How do you stay healthy?
alanf: I've been pretty seriously interested in natural health for a long time.  To condense what I've learned into a few of the most important ideas:- Research what a good vitamin is.  There's a HUGE spectrum in quality.  Expect to pay $1-$2 per day, and take more than one capsule.  A good indicator of a high quality vitamin is that it packages b12 as hydrocobalamin, not cyanocobalamin- Exercise in the first part of your day. Your metabolism is then boosted all day.- Read the label on every food product you buy: the ingredients list is the least dishonest part of the label.- Avoid high glycemic sweeteners: sugar and corn syrup.  Excellent substitutes are agave nectar and stevia.- Diversify your grains: Try quinoa ("keen-wah"), amaranth, buckwheat, spelt- Diversify your oils: coconut oil (often a good substitute for butter when baking), avacado oil (can be fried at high heat), flaxseed oil (do not heat!)- Reduce/avoid: sodas (the acid causes your body to remove calcium from your bones!), homogenized cows milk, hydrolyzed or hydrogenated oils, monosodium glutumate (or "yeast extract" which always has MSG in it), artificial flavors and colors, and American style cured meats (nitrates.)- Increase consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, raw nuts, berries, etc. The smaller the berry, the better it is for you.- Seek moderate exposure to sunlight without sunscreen.If you stick to the above, you'll have to prepare most of your own food.  It's fun, creative, and a socially useful skill.  With practice, it's often less time consuming than going out.  Essential supplies include a high end blender, good cutlery, and pans without teflon.Find the health food store in your community.  Sometimes you'll pay much more for the food.  The bargain is your long term health and quality of life.