Q: Dear Dr. Mao,
What daily habits might we be surprised to find are negatively affecting our health?
A: The most common for all of us is probably the mechanization and heavy dependency on technology. We rarely give second thought when we now turn on a microwave oven, pop open the cellular phone to our ear, or turn on the television as we sit down for dinner. These are common practices for most families but have many adverse effects on our physical, mental, and emotional health. If you eat a meal in front of the television, you will find that you consume more and are still hungry. Improper sleep habits are another common mistake in today’s fast-paced fun-at-any-cost culture. We decide that if we work hard, then we are going to play hard, too. So we come home late and try to squeeze as much fun into the day as possible without taking the time to realize that our body is intricately linked to the planetary cycles and requires proper rest to rejuvenate and rebuild.
Yet another example of our unhealthy activities is the salad craze. We think that by substituting most of our meals with salads, we are eating healthy and providing a good nutrition for our bodies. It is true that there are benefits to eating fresh vegetables and greens. However, eating too much raw food is increasingly difficult on our digestive tract and tends to cause digestive problems.
A good way to promote physical vitality, mental clarity and strong immunity is by supplementing a healthy lifestyle with herbal formulas such as the “Five Elements of Health” and “High Performance” by Traditions of Tao. Of course, discuss with your physician before beginning any new health regime.
