Did you know there is a method for not only improving your health, but also supercharging your karate?
 
Drink lots of water – Did you know we can survive longer without food than we can water? Water is vital to our health yet many people struggle to drink even one glass per day. Water flushes our internal organs to eliminate wastes and toxins from the body. It’s important we drink 6 to 8 glasses of water per day (more when training) to make sure these nasty energy-zapping toxins are eliminated from our body.
 
Deep Breathing – Breathing plenty of fresh air also has a cleansing affect on our body’s lymph system. Too many people breathe shallow using only a small section of the lungs. Deep diaphragm breathing helps us use the full capacity of our lungs so we become more oxygen efficient. This sends plenty of much needed oxygen and nutrients through our blood system to fuel the muscles; meaning we can train harder for longer and reduce recovery time to a minimum. Taking time out to breathe and relax helps us stay balanced, positive and focused. Try some deep breathing as you get out of bed to centre yourself for the day, you’ll feel great!

Eating Habits – Digesting a large meal is a major drain on our energy so it’s wise to eat smaller amounts more frequently. A smaller meal at night for example will help you awaken feeling well rested and ready to face the opportunities of the new day. On the other hand a large meal at night can interrupt your sleep patterns and have you feeling lethargic, sluggish and foggy headed.   

What To Eat - This is the big question and there are so many influences and opinions available. Most food companies don’t care about your health, they care only for their profits and market share. Clearly our best nutrition comes from the earth and the closer we can get to nature the better our health will be. Processed foods with artificial colors, flavors and preservatives should be replaced with the colors and flavors Mother Nature provides for us. I call this getting back to basics.

Eat for energy rather than taste. Junk food only tastes good because it’s bad for us. Let’s face it we wouldn’t buy it other wise!  Based on the law of Cause and Effect if you eat something that’s good for you, you will have the energy to fuel your activity and move in the direction of optimum health. Yet if we eat for taste alone we’ll struggle for energy then start looking for artificial energy boosters, which moves us onto the perpetual downward spiral of poor health. Illness or wellness doesn’t just arrive one day, it’s the accumulation of our daily habits, and everything counts. The amount of illness in society is alarming; I feel it’s up to us to take better care of our health.  

Start the day with a home-made morning juice. As a suggestion try juicing a handful of fresh carrots, some celery and an apple to get your day off to a good start. After doing this for a while and you’ll have energy all day as long as your diet is good. I’ve read that we don’t get all the nutrients we need from our foods any more and that may be correct, but I know when I eat fresh fruits and vegetables my body responds well, I feel clean and energised. I do supplement with quality Vitamins, Minerals and a herbal formula called Ming Gold because I expect high performance from myself and I know my body can only perform as good as the fuel I feed it.

Sensei Andrew Cook