Some people have the attitude, “It’s my body, I can do what I like with it”. But the human life is a home for the Holy Spirit.

As such we have a responsibility to nurture and nourish our body to ensure it is in the best possible condition to maintain a loving relationship with God..

If the mind is dulled through sickness then God’s communication is made more difficult and spiritual growth is stunted.

Having vitality and good health helps you understand the Bible and establish a close relationship with God.

Here are 10 practical principles to live a happy, healthy life. All of them are consistent with biblical principles and many of them are directly mentioned in the Bible

Pure air in the lungs does wonderful things for our health. Our lungs are cleaned, the blooad is purified and our brain receives a special “boost” of energy.

Fresh air also soothes the nerves and keeps our mood positive and optimistic.

We spend so much time stuck in the dust and stale air of houses, schools and offices.

It is vital that we ventilate our homes and get out into the fresh air.

Venture out for a morning walk.

Take a stroll down by the seaside.

Or climb a mountain and take a deep breath. You will just feel good!

Life today is hectic. The average day is full of multi- tasking, commitments and deadlines. To fit everything in, we often lose out on rest, relaxation and sleep.

When Jesus said to his disciples, “Come aside … and rest a while” (Mark 6:31), He knew what He was talking about.

The batteries of life need to be recharged. During rest the body is restored and rejuvenated.

The mind becomes calmer and clearer. There is nothing better than waking up refreshed after a good deep sleep.

Experts provide a number of tips for helping us get a good night’s sleep.

Firstly, ensure the sleep environment has a comfortable temperature, is not cluttered with distractions like TVs and radios and make sure you have a good mattress.

Secondly, avoid heavy meals, alcohol, nicotine or caffeine before you go to bed. When you wake up, open the blinds or go out into the sunshine.

If life is too hectic, make sure you take a vacation. At the very least, take time just to chill out in nature and relax for a while.

Jesus gave us the Sabbath rest. This is time for our “whole person” to rest and connect with God, family and friends.

It is important that we get out and feel the sun.

Of course too much sun can result in skin cancer, so we need to be careful.

But exposure to sunlight on our skin produces the very necessary Vitamin D (the sunshine vitamin).

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which strengthens the bones.

Up to 15 minutes of sunlight a day boosts the immune system and helps reduce the risk of cancer.

Sunlight aids mental concentration, gives more energy and can even lower blood pressure.

Sunlight also nurtures our emotions and mind. Tests have shown that the life- giving rays of the sun help people who battle with mood swings and depression (Dr Norman Rosenthal: National Institute of Mental Health).

Our mental attitude to life has a major impact on our overall health.

The Bible says, “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).

Be an optimist and have a good laugh once in a while.

According to author Jane Campsie, “adults laugh on average only 15 times per day while kids enjoy a giggle up to 400 times per day” (De- stress, 2000).

Laughter relieves the symptoms of stress through releasing endorphins from the brain.

According to researchers Dr Lee Berk and Dr William Fry from Loma Linda University, “happy, joyful laughter produces measurable changes in a person’s immune system.”

There are many other ways for you to feel the experience of enjoying life.

Try your hand at one of the arts (play, write or sing music, write a poem or book, create a short film for youtube or paint a picture).

Go down to the beach. Fly a kite. Go shopping with friends. Read a good book.

Just discover what you are passionate about and do it!.

Humans cannot survive for very long without water. The body is at least 60% water and is vital for the daily functioning of the body.

Water transports nutrients to the vital organs of the body and cleanses the body of waste. Water also lubricates our joints and aids in digestion.

The benefits of drinking plenty of water includes: less headaches, enhanced memory, replenished skin, improved immune system, reduction in the risk of some cancers and weight control.

Experts suggest we drink at least 8–10 glasses of water per day.

Water can also be an effective natural treatment for illness.

Hydrotherapy is an ancient form of water treatment that uses the stimuli of hot and cold (along with the sensation of water on the skin).

This can stimulate the immune system, improve circulation and reduce stress.

At the heart of human need is to love and be loved. People who have quality relationships, and regularly experience social time, are likely to be healthier and happier.

To nurture your relationships you need to spend quality time. Try telling those close to you how much they mean to you.

Write them a letter or even a quick SMS message. If you have a disagreement, ensure you don’t carry around a grudge.

Allow yourself to forgive and be forgiven.

Connecting with the community also can enhance health. Try joining a local community group.

Volunteer and help others. Why not create a community garden in your area.

For the Christian the most precious relationship we have is our friendship with God.

As you spend time with Him you will find your whole person health and happiness growing.

At creation God appointed Adam and Eve to do work that involved exercise (Genesis 2:15).

Being active provides a variety of very important benefits to our health. Exercise reduces worry and stress, builds muscle, reduces fat, helps us feel good and reduces the risk of heart disease.

Unfortunately, many of us today have jobs that involve very little exercise.

It is vital that we still make time in our busy bustle to create movement for our body. If you are just starting then begin slowly.

The aim is to get to a point where your heart rate increases while you exercise. Walking is often viewed as the best exercise with an aim of at least 10,000 steps per day.

Exercise is cumulative so even if you move your body for 15 minutes two to four times per day, you will be gaining the benefits of being active.

Most of all, find an activity you really enjoy. You will not only get fit and healthy – you will feel good while you do it.

