The benefit of following these ten steps is an increased awareness and overall improvement to your health that will make geocaching the fulfilling experience it was meant to be. As a hobby, geocaching is a great way to incorporate many healthy habits. It is believed that people who engage in one or more hobbies appear to be happier. Not only does geocaching offer the participant joy and relaxation; it also can be a great way to make social connections. So, hold on tight, buckle your seatbelt, turn on your GPSr and look into your future...are you there?

#1: Eat Breakfast EVERY Morning

Let’s face it, mornings can be hectic. It seems like we always have to make sacrifices because there are not enough hours in the day. Skipping breakfast is one sacrifice that you need to rethink. There are many reasons people give for skipping breakfast; however, the two most popular are not enough time and dieting.

Presently, there is little evidence that skipping breakfast helps in the battle against the bulge. The reverse is more accurate. Breakfast eaters appear to be champions of good health. According to Dulce Zamora (freelance writer of health research), "people who have a morning meal tend to take in more vitamins and minerals, and less fat and cholesterol."

The Mayo Clinic recommends a breakfast meal with carbohydrates (that’s right, Atkins' followers), protein, and a small amount of fat. That would include breakfast cereal (low sugar) with a side of fruit or pure orange juice. Other research has proven that kids who eat a healthy breakfast are better prepared; more alert and achieve better performance at school. The same holds true for adults.

For those of us who simply do not have time to eat breakfast, I have three words - WAKE UP EARLIER. If that isn’t possible, take your breakfast with you. Eat it at work or on your way to the cache site.

#2 Add Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids to Your Diet

The American Heart Association is a big proponent of adding fish to your diet. People who consume fish at least three times a week lessen their chance of serious heart disease. A fish oil and Omega-3 fatty acid supplement, taken three times a day, can be beneficial to the health of your heart and surrounding arteries. Ask your doctor.

According to Dulce Zamora, "fatty fish such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon, are rich in two kinds of omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)." She goes on to say, "foods such as tofu, soybeans canola, walnuts, flaxseed and their oils contain alpha-linolenic acid (LNA), which converts to omega-3 in the body."

There is evidence omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce allergies, asthma, eczema and autoimmune disorders. For geocachers, the threat of allergies can be a real problem. Often we find ourselves in fields and forests with high pollination, mold and mildew counts.

#3 Get Enough Sleep

According to the Neurological Channel, "It is not clear exactly why the body needs sleep. However, we do know not getting enough sleep can have severe detrimental effects on a person's health. Studies have shown that sleep is essential for the normal functioning of the body's immune system and ability to fight disease and sickness. It is necessary for the natural functioning of the nervous system, a person's ability to operate physically and mentally, learn, and normal, healthy cell growth."

Not only is there an inherent medical risk by not getting enough sleep, there is also a link to serious traffic injury and death by motorists who fall asleep at the wheel. When people become drowsy and tired, they lose a certain amount of alertness. For geocachers, being alert can be very important depending upon the area you are hunting. Also, being fully rested will improve your overall desire to get outside and go find the caches.

How much sleep a person needs depends on several factors, including age. It is believed that healthy adults should strive for between seven and ten hours of sleep a night. Children should get even more sleep than adults.

#4 Make Social Connections

Can you say "event cache"? Yes, many of us already know the benefits of interacting with other people. Not only does social interaction help stimulate the mental part of our wellbeing, it also allows us to communicate our likes, dislikes, and feelings. Going to church, joining a club, or sitting outside with your neighbors all have therapeutic qualities and allow us to express ourselves.

...event caches are an excellent opportunity to meet in a social context to communicate and build relationships with other people." For geocachers, event caches are an excellent opportunity to meet in a social context to communicate and build relationships with other people. Besides event caches, it is also possible to enjoy this hobby with a smaller group of people and still get the sense of belonging that is so important to our mental well-being. Don’t forget the geocaching.com forum as an option for socializing with people that share a common interest.

#5 Exercise For Better Health

Yes, there is the "E" word. One of the best things you can do for your overall health is also one of the most underused by our society. Geocaching is an excellent way of achieving exercise; however, most healthcare professionals want you to exercise for at least 30 minutes per day. Some of you may have the luxury of being able to geocache every day, but most of us do not. Exercise can be as simple as taking a walk down the street or mowing the yard. Heck, you can even mow your neighbor’s yard if they are out of town and really score some brownie points.

The important thing to remember is get your body moving for 30 minutes a day, every day. If you have not participated in any form of exercise for many years, it is important to contact your doctor or qualified personal trainer. There are many activities (including geocaching) that can achieve the body movement and elevated heart rate that result in a benefit to your wellbeing. If you have not participated in any form of exercise for many years, it is important to contact your doctor or qualified personal trainer.

Exercise also offers immediate results. Not only will you burn more calories but most importantly, you will also feel better about yourself. Exercise is thought to stimulate the production of serotonin hormones in the brain that affect mood and can result in an elevated sense of well-being. Long-term exercise can help you maintain desired body weight and strengthen muscles and bones.

