Health&

Wellness
Secrets
That Will
Change
Your
Life

Mark A. Finley and Peter N. Landless, Editors

 Contents

Preface Why You Need This Book 5

Chapter 1 Designed for Something Better 13
Chapter 2 Diet for a Lifetime 20
Chapter 3 Are You at Risk? 28
Chapter 4 Fit for Life 36
Chapter 5 Healthy Relationships 44
Chapter 6 You Are What You Think 51
Chapter 7 Hope Beyond Depression 60
Chapter 8 Breaking Free 68
Chapter 9 Bouncing Back 78
Chapter 10 Rest for Our Restlessness 83
Chapter 11 The Healing Power of Faith 91
Conclusion Health to the Max 100
 Preface

Why You Need This Book

Healthy choices lead to healthier lives: choose to live.

A list of the 100 confirmed oldest people in modern times in the

world ranges from 113 to 122 years.1 Only six of these super-
centenarians were still alive at the beginning of 2014, but many
others can appear in the future. Medicine promises to increase
considerably human life expectancy during the next decades. Until
then, you can do your own part to live longer and better. While re-
search on twins suggests that 20 to 30 percent of a person’s life span
is related to genetics, many other studies have shown that longevity
depends greatly on lifestyle.2
Modern medicine has created sophisticated techniques to improve
human health. Yet nobody who knows the figures can say that the
war has been won. Seeking health is a daily challenge for every gov-
ernment and each person. If you like numbers, here are a few facts:
• The estimated global health-care services market for 2015 is
$3 trillion, which makes the health-care industry one of the largest
sectors of the world economy. In most developed countries health
care consumes more than 10 percent of the gross domestic product.
• The global pharmaceuticals market is worth more than $300
billion a year. The 10 largest drug companies (six based in the
United States and four in Europe) have sales of more than $10
billion a year and profit margins of about 30 percent. On the other
hand, the cost to develop a single drug may surpass $1.3 billion.3
• Worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, in
2006 there were more than 59 million health workers, including
9.2 million physicians, 19.4 million nurses and midwives, 1.9
million dentists and other dentistry personnel, 2.6 million phar-
macists and other pharmaceutical personnel, and more than 1.3
million community health staffers. Those numbers would be

5
health and wellness

even larger today. However, even then there was a shortage of

more than 4 million physicians, nurses, midwives, and others.4
• Unnecessary suffering is still a grave problem in the world, for
only one in 10 of those who need palliative care, including pain
relief, currently receive it.5
• Just in the United States alone, according to a study from
Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Work-
force, it is estimated that the health industry must create 5.6
million new jobs by 2020 to meet the growing demand.6
• One big challenge today is the aging of society. The global pop-
ulation is getting older. It has been predicted that by 2050 the
percentage of people more than 60 years of age will increase
from 21 percent today to 32 percent in developed countries and
from 8 percent to 20 percent in less-developed nations.7
Health is the dream of poor and rich alike. “When I was an intern at
Johns Hopkins,” Dr. Ben Carson, a famous neurosurgeon, reports, “I
was very impressed by the caliber of patients that I saw on the wards.
There were many heads of state, royalty, and heads of many large organi-
zations. Many of them were dying of horrible diseases and would gladly
have given every title and every penny for a clean bill of health. This
really puts into perspective the things that are truly important in life.”
In fact, without health most other things are not that important.
For this reason we need to pay a great deal of attention to the mainte-
nance of good health and not just become concerned when something
threatens it. And when we talk about health, we must think not only of
its physical dimension, but also of its mental and spiritual facets. Our
duty is to optimize all three of these aspects in our own lives and in the
lives of everyone else in the world. “As a physician, I have frequently
been able to witness the joy associated with restored physical and
emotional health,” Dr. Carson reveals, “but this is minor compared
to the potentially everlasting joy associated with spiritual health.”
The world has become such a complex, dangerous, and sick place
that making good choices is more important than ever. To minimize
or prevent problems is the best strategy to have a safer and more
fulfilling life. Here enters the message of this book, whose aim is to
help people improve their quality of life.