“And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food…”” (Genesis 1:29)

The original diet that God gave to human beings revolved around whole plant foods. It began with fruits, grains and nuts and expanded to include vegetables (see Genesis 3:18).

A diet based on colourful fruits, vegetables, seeds, legumes and nuts can be very tasty and these foods restore and nourish the body.

Unprocessed plant-based foods have the nutrients that help prevent many chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

They also help maintain a good body weight and help you to feel good.

Man’s original plant-based diet lasted for over 1,500 years.

Throughout that time the average lifespan was 912 years. After the flood, plant foods were obviously quite rare so God allowed meat to be eaten.

There were clear guidelines, however, to ensure health was maintained. God had divided the meats into clean and unclean and He told His people to never eat the unclean.

Also God stipulated that the blood of the meat should be drained out and no animal fat should be eaten (Leviticus 3:17).

In the Bible, God is specific in terms of which foods are unfit for human eating. The clean meats are those that have a split hoof and chew the cud.

The clean fish are those that have scales and fins.

Meats such as pigs, prawns, rats and rabbits should all be avoided as food.

Other meats such as cattle and lambs were approved (Leviticus chapter 11, Deuteronomy chapter 14).

God is so serious about this issue that He even says that those who eat swine will be destroyed by fire at the Second Coming! (Isaiah 66:15-17).

In the last days of earth’s history it still makes sense to eat a plant-based diet.

Unprocessed whole plant foods have the nutrition that people require without the harmful effects of meat.

Growing plant foods also uses less energy and other scarce resources than meat production. They are a smart choice for the environment.

Eating is one of the pleasures of life. God has given us our senses so we can be fascinated by food. He has given variety in texture, colour and flavour so we can enjoy our eating experience.

In his book Food Rules, author Michael Pollan makes an interesting statement: “eating what stands on one leg (mushroom, spinach) is better than what stands on two legs (chicken), which is better than what stands on four legs (cows, pigs).”

“God wants us to take care of our bodies and avoid those things that are damaging.“If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy Him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1 Corinthians 3:17)

Fitness guru Trevor Romain asks the question – if you don’t take care of your body – where are you going to live?

That’s a good question. If we mistreat our bodies we may not get a second chance.

To illustrate: suppose you knew you would only ever have one car in your
life. How would you look after it? W

e would ensure it received good fuel, good oil and good maintenance. We only ever have one body. We should care for our body as if it is the most priceless treasure on earth.

Some of the dangers we need to avoid are:

“Drinking alcohol is unwise and inconsistent with a Christian lifestyle. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1)

There are some studies that suggest positive health benefits from moderate wine consumption.

However, many of these same benefits can be gained from other juices and foods. Also, alcohol can negatively impact on the vital organs of the body.

This includes the brain, liver and kidneys.In 2005, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on new research with a headline, “Sobering study says even one drink can do you harm”.

The research indicated that even small quantities of alcohol, increased the risk of heart disease. Back in the 1990s researchers discovered that “even
just one or two drinks decreases the brain’s ability to gather information … impairs memory, perception, and judgment” (Look Up and Live: A guide to health. P66).

With all the attractions and temptations of the world we need a mind that is clear and in tune with God.

In the Bible, the word “wine” can mean either fermented wine or the pure juice from the grape. God is so definite in His opposition to fermented wine that He says we shouldn’t even look at it! (Proverbs 23:29-32).

The wine that Jesus created at the marriage feast was the “good wine” – the same sort of wine described by the prophet Isaiah as “new wine” that is “found in the cluster” (Isaiah 65:8).

In other words, fresh grape juice. It is hardly likely that Jesus would create barrel loads of alcohol so people could get drunk!

At the last supper Jesus said to His disciples that He would not drink from the “fruit of the vine” again until they meet again in heaven (Matthew 26:29).

Once again, there will not be fermentation and alcohol in heaven – clearly Jesus was drinking the pure grape juice, fresh from the vine.

“Although cigarettes and contemporary drugs are not specifically mentioned in the Bible, the principle of not destroying your body is found in the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 3:17).

Drugs and cigarettes are major curses to the health of people within our community.

The poisons affect the blood and cause a range of life threatening diseases.

God created you to be happy and healthy – the last thing He wants is for you to be smoking or taking drugs.

There are many subtle forms of drugs today that are also causing illness.

Try drinking some herbal teas as a replacement to tea and coffee, or fresh juices as a replacement for high-energy drinks – your body will be better for the change.

“Trusting in God takes away the worry and stress of life. We know that many diseases originate in the mind.

In particular, guilt and fear can affect the whole body. Trusting in God brings inner peace and hope for the future.
Even if we follow the laws of health, it is still God who brings health and healing.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies” (Psalms 103:2-4).

“Some may have a chronic illness and see no relief in sight. If that is you then Jesus gives you the promise, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

God does not always remove sickness. We live in a world damaged by sin.

But if you trust in Jesus, He will sustain you through your challenges.

In the new earth we will have new and perfect bodies and there will be “… no more death, nor sorrow nor crying” (Revelation 21:4).

Take your worry, guilt, fear, addictions and bad habits to Jesus today. Jesus is waiting for you to come just as you are. Ask Him for a new heart and the power to break the harmful habit that is holding you. A happy and healthy life is a journey. Why not take the first step today.