#6 Take Care of your Teeth

Practice good dental hygiene. Flossing and brushing your teeth is now thought to add years to your life. Research continues to look at the link between gum disease and heart problems. There appears to be a connection between plaque build-up in the mouth and inflammation of the arteries surrounding the heart. By flossing and brushing daily, you remove the plaque in the mouth and keep it from forming on your teeth and gums.

Besides the link to heart disease, it is important to your health to have good strong teeth to properly chew and consume food. From the standpoint of mental wellbeing, it is no surprise that having a mouth full of pearly whites can help you achieve a higher level of dignity and a positive outlook on life.

#7 Protect Your Skin

The way most people view sun tanning has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. It used to be considered healthy and beautiful to don a deep dark tan - not anymore. Doctors and scientists have proven that the sun’s UV (ultraviolet) rays are damaging to our skin. It used to be that people lathered their bodies with lotion that enhanced a deep dark tan. Today, people are more likely to apply sunscreen that blocks the UV rays.

It used to be considered healthy and beautiful to don a deep dark tan - not anymore. There are several things you can do to protect your skin while geocaching:

• wear clothing that covers exposed skin
• apply sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher
• wear a hat with a wide brim
• apply lip balm with SPF protection
• avoid caching between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

"Sun damage is cumulative throughout your life," explains Linda Rutsch, director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's SunWise educational program, which teaches children and their adult caregivers about protecting themselves from overexposure to the sun. UV damage is the major cause of skin cancer. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and one dies every hour from the disease, the EPA says.

Cases of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, have doubled in the past two decades and will continue to climb, the agency predicts.

#8 Snack The Healthy Way

It seems like snacking is a way of life for most people today. It is believed that most people snack at least one time everyday. Although health experts say that snacking is not completely bad for most of us, they do caution that healthy snacking is the way to go.

Simple Healthy Snack Ideas:

• Raw vegetables, such as celery, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, green pepper, green beans, cucumbers, mushrooms, or zucchini may be served with a low fat dip.
• Fresh fruit in season cut in slices or halves, such as apples, oranges, bananas, peaches, grapefruit, grapes, melons, pears, plums, or strawberries.
• Low fat quick breads and muffins, such as pumpkin, zucchini, banana, or bran.
• Non-sugared cereals, snack mixes made with popcorn, and whole grain cereal.
• Low fat yogurt with fresh, frozen, or canned fruit.
• Shakes with low fat milk or yogurt and fruit.
• Unsweetened fruit juices.

Before geocaching, pack a healthy snack for the adventure. Remember to eat a sensible a meal first to provide an adequate supply of energy. Then while in the field, you can have a snack available in the event you need additional energy or to stave off hunger pains from an extended caching expedition.

#9 Drink Water and Eat Dairy

At first glance, these two appear to be an unlikely pair. However, both water and milk are essential fluids that our body needs. Keeping your body properly hydrated is especially important when performing strenuous exercise like that involved in geocaching.

Benefits of calcium include stronger bones and the prevention of high blood pressure, kidney stones, heart disease and colon cancer. According to Dulce Zamora, "the body needs water to keep properly hydrated and individuals vary widely in how much water they need. Joints need it to stay in motion, and vital organs such as the heart, brain, kidney, and liver need it to work properly."

She goes on to say that if you don't get enough water, the body goes into emergency mode, and clings to every single water molecule it can find. The stored molecules appear as extra weight. The weight is only released once the body gets enough water.

Calcium is the big reason that dairy is so important to our bodies. Benefits of calcium include stronger bones and the prevention of high blood pressure, kidney stones, heart disease and colon cancer.

Consuming low-fat or fat-free milk helps to lose weight by helping the body burn fat while maintaining muscle mass. Always include dairy as part of a well balanced diet.

#10 Drink Tea

A lot of research is being conducted on the health benefits of tea.

Several substances, classified as antioxidants (also referred to as polyphenols), are found in tea and these are the components that are able to combine with unstable positively charged oxygen molecules, otherwise known as "free radicals". The free radicals have been shown to cause not only cellular damage but can also damage DNA. As a consequence to the damage, various health problems develop.

Therefore, the antioxidants that are naturally occurring in tea help remove the free radicals which helps promote better health. Other well-known antioxidants are vitamins C and E. Some of the antioxidants found in tea are much more powerful than these two vitamins.

I always thought of geocachers as "free radicals" when it comes to the passion we sometimes display for our sport. Apparently, being a free radical is a bad thing and tea can help with controlling its damage to our bodies.

My thanks to Dulce Zamora and her article titled "13 Healthy Habits To Improve Your Life". The original article was written by Dulce Zamora and reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD.

This article is a collaboration of information from numerous sources. I have made an effort to collaborate, as much of this information as is possible but some information may be incorrect or misleading. For this and other reasons please understand that I am not advising you to take any action based on this article. In the realm of medicine I am specifically recommending seeking the advice of a competent medical caregiver. I am not giving medical or related advice, just a heartfelt opinion.