Sickness is typically caused by nutritional deficiencies, environmental toxins, abnormal levels of stress, lack of sleep, and/or a bacteria or virus that compromises your immune system due to an unhealthy lifestyle.

Did you know that animals in their wild habitat know by instinct how to live, eat and drink? They know how to fast by natural instinct when they get hurt or sick. Naturally, animals are led to eat what is good for them but humankind eats and drinks anything and everything — consuming the most indigestible concoctions while washing it down with poisonous slops — then they wonder why they are sick and why they do not live their lives in vitality.

“I saw few die of hunger– of eating, a hundred thousand.”
–Benjamin Franklin

It’s because of your bad habits that things start to break down and run inefficiently. Your bad habits enervate (i.e., lacking physical or mental vigor) your body and mind which results in robbing you of your energy! This is an important point: as energy drops and you become enervated, you do not have enough energy for your body to properly cleanse, rebuild, and heal.

Low energy brings on slow functioning in all the the basic eliminative organs: the bowels, kidneys, skin and lungs. There is not enough energy to function at full natural capacity. Poisons of all kinds are not completely flushed out of your body and are deposited inside, slowly building up while wreaking havoc on your body.

Toxins begin to collect in various parts of your body causing illness, aches and pains. Your body flashes warning signals telling you that you are not living the healthy lifestyle that was intended for your body.

Have you taken a step back and analyzed any poor lifestyle habits for the real cause?

“No,” you say, “I caught a cold when I worked too hard when it was wet outside.” or “I get sick because I’m getting older.” Excuse after excuse is given but never the real cause–yourself. You alone are responsible for your aches, pains and sickness.

Unhealthy living over a prolonged periods of time is the reason why you feel burned out, fatigued, and full of aches and pains. Cleanse and rebuild your vitality by natural living, and watch your fatigue vanish!

Do you crave sweets or salty food? Do you drink more than one cup of coffee a day? Smoke tobacco? Drink excess alcohol? Use refined white sugar or eat products that are devitalized (i.e., minimal to no nutritional value)? Is your willpower weak? Who’s the boss of your body, your bad habits? Remember that flesh is dumb and can’t think for you; only strong commitments in action can overcome the bad habits your appetite craves.

If you really crave glorious health, unbelievable strength, tremendous vitality, and a trim, fit body that you will be proud of, then begin working with your body and not against it!

No one can do it for you but yourself…

“When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, strength cannot be exerted, wealth is useless and reason is powerless.” –Herophiles, 300 B.C.

The California Association of Naturopathic Physicians (CANP) offered the following strategies to stay healthy during this stressful time of the year which I’ve also made a few changes/additions:

1) At the first sign of illness, slow down immediately and rest to prevent the illness from taking hold. It is better to stop activity in the short term rather than having your activity stop you.

2) Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Get 8 hours of sleep, relax often, eat moderately, drink plenty of pure water and decrease consumption of alcohol, coffee, and sugar. Sugar almost immediately decreases immune function.

3) Viruses are often passed by touch. Wash your hands frequently and avoid shaking hands with those who are already sick.

4) Eat very lightly at first sign of feeling badly in a non-specific way – it is especially useful to cut back to only fruits and vegetables. Follow your body’s inclination. If you are hungry, eat but in moderation and if not, eat less.

5) Make choices that promote strong immune function. A few examples include: switching from coffee to tea consumption which has antibacterial and antiviral action; eating garlic liberally, for its antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal activity; and adding active yogurt (or kiefer) to your diet as it sets up a beneficial situation (i.e., good bacteria) in the colon, helping to strengthen this underpinning of good health.

6) Useful early homeopathic prevention includes the use of Oscillococcinum or Ferrum phos cell salt for early stages of feverish conditions.  Many times these homeopathic medicines can stop an illness in the early stages.

7) As a prevention measure, take a good high potency multivitamin-mineral from a health food store, naturopathic physician or other natural health practitioner, daily, with at least 1000 mg. vitamin C, 5,000 IU vitamin A (unless pregnant), 400 IU vitamin E, 15 mg. zinc and 25+ mg. of the B vitamins.

8.) Drink one quart of pure water (not distilled) for every 50 pounds of body weight.

9) Take a long, hot bath with a teaspoon of added Eucalyptus or Thyme oil (unless you are taking homeopathic medicines). Towel-dry and then pop into bed for a deep rest.

10) Drink 1-2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar in 8 ounces of filtered water. You can also drink it as a tea by heating the solution up and adding 1-2 teaspoons of honey. Even a pinch of cayenne will make the concoction even more effective to fight the cold.

I can’t take the chance of getting sick; therefore, I use many of the above suggestions to keep my immune system strong and healthy, and so can you!

To Your Fat Loss & Body Transformation,

Von James is a Hollywood Body Transformation Expert who has helped thousands of women and men over the last 12 years, to build toned, sexy bodies via his Extreme Burn Fitness & Eating Lifestyle System.