# General habits that treat most health issues For most health issues, the dominant answer is in [eating correctly](body-health-food.md), but other habits can empower your systems. ## Expose yourself to bodily hardship Our body responds *very* well to [measured hardships](hardship.md), especially when we're [actively choosing](mind-decisions.md) to expose ourselves to them. The body works best when it [faces resistance](people-goodlife.md), but most doctors tend to recommend bed rest for recovery. - When we push against something, we get stronger, even when recovering. - Resting after an injury often (even for lower back pain or a heart attack) causes *more* damage. - If you haven't worked out in a while, shorter bursts of rigorous exercise are *far* faster at getting your body in shape again than prolonged low-exposure exercise. ### Expose yourself to diseases Expose yourself to occasional diseases wherever you go. - Exposure to dirt daily can positively affect the bacteria on our skin. - It gives your body updates on various microorganism mutations. The filthiest places with the most diseases in modern society are bathroom sinks, restaurant menus, hot-air hand dryers, and [automotive](autos.md) exteriors. - By contrast, there is comparatively little bacterial growth on many parts of toilets and newly dirtied dishes. ### Expose yourself to adverse weather Adverse weather conditions help our bodies get stronger and healthier: - As long as we're hydrated, hot weather increases blood flow and helps us detox through sweat. Make a habit of using a hot tub, sauna, or taking *extremely* hot showers. Except for freezing weather that can kill us, cold temperatures strengthen our body's various systems through [resistance to the elements](people-changes.md) (especially developing brown fat). - Make a habit of drinking ice-cold water on an empty stomach, placing ice packs on yourself, or taking cold showers and baths. ### Constrain your diet Restricting calorie intake (i.e., fasting or severe dieting) builds stronger muscle and stimulates healthy aging. Consider fasting to improve your overall health: - After 4-8 hours: - Blood sugar falls - All food leaves the stomach - The pancreas is no longer producing insulin - After 12 hours: - All food in the digestive system has been used - The digestive system goes dormant - The body begins a healing process - Glucagon is relaxed, which balances blood sugars - Human growth hormone begins to increase - After 14 hours: - The body has converted to using stored fat as energy - Human growth hormone increases dramatically - After 24 hours: - All glycogen stores are drained - Ketones are released into the blood system - Broken or dysfunctional cells start breaking down (autophagy) - After 36 hours: - Autophagy has increased by 300% - After 48 hours: - Autophagy increases by 30% more - The immune system resets and regenerates - The body's inflammation response is reduced - After 72 hours: - Autophagy maxes out ### Try bloodletting Consider bloodletting (i.e., donating blood) 1-4 times a month to get rid of excess iron in your blood. - To get rid of toxins in the blood that store in fat, donate a double portion of plasma and drink a cup of coffee an hour before going in to donate. ## Get physically active Use a treadmill while doing other activities like reading or [the computer](computers.md). Spend more time [working out](body-exercise.md), which may mean dramatic lifestyle decisions (like an alternative to your [car](autos.md)). Sitting all day increases the risk of dementia, even if you exercise, so stand up and walk around more often or consider a [career change](jobs-1_why.md). - Adults 18-59 should walk 7,000-10,000 steps a day - Adults over 60 should walk 6,000-8,000 steps a day - Anything that gets the walking in, including tracking steps, is worth the effort - Slowly graduating steps by 1,000 each day or over weeks, or participating in walking challenges, can also make it easier Frequently sitting or performing repetitive actions can lead to back pain, and stretching exercises (e.g., yoga, Pilates) fix it *far* better than any type of workout, chiropractors, or drugs/treatment. One of the most important cures for chronic pain is to get moving. - Physical movement releases dopamine, which deadens pain. - Opiates can soften pain, but beyond a certain threshold, more opiates will create a feedback loop that strips away *all* motivation to perform basic activities. - For chronic pain from cancer treatments, get opiates and psychomotor stimulants. - You'll either need to find 2 different doctors to get prescriptions for both, or substitute ADD medication (Ritalin) for the psychomotor stimulants. ## Relax [Stress](mind-feelings-happiness-stress.md) is one of the most significant things that can kill us. - Stay mindful over any [hardships](hardship.md) you're experiencing. - Learn to be [happier](mind-feelings-happiness.md). - [Sleep](sleep.md) 6-9 hours a night, preferably on your side. - Take regular naps throughout the day whenever you're tired. - [Exercise](body-exercise.md) at least a few times a week. Often, our [past trauma](hardship-ptsd.md) can provoke us to constantly obsess about things subconsciously. - Work to build [awareness](mind-awareness.md) of yourself and the things that [trigger](habits.md) any trauma. If you need to, *force* yourself to spend more time in silence or relaxation. Dramatically improve your psychosomatic state by practicing 5 minutes of controlled breathing and [meditation](mind-awareness.md) every morning. If a doctor doesn't ask about your stress levels, they're more serving the role of a drug dealer than a doctor. ## Stay mentally engaged Like the body, our unused brain will atrophy, and over time can show signs of dementia. Maintain healthy brain activity by maintaining nimble finger skills (e.g., typing, hand-sewing, model building, video games). Learn to [stay positive](mind-feelings-happiness.md). - Often, our [fears](mind-feelings-fear.md) of health problems tend to *increase* our chances of anxiety-based health issues like heart attacks. ## Go outdoors more We synthesize vitamin D from sunlight (along with other benefits to our system), so get outside the house more often (preferably in the afternoon when the sun is brightest). - Change your routine to spend more time outside, preferably 30-60 minutes daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - To protect your eyes, wear UV-blocking sunglasses. - Phototherapy had once been a standard medical practice, but it has somehow been forgotten. We most easily fight nearsightedness by looking at things that are far away. Declining eyesight can be offset by exposure to deep red light every morning. Pollution indoors can often be 3-4 times more than outdoors, so open windows whenever you can. - If there's no wind, put fans in the windows to move air faster. Even when you can't open windows or go outside, purify the air. - Keep plenty of houseplants indoors. - Get an air purifier (e.g., IQ Air) and a dehumidifier. To electrically ground your body, walk barefoot on the earth every day. Be careful *what* you're consuming from the environment. - Plenty of nature has been contaminated by unhealthy chemicals. - Nearby industrial regions can introduce trace materials like lead and paint into the water. - Trichloroethylene (TCE) increases the risk of developing Parkinson's Disease. ## Connect with the ground more often Plenty of scientific evidence has proven that our bodies need consistent, direct electrically-conductive contact with the ground. - The ground deionizes free radicals, which can magnify pain of various afflictions and cause cancer. However, the solution doesn't need to be particularly expensive. - For example, you can buy sheets laced with silver or copper and attached to a ground fault power plug. Sleep on the ground instead of a mattress. - It may be less comfortable at first, but you will experience a more positive shift over time. - Sleeping on a hard surface has the added advantage of improving your back. Walk barefoot on a regular basis, preferably outside.