What makes a man (or woman, for that matter) strong? What enables an individual to walk for long distances or lift heavy objects seemingly with little effort? What makes it possible for some people to survive seemingly insurmountable odds?

The answer lies in physical fitness, health and wellness. The physically fit individual is one who incorporates balance into his or her life through the ideal mix of proper nutrition, regular exercise and adequate amounts of rest. The person who is healthy and well is marked by the ability to adapt to stressful situations and nurture lasting relationships. He or she is able to cope, adapt, maintain a sense of humor, care for himself or herself and is able to function in ways that society considers acceptable and productive.

Health and nutrition experts agree that a well-balanced diet is one that is composed of natural unprocessed foods. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, lean meat and seafood in proper amounts comprise the healthy diet. Health eating is also more than choosing the right kinds of foods. It also means eating food well. Eating more frequent meals has largely been advocated as being healthier for keeping in shape than the traditional three large meals in a day. The quality of a repast has also been shown to play a huge role in optimum absorption of nutrients. One must concentrate on the meal, chew food well and partake of it in a relaxing atmosphere to obtain maximum nutritional and psychological benefits.

Where exercise is concerned, there are a variety of regimens to choose from that promote physical fitness, health and wellness. Weight training, Yoga and Pilates are among the most common workouts today. For those who can’t afford a gym membership, bodyweight exercises and fitness videos that can be done at home are also effective alternatives. The whole point is to keep moving for cardiovascular and muscular health.

Everyone has heard the saying,” You are what you eat.” When we are younger we can eat unhealthy foods and seem to get by for a while, but as we grow older, our unhealthy lifestyle will catch up with us in the form of illness and disease. Most of the foods you buy from the grocery store are processed, meaning they are manufactured in a factory and most often contain littler nutritional value. Even though companies will enrich certain foods or put labels that they are all natural, nothing is better than the real thing. Real food is nature’s food and it is what we need to build healthy bodies that are disease free and full of energy.

Real foods consist of most everything on the outer aisles of the grocery store. They include fruits and vegetables, low-fat meats, and dairy products. However, all real foods aren’t equal because most of our the real foods we eat are laced with pesticides, injected with growth hormones, or raised in unwholesome in environments. Therefore, on top of purchasing real foods, you want to buy organic fruits and vegetables and meats or poultry that are farm-raised, cage-free, and without preservatives and other toxic substances.

Below are some more health tips that will help you to eat more nutritiously so you can maintain your health for years to come

Get enough sleep, at least 7 ½ hours per night. Think about how can you make bedtime a daily ritual? Eat organic fruits, vegetables, and meats. It is better to pay a little more for these and eat less of them than eat foods that are toxic to your body. Most conventional produce are sprayed with harmful pesticides and animals that provide our meats are injected with hormones and preservatives. If possible, purchase meats that come from graze fed animals or cage-free chickens. Buy locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, produce in season and grown locally will have the highest nutritional content.

Get enough sleep, at least 7 ½ hours per night. Think about how can you make bedtime a daily ritual? Eat organic fruits, vegetables, and meats. It is better to pay a little more for these and eat less of them than eat foods that are toxic to your body. Most conventional produce are sprayed with harmful pesticides and animals that provide our meats are injected with hormones and preservatives. If possible, purchase meats that come from graze fed animals or cage-free chickens. Buy locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, produce in season and grown locally will have the highest nutritional content.

Digestion is the process by which the body breaks down the food we eat into usable components. Our bodies use food similarly as a car engine uses gas and this gives us the energy needed to live. Immediately after putting food into our mouths digestion has already started; digestion means breaking food down into smaller molecules.

Your body depends on the breakdown of foods to get the nutrients it needs for healthy cells. If food sits too long in the stomach it can become toxic, recalculate throughout the body and cause illness. Follow these guidelines to improve digestion so that your entire body will function at optimal performance.

Digestion affects all facets of health. Your body depends on the breakdown of foods to get the nutrients it needs for healthy cells. If food sits too long in the stomach it can become toxic, recalculate throughout the body and cause illness. Follow these steps to improve digestion so that your entire body will function at optimal performance.

Try eating your meals with chopsticks. Although this may seem frustrating at first, in time you will adjust and learn how to maneuver food with ease and will consume meals slowly and take smaller bites. Eating with chopsticks controls your eating pace and bites size, and forces you to eat with more attention.

Exercise daily to increase movement within your bowels and improve your digestive health. Daily activity improves the natural rhythm of your digestive system and assists in moving food through your digestive system.

Take digestive enzymes with every meal to improve your digestive health. Digestive enzymes improve your nutrient extraction from the foods you consume and aid in the prevention of bloating, gas and digestive distress.

Choose fresh, organic foods instead of canned or boxed foods that contain harsh preservatives and very little nutrients or vitamins. Combine cooked and raw foods, such as a fresh salad and steamed carrots, to incorporate necessary and vital enzymes for proper digestion.

Drink lots of water. Water helps remove toxins from the digestive tract and helps prevent constipation which slows down digestion.