Most people struggle to get out of bed each morning and rely on stimulants to get them through the day. Despite this, they pack each day full of activity and force themselves to do things that they don’t have the energy for. It seems that nearly everyone is guilty of this to some extent which is why it’s so important to realize how much this can affect your health and wellbeing.

Americans are getting an average of less than 7 hours of sleep each night and are busier and more stressed than ever. The physiological burden of dealing with an unprecedented number of activities and responsibilities each day and the excessive amount of stress that they create increases our need for sleep each night, but despite this increased need, many of us are compounding the problem by sleeping less.

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Although many people don’t realize it, a significant amount of human function depends on very subtle electrical currents and electromagnetic fields that are naturally generated by the earth and our own bodies. Electromagnetic fields have a significant influence on our cells, and in turn, the function of critical organs and glands. Unfortunately, many of our modern technological innovations are bombarding us with an alarming amount of unnatural electromagnetic fields that can interfere with these functions and have a significant impact on our health without us even realizing it.

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This catchy Dunkin’ Donuts slogan actually has a lot of truth to it. Most Americans rely on coffee to wake up and get their day started, and some people even need it to get through the afternoon. Are you one of them?

According to the National Coffee Association, more than 50% of Americans consume coffee on a daily basis and drink an average of 3 cups per day. Dunkin’ Donuts, arguably the most popular coffee franchise in America, helps to support this habit by serving nearly 1 billion cups of coffee each year. There’s no doubt that the coffee habit is alive and well, but unfortunately, many people are using it to mask a significant problem that they may not be aware of.

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Despite the fact that many of us are extremely busy, stressed, and deprived of sleep, we somehow manage to watch more television than ever. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re always short on time and why you never seem to accomplish what you’d like, the answer may very well be right in front of your eyes.

According to a report from The Nielson Company, the average American watched a record breaking 151 hours per month of television during the fourth quarter of 2008. This amounts to approximately 35 hours per week which is almost the equivalent of a full time job.

Although television is a convenient source of entertainment, it’s usually mindless, provides little to no meaningful value, and can sometimes be a harmful influence. The following are three reasons why television detracts from the quality of your life and why you should minimize the amount of time that you spend watching it.

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Sometimes it can be a learning experience and a pleasant surprise to do things that fall outside of your typical preferences. This was exactly the case with my vacation last week.

My wife comes from a large family and we all rented a lake house deep within the Adirondacks and about a half hour from the nearest developed town. This is a world apart from the palm trees, hot weather, and easy access to restaurants and entertainment that I typically associate with vacation. As such, I knew this would be a different experience and was unsure about how it would turn out.

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Vacation provides us with something to look forward to and gives us a much needed break from the stressful lives that many of us live, but without proper planning, an eagerly anticipated vacation can leave you feeling depressed and more exhausted than when you left.

A well planned vacation should make you feel refreshed with energy and inspire a positive outlook, and this is tremendously beneficial to your health. Here are 12 tips to help make it happen.

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I’ve been tagged by Beth from SmartFamilyTips.com to share 7 things about myself that you don’t know. Since I’m always preaching about how to live the perfect lifestyle, I thought this would be a good opportunity to share with you some of the ways in which I’m not so perfect myself and how you can learn from them.

Without further delay, here are 7 things about me that I hope you find interesting and informative.

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Do you know that dehydration can be promoting disease within your body at this very moment?

Most people realize that dehydration is a problem, but few understand that it can actually cause disease. In his book, Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, Fereydoon Batmanghelidj MD explains the significant role that water plays in the following conditions and how dehydration can cause them.

Gastritis and Ulcers

The stomach contains a mucosal layer that protects it’s lining from the highly corrosive hydrochloric acid used to digest food. While it’s the sodium bicarbonate in this mucosal layer that neutralizes hydrochloric acid and protects the stomach lining from it, 98% of this layer is water.

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Due to the fast paced and convenience driven lifestyle that has become so common, few of us are as healthy as we think.

In a world where nearly everyone is run down, it’s easy to accept as normal. But in reality, this is a compromised state of health that deprives you of a much better quality of life and can eventually lead to serious disease.

What is Adrenal Fatigue?

Although not formally recognized by conventional western medicine, adrenal fatigue is an extremely common condition in which the body is no longer able to handle the daily demands of our busy lives. The adrenal glands are at the center of our ability to handle the fast paced lifestyles that most of us live, and in many cases, these small glands can’t keep up with this level of demand long term. As with any other part of our body, with enough wear and tear, they begin to function with less capacity.

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Do you wake up in a panic every morning to the loud and obnoxious noise of an alarm clock? If so, there’s a much nicer alternative that can make a significant difference in the start of your day.

Waking up Naturally

Humans have lived outdoors for millions of years and have evolved to function according to the rhythms of the planet, particularly the cycle of night and day. The light of sunrise naturally stimulates us to awaken while the darkness resulting from sunset provokes us to slow down and fall asleep. In other words, we’ve become biologically programmed to function according to the presence of sunlight.

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