6
 preface: why you need this book

Most likely you have begun reading this book because you desire
to live a longer, healthier, and happier life. That is a noble goal, be-
cause you have been made to live forever. If you follow the princi-
ples and tips presented here, this dream may come true. You deserve
to live well and be happy.
Furthermore, we are much more valuable than may appear at a
casual glance. Take the human body, for example. When research-
ers add up the chemical value of our body’s component parts, they
might conclude that we are not worth much. Yet even then Wired
magazine estimates that if we consider the monetary value of our
hearts, lungs, kidneys, DNA, and bone marrow, we are individually
worth up to a whopping $45 million.
As a rational, thinking, living human being with the enormous
capacity to love and experience life’s greatest joys, you are even
more valuable than $45 million, and that is what this book is all
about. You are embarking on a journey of discovery that has the
potential to be life-changing. The principles of better living and the
practical lifestyle suggestions you will discover in every chapter can
make a real difference in the quality of your life. You can live life to
the fullest and discover joy to the max.
As you scan these pages and consider your personal health, you
will recognize that to achieve life’s greatest happiness you will prob-
ably need to make some positive steps. But rather than overwhelm-
ing yourself with multiple changes, choose to begin by taking a few
small steps at first. For example, as you succeed in increasing your
exercise, or reducing the amount of sugar and refined foods in your
diet or getting more rest, your resolve will increase, and your ability
to make healthy choices will become stronger.
Good health is a state that we all desire, but sadly, many people
realize its worth and value only once they’ve lost it! Here is an op-
portunity for you to evaluate your health and lifestyle carefully, not
just hastily make a few resolutions that rapidly fly out the window.
Do you feel that you’re getting the best out of life in all its facets?
Have you recently assessed your total health, including its physical,
mental, social, and spiritual aspects?
You may assume that you manage your day-to-day routines of

7
health and wellness

eating, working, and sleeping quite well. But are you enjoying a real
quality of life? Have you ever considered that life may have much
more to it than you are currently experiencing?

Medical Progress
During the twentieth century medical science made great strides
toward increased good health as its understanding of physiology
and disease processes grew. Public health measures that improved
sanitation, sewage disposal, and the delivery of clean water to com-
munities positively affected both the quality and longevity of life
for millions. The development of vaccinations and immuniza-
tions—one of the most cost-effective ways of preventing infectious
diseases—eradicated smallpox toward the end of the twentieth
century and greatly decreased the ravages of polio and diphtheria.
Reported cases of measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria
have plummeted about 90 percent because of immunizations.
Infectious and communicable diseases—those spread by bacteria,
viruses, fungi, and parasites (for example, tuberculosis, malaria, and
hepatitis)—continue to cause significant problems worldwide. And
HIV and AIDS claimed the lives of an estimated 1.7 million people
in 2011 alone. Yet we cannot underestimate the tremendous strides
in health care.
Unfortunately, such advances in medicine also have another side
to them. As world governments and public health experts focused
on treating, controlling, or eliminating infectious (or communi-
cable) diseases, noncommunicable or lifestyle ones skyrocketed.
Today such noncommunicable diseases have become entrenched
in all societies of the world—developed and emerging economies,
affluent and poor. They are mainly lifestyle-related and pose a huge
threat to our health, happiness, and longevity. It is highly likely that
someone close to you has died because of cancer, coronary heart
disease, stroke, diabetes, or chronic respiratory diseases.

What Is Your Health Issue?

You may be feeling good up to now because you do not smoke
tobacco or drink alcohol, but what about your diet and salt intake?

8
 preface: why you need this book

The foods we choose to eat largely produce the various noncommu-

nicable diseases. At least 40 percent of all deaths from these kinds of
diseases result from the consumption of foods high in saturated and
trans fats, salt, and sugar (and refined carbohydrates). Are you select-
ing your foods wisely and carefully, focusing on variety and good
nutrition within the bounds of your budget? Simple actions such as
cutting back on salt, reducing food portion sizes, and eating more
fruits and vegetables can make a huge difference to your health. If
you are into junk foods, irregular meals, excessive salt, large amounts
of fat, a highly refined food diet, or large portions, know that life can
be much better, and that’s why this book is just for you.
Of course, to enjoy the best health possible you should be exercis-
ing daily. You might say, “I get up off the couch for a snack during
every TV commercial, and I walk the 100 feet from the closest park-
ing spot to the grocery store.” But do you have a regularly planned,
systematic exercise program?
Health professionals encourage us to walk 10,000 steps daily! We
should be physically active for at least 30 minutes each day in order
for our wonderful body to function at its best. So if you’re groaning
that you’re too busy to exercise, but really want to begin a practical,
sustainable exercise program, keep reading.
What about your interpersonal relationships? Do you have
friends you care about, younger people you mentor, individuals in
need whom you help? Social support and connectedness to God and
others are also health-giving! Perhaps you have broken relationships
in your life that need mending. Keep reading. God has a plan for you
that is far better than you can ever imagine.
Are you happy? Do you wake up with purpose, walk with “pep
in your step,” and have a smile on your face? Or has life become
too much? Are you anxious or downhearted? Does the future look
bleak? Do you struggle with dark thoughts of meaninglessness,
failure, and defeat? As we explore scientific facts and discover life-
changing principles of the Bible that we can universally apply, you
will see that the possibility of happiness is real.
We can almost guarantee that disappointment, heartache, and
trials will afflict our lives at times, because we dwell in a sin-filled

