NUTRITION
Are you eating healthily? To check if you are, keep a food diary for a week and then analyse it. In addition have a look at the ingredients of what you are eating. Some products are marketed to look healthy but when you read the ingredients is tells a different story 
 
EXERCISE
Now you don't have to be the next Jessica Ennis or Ussain Bolt, but it's important to start slow and increase the amount of exercise that you do. Even if it's only for 20 mins a day to start with - as the Nike slogan says "Just Do It".

WATER
I recently mentioned to a friend of mine that I had been feeling really tired for the past few weeks, the response was "are you drinking enough water " I thought about it and then challenged myself to start drinking 2 litres of water per day and within a week I stopped feeling tired. This is not to say that this is the cure for everyone feeling tired, but drinking water has so many great health benefits 
 
SUNLIGHT
Ok so England is not going to win many prizes for the amount of sunshine we have. But try to get your vitamin D fix at least once a year.  Book a holiday in the sun, there are so many wonderful options these days. You can also make an effort to get outside regularly in the daylight.
 
TEMPERANCE
When enough is enough, that is when or rather just before then is the time to stop. All things in moderation.
 
  
AIR
Simple deep breathing to help relax and to get fresh air into your lungs is invaluable. Take time to do some deep breathing - breath in for 8 secs and then breath out slowly for 8 secs. Repeat this process approx. 10-12 times
 
 
REST
My father has been telling me for years "Susanne there is no substitute for rest"
I can't disagree with that.
 
TRUST IN DIVINE POWER
According to Michael Olpin in his book entitled Stress Management For Life states that people who trust in a divine source tend to be much more relaxed.
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