How to maintain optimal health

Optimal health will make you feel good and ward off illness and disease. Optimal health is a personal choice you must make by taking several different steps to encourage well-being and vitality, according to Corey Sondrup, author of "Reclaiming Your Power: Mastering Optimal Health and Wellness: Physically, Emotionally and Spiritually."

Step 1

Stop smoking. One of the most important steps toward achieving optimal health is to stop smoking and to avoid being exposed to second-hand smoke, according to Andrew Weil, author of "Eight Weeks to Optimum Health." Chemicals in tobacco products can cause damage to your arteries and organs and can lead to several kinds of cancer. Weil writes that there are many effective ways to stop smoking and to speak to your doctor about which one is right for you.

Step 2

Eliminate unhealthy foods from your diet and replace them with healthier choices. Foods with high fat content and a lot of calories are not good for your overall health and well-being. Weil recommends reducing how much red meat you eat and to cut out foods with white flour and sugar. Avoid prepackaged foods, such as cookies, candy, cakes and soda. Add fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains to your diet to ensure that you get enough fiber, vitamins and minerals to encourage optimal health. Lean meats, fish and green tea can also promote ideal health.

Step 3

Sleep enough and stick to a regular bed time routine. Sondrup writes that getting enough rest will enable your body to regenerate itself while you sleep and give you enough energy to face each day. Try to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night in order to achieve optimal health.

Step 4

Add exercise to your daily routine. Physical activity burns calories and keeps your body working efficiently and effectively. Burning enough calories to lose or maintain weight will help you stay healthy, according to Sondrup. Schedule time to take a walk, go to the gym or use home exercise equipment or workout DVDs to get about 30 minutes of exercise every day.

Step 5

Pay attention to your feelings and what causes you to feel stressed. Stress and other harmful emotions, such as jealously, can get in the way of optimal health, according to Sondrup. Record your feelings in a journal so you can identify a pattern that emerges when you are stressed. When you make unhealthy choices you can begin to consciously change your habits to embrace a healthy lifestyle.