by Ann E. Smith

Created on: December 25, 2009

If you think of your body as a machine, you can understand that it needs proper care to operate at its fullest capacity. And a huge part of our daily care of the human machine is done through diet and exercise. In any given day, we make a number of choices around diet and exercise that help our bodies function and run. Sometimes the choices are good; sometimes they are not so good.

If you are looking to take better care of yourself, below are a few simple tips around exercise and diet. Your goal should be to take good care of yourself most of the time, allowing an occasional spurge. While balance is not easy to attain, those who master it likely have more inner peace. And their bodies and minds likely reflect that.

* Seek to eat a balanced diet

First of all, seek to eat a relatively balanced diet. While there are thousands of books and countless magazine articles on this topic, you can simplify it to some degree. Strive to make nutritious choices whenever possible. Your diet should consist of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains.

Avoid sugar and alcohol in excess. Try to eat more whole foods, and fewer processed ones. Make adjustments to your cooking methods, so that you are using techniques that support your goals. For example, use moderate amounts of olive oil when preparing certain vegetables, as opposed to saturating the foods in butter.

Make a daily commitment to eat a balanced diet. Educate yourself on what that means. And figure out what works best for you. You know your body better than anyone else, and you know how it responds to certain foods. You can also seek the counsel of a nutritionist if you need some help in figuring out a diet that works for you.

* Get plenty of exercise

Exercise is good for our bodies and our minds. Staying active helps keep us alert. It helps us burn off calories and stay fit. And it helps improve our moods, as stress is reduced and endorphins are released.

As a big part of taking care of the human machine, be sure to get plenty of exercise. You can target a certain number of days to work out each week. But also make conscious choices to keep moving throughout the day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Choose to park farther away from the supermarket entrance. Get engaged in home improvement. Take a hike on a pretty Saturday afternoon instead of watching a movie.

* Remain committed to self-care

Finally, you may know all of these things intellectually but still fail to practice good self-care. It is up to you to make it a priority to care for the human machine. And you need to renew your commitment to self-care each day. Then take action to show your commitment. It may not always be easy, but it is certainly well worth it. Diet and exercise are important, and the rewards for paying close attention to them can be truly great.

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