Living a vital life really isn’t all that complicated.  It’s natural for our bodies to be healthy and heal quickly when things go awry.  Eat well. Move. Manage stress.  Avoid poisons.

Virtually all disease results from lifestyle choices.  Even a genetic predisposition to a disease doesn’t mean you’re doomed to experience the disease – environment plays a major role in whether or not a gene is expressed (you can read more about this in The Biology of Belief).

For example, a friend of mine’s father and uncle (brothers) both died of heart attacks in their early 50’s.  Other members of his family have heart disease and it’s likely he has a genetic predisposition to it himself.  However, he’s never had a problem.  He has no trace of heart disease well beyond the age his father was when he died.  The deck was stacked against him, but he found ways to even the odds.

 He hasn’t been a “health nut”. But he has paid attention to some factors we know affect the risk of heart disease.  He never smoked (his father and uncle both did).  He exercises regularly.  He keeps his weight normal and his cholesterol low.  All in all, he’s done every thing he can to make it likely he’ll see his grand kids grow up, something his father didn’t have the chance to do.

The principles are simple – diet, exercise, no poisons (like cigarettes).  Add a healthy mental attitude, stress hardiness, a few friends and you have the recipe for vital living.

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