As a regular reader of Blue Heron Health News, I assume you’re one of those lucky people who really cares about your health. And, you likely try to favor natural solutions whenever possible.

However, there are some mistakes that I see well-meaning health-focused people make all the time. That’s why in today’s feature article I’m going to tell you about the 7 most common mistakes I notice.

1) Skimping on Sleep

So many energized and healthy people I know get up at 5am after 4-5 hours’ sleep to go out running or hit the gym. Or they’re so excited about their work or business.

This is, however, a dangerous road because lack of sleep is linked to so many health issues: weakened immune system, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and even depression are some of the most common.

Even if you’re healthy and energized, get your 7-9 hours’ sleep in.

2) Overdoing it on Supplements

We all have natural health-focused friends who claim to have supplements or herbs to deal with virtually EVERY issue there can possibly be. The daily dose of healthy pills they take numbers in the dozens.

But there is always risk involved in any kind of medication. It doesn’t matter if it’s traditional or herbal, they can cause side effects and interactions between either type of medicine or supplement. Interactions between traditional medications and herbal remedies can be devastating.

The healthiest route for vitamins, minerals or any other nutrient is always through healthy diet. Studies have shown that people who take supplements often rationalize their lack of a nutritious diet. Supplements should only be used as backup, not the primary source of needed nutrients.

3) Unnecessary Tests

Yes, you want to monitor your health carefully. However, many medical tests are very invasive and can actually cause the health issues they’re meant to prevent.

One example is the test for enlarged prostate. For years the medical society has been pushing propaganda that all men have their prostate tested regularly. New studies, however, indicate these tests can cause a series of issues including increased risk of prostate cancer.

Another test is the cardiac-calcium-scoring test. While it can be very helpful for some people, it’s not useful for everyone. Plus, these scans as well as many others expose you to whopping amounts of radiation.

4) Murdering Your Germs

Most everyone knows that germs are the cause of many health issues. What you may not know, though, is how important different types of germs and microbes are to your health. The majority of the cells in and on your body are actually not yours, they’re tiny little microbes that live in harmony to support your wellbeing.

Most of us are aware that overuse of antibiotics is bad. They kill the good germs as well as the bad germs in your body. But overuse of sanitizers and sterilizing everything don’t solve the problems of illness.

This is also the reason eating raw food and unprocessed food is so important. These foods include good microbes that have not been killed with cooking or processing.

5) Going All Natural

[adrotate group=”5″]Yes, we love natural food. However, food that is labeled “all natural” or even organic doesn’t mean it’s healthy. The only thing “all natural” means is that it doesn’t include artificial colors or flavors. Natural coloring or flavoring can even be almost as bad.

Plus, both natural and organic food can be loaded with sugar, sodium and bad fats.

One thing I always look out for is the amount of ingredients in packaged food. If the list is longer than five items, my alarm goes off.

6) Trusting a Rumor

The natural health industry is full of myths, rumors and fantasies. It can be the magical power of a new machine or an old mushroom that is supposed to cure everything under the sun or nutritional value of a fruit that has no substance.

First of all, use your common sense. If something is so powerful without any effort, everyone would be using it. Using the old measure “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” will help filter out a lot of the useless trends.

Here at Blue Heron Health News we’re sometimes accused by the traditional medical system for selling “magic cures.” Nothing could be farther from the truth, because ALL our natural health guides inform the reader about solutions that require at least a minimum EFFORT on behalf of the reader.

7) Getting Bent Out of Shape About Health

One of the worst things for your health is stress. So over-obsessing about your health, forcing yourself to eat a certain way all the time, pressuring yourself to exercise too much… all these things will backfire.

Yes, as a general rule eat healthy and stay active. And then occasionally (not regularly) indulge in what you love and lie back and relax. Spend time with friends and family instead of always researching and exercising. Being socially active is probably the healthiest thing you can do.

If you’re suffering any health issues, the easiest way to tackle them naturally is to follow proven, moderate plans that do not force you to make lifestyle changes that are too drastic. You can find some of our natural health guides on the right hand side of this page.

For example:

The 3-step system to reverse type 2 diabetes in 21 days…

The step-by-step plan to bring your cholesterol level down to normal in a month…

The 3 easy exercises that drop your blood pressure below 120/80 as soon as today…

But first, please let us know what you think. Do you recognize some of the mistakes listed above? Did I miss some? Please leave your comments below.