9
health and wellness

world. But God is bigger than our trials, greater than our difficulties,
and larger than our challenges. We may be weak, but He is strong.
God is our assurance when we face uncertainty. Should guilt threaten
to overwhelm us, He can be our peace. He is our wisdom when we
find ourselves perplexed. When we are imprisoned in the chains of
seemingly unbreakable habits, He stands ready to offer supernatural
power to free us. And when we are lonely, He is forever near.
Thus, whenever we face paralyzing anxiety and overwhelming
fear, God’s words still speak to our hearts: “Come to Me, all you who
labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28,
NKJV). Should the burdens of life appear insurmountable, He urges
us to cast “all of our care upon Him, for He cares” for us (1 Peter
5:7, NKJV). And when the future seems uncertain, He reminds us:
“Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God. I
will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My
righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, NKJV).
In God we will find rest and hope for the future. Our loving heav-
enly Father has given us a road map and instructions on how to have
health and wellness—now and beyond, and even into eternity! We
were born for something much more than just struggling through a
few decades and then dying. God intended for us to live the abun-
dant life today, tomorrow, and forever.
The Lord has a plan for your life that is far more than amazing. As
His personal concern, He wants you to live life in all of its fullness.
He longs that you experience joy beyond measure. In fact, Jesus said:
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more
abundantly” (John 10:10, NKJV). Heaven’s plan for you is a life of
physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wholeness.
Each chapter in this book is an adventure into really living.
As you put their principles into practice, you will notice positive
changes in your life. Some of the benefits of your healthful choices
will be almost immediate, but most of them will come gradually.
Don’t become discouraged or give up too quickly. Continue to make
positive lifestyle choices, and in time you will be astounded with
what is happening in your life.
A loving God made us with the power of choice. Our wills, the

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 preface: why you need this book

governing power deep within our nature that enables us to choose

the way we think, the physical habits we develop, and the spiritual
decisions we make, are a powerful force in lifestyle transformation.
Current medical research is leaning more and more in the direction
that, although our genetics do play a role in determining the state of
our well-being and overall health, choice is a much more influential
and important factor. Our health is not simply a matter of chance.
It has a great deal to do with our daily decisions.
When we choose to make positive choices, the Holy Spirit comes to
our aid to enable us to put those decisions into practice. All of heaven’s
power is available to us. Your will may be weakened because of poor
choices, but it is never too late to begin to make healthy ones. You can
take charge of your life and health. Change always begins with choice,
and it occurs when we realize we are not mere victims of chance, but
have the freedom to take responsibility for our own health and hap-
piness. Those who decide to adopt the suggestions given here will un-
doubtedly experience a fuller quality and enjoyment of life.
Of course, self-improvement has its limitations. Our biological
realities remind us of some insurmountable barriers and define the
extent of human accomplishment. But the beauty and value of this
book is that it offers more than is humanly attainable. As you read
it, you will inevitably realize that you can rely on a gracious higher
power. The experience of a spirituality born of a relationship with a
loving God can make a huge difference in your life.
While we are finite, God and His grace are infinite. Grace is the
power of the omnipotent to grant to the impotent the ability to be
whole—all accomplished through the construction of a relationship. As
we focus on the whole person—physical, mental, and spiritual—God
offers us life full of health and wellness. He rains grace down upon us
from heaven, traversing a gulf that we cannot possibly span. Given to
the undeserving in incomprehensible love, grace permits the experience
of a full and abundant life not only here and now, but also for eternity.
In our earthly life, despite our best efforts and compliance with
healthful principles, we cannot escape the lingering shadow of our
mortality. But when a human being reaches across the gap between
us and God, hope is born! Love rattles the bars of the dungeons of

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health and wellness

death. Graves will yet yield to the persuasion of grace. If you desire
to improve your health, science can help you. But if you want to live
forever, seek the source of immortal life.
1
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_supercentenarians; and www.grg.org/Adams/
B3.HTM.
2
For an interesting study of long-lived groups, see Dan Buettner, The Blue Zones: Les-
sons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest (Washington, D.C.: Na-
tional Geographic Society, 2008).
3
Data from the World Health Organization, available at www.who.int/trade/glossary/
story073/en/. For other figures, see International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufactur-
ers and Associations, “The Pharmaceutical Industry and Global Health: Facts and Figures
2012,” available at www.ifpma.org/fileadmin/content/Publication/2013/IFPMA-_Facts_
And_Figures_2012_LowResSinglePage.pdf.
4
World Health Organization, “Working Together for Health,” available at www.who.
int/whr/2006/whr06_en.pdf?ua=1.
5
See World Health Organization, www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/
palliative-care-20140128/en/. Map available at: www.thewpca.org/resources/global-atlas-
of-palliative-care/.
6
A. P. Carnevale et al., “Healthcare,” p. 8, available at www9.georgetown.edu/grad/gpp:/
hpi:/cew/pdfs/Healthcare.FullReport.090712.pdf.
7
See World Economic Forum, “The Future of Pensions and Healthcare in a Rapidly
Ageing World: Scenarios to 2030,” available at www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Scenario_
PensionsAndHealth2030_Report_2010.pdf.

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