Maintaining a healthy lifestyle may seem like an uphill battle, but it is not as difficult as you think! No matter how overwhelmed you might feel by a plethora of information floating around you about the latest diet, superfood, or a special workout, a well-rounded lifestyle comes down to the basics! So just take small steps today that can add up to big changes in your health! Here are some health tips to help you take charge, starting now:
Develop a healthy & balanced diet: The amount and types of food we consume directly or indirectly influence our overall health. A balanced diet can reduce your risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, fatal heart disease, or stroke. Various foods, such as lean meats, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, contain key nutrients to keep your body healthy. Including nutrients like proteins, vitamins, fiber, carbohydrates, while limiting added sugars, sodium and trans-fats is the way to create a balanced diet.
Get moving: Regular physical activity is necessary to keep your body weight in control. It helps lower your risk of developing diseases like high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, some cancers, and has also been proved to reduce depression. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the recommended activity guidelines are 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days per week plus muscle-strengthening activities twice per week. You can start