It has been generally asserted that health is wealth.  Of
course, good health is encouraged in the Bible.  God himself wants humanity to be healthy for several reasons which are listed in the Third Epistle of John verse two.  In order to keep soul and spirit in unity of purpose, the need for solid health cannot be overstressed.  Many a times, people become sick, weak and deteriorate in health due to non-challant attitude towards basic natural guidelines to enhance longevity.
According to A.C. Selmon in ‘The Menace of Sic Person’ in The New Health and Longevity, said that, the sick person is often a menace to everyone in his immediate neighbourhood, because many diseases are easily carried from one person to another. It was further emphasized that “Life is Our Great Treasure”.  Life is man’s most valuable possession, and next in order of value is health.  Without health, life is deprived of all its usefulness.
If the body is not in good health, one cannot go about at will, we cannot do what we enjoy doing, we cannot eat the food we enjoy eating.
To be healthier and stronger several artificial and chemical drugs could be avoided and longevity would be enhanced if appropriate attention is given to some natural remedies that would cost humanity nothing but obedience and regular practice.  After all our first parents, Adam and Eve, Noah, Methuselah, Abraham, Moses just to mention but a few depended on natural drugs and of course they lived long and strong during their days.
If we must remain healthy and strong we must adhere to the eight fundamental health principles.
Of course, the eight health rules are summarized in an acronym known as ‘newstart’.  Newstart will enhance a fuller and better understanding of the principles.
Whatever that is taken into the body system either solid or liquid has its merits and demerits which are of great importance to a healthy living.  Good and balanced nutrition required to keep body, soul and spirit together in good health.  The body needs constant nurturing and maintenance, hence the need for good nutrition.
A common adage has it that “all work without play makes John a dull boy”.  However, it is unfortunate that some people work and appear like monuments or lifeless objects.  In the education sector, for example, there is of time earmarked for recreation which is popularly known and called recess time. Irrespective of the demand for high and effective productivity, there is needed to exercise to strengthen the arteries of the body and enhance further inputs in life.  Therefore, the importance of exercise cannot be over-stressed.  For instance, at a spot jogging, short and long distance trekking, round-about turning, stretching legs and hands, sharp turning of the neck vertically, horizontally, left and right, bending sideways and several other methods of exercise would keep the body and soul agile for effective and result-oriented performances.
This is one of the natural gifts that do numerous healing in the body system but so neglected by many people. It has more value than the soft drinks and beverage we take.  Water flushes a lot of impurities in human bowel. In other words, water dispels ugly elements hence it is advisable to take at least eight (8) glasses (1litre) of water on daily basis, especially in the early hours of the morning and late in the night before bed time.  However, the water must be portable.  Water is necessary for both internal and external cleansing which enhances longevity.
Another natural gift to mankind is the sunlight.  With all medical proofs, the sunlight gives vitamin ‘C’ within the hours of 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.   Therefore, to maintain a healthy life, the body should be exposed to sunlight as stipulated in the early hours of the morning period.  You can identify other areas the sunlight play vital roles in human environment and adapt to them.
In Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary, Deluxe Encyclopedic Edition at page 1291, Professor Allen Walker Read describes temperance as “The state of quality of being temperate, habitual moderation especially the principles of any appetite.  The principle and practice of total abstinence from intoxicants, observing moderation or self-control”.  People should endeavour to be temperate n all spheres of life and not to indulge in acts that are capable of distorting body and soul which may jepoardise adequate concentration of the body system.
Obviously, without air there is no life. It is important that people should always find themselves where they can in hate fresh air. Air is essential for healthy living.  Dusty and stuffy environment should be avoided by all means.  A person may live several weeks without food and several days without water, but death occurs in a few moments if one gets insufficient car.  This indicates how vital air is to the body.
We breathe the air into our lungs to obtain the oxygen that the air contains Oxygen is a gas which cannot be seen. It passes into the blood and is carried to all parts of the body to maintain life and produce heat and energy.  Some remedies to fresh air are as follows: (a) the house should be well ventilated, day and night.  (b) expose your body to fresh air as much as possible and allow air enter freely. (c) avoid breathing dusty air. (d) always breathe through the nose. (e) practice deep breathing several times daily. (f) avoid breathing state air under the bed covers, etc.
People should not be workerhaulic.  An engine in constant use without servicing will definitely breakdown.  So, there is need to have some rest. Imagine the Creator  of the world who created the universe and everything therein and rested on the seventh day. We also should find time to rest.
We should work and rest in order not to breakdown. Rest could be equated with exercising the body for healthier living. God Himself rested on the seventh-day after creation.  Genesis 1:31 and 2:1-3.
This is the climax of all the other seven (7) items as stipulated above. The importance of good nutrition, exercising the body, drinking adequate and clean water, exposing the body to sunlight, observing temperance to avoid some careless acts, taking unpolluted air and resting when appropriate cannot be effective without adequate trust in God, who has given mankind these privileges and grace to live and survive on earth.
Trusting in the divine power of God, the Great Provider of all things will obviously empower every human being to obey health rules for longevity and effective service delivery even in the world of work.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3v5,6).
Our lives are short because of disobedience self, contentment and pride.  It therefore behoves one to imbibe Newstart for a healthier and stronger living in our society.
Ominyanwa, public affairs analyst writes from Port Harcourt.

Goddey Ominyanwa