Health and peace of mind are among life's greatest treasures. Whatever our age or means, most of us may enjoy a fuller degree of physical health, and none need lack mental peace. Everyone holds the key. We shall endeavour to set forth certain basic principles which are necessary for the key to be used effectively.

The fact is obvious that on every hand we find suffering and disease. People are afflicted with all kinds of ailments, among which are cancer, diabetes and diseases of the heart and blood vessels rank high. Increasing demand is made on the hospital services. As we become aware of the prevailing condition, we might as well ask: how can we avoiv serious illness?

First of all, what is health? And what is disease?
According to Taber's Medical Dictionary, health is "Wholeness, a condition in which all functions of the body and mind are normally active". From this, we see that the normal natural state is what we mean by health".

A "diseased" condition develops when we do not maintain good health. Disease is the absence of health. Thus, the physical combats disease, not so much by concentrating on the disease itself, as by seeking to restore health.

It is recognized that the right approach to the problem of curing or avoiding disease, is to concentrate on restoring or maintaing positive health, For instance, a nurse is taught that she must give special attention to diet, cleanliness, fresh air, rest, and exercise. If she maintains her health in this way, she will be better able to endure the strain of attending the sick, and disease germs will not be able to flourish. Generally speaking, the same rules she follows in order to maintain a good health, her patients must follow in order to regain health, though they will need to adhere even more strictly to natures' rules during the periof of restoration. Any injurious habits should be corrected, so that bodily health is restored to the point where disease germs are simply unable to flourish.

But how can we build up or health? Proper nutrition comes first. The greatest single factor in promoting and maintaining health is proper nutrition. Without it, disease is sure to appear. Right food forms the foundation for health. Poor food means poor nutrition; poor nutrition leads to poor physical structure, and poor structure spells ill health and disease.

There are many other factors to be considered of course. These include exercise, fresh air, proper clothing, personal hygiene, and mental peace. But food is greatest single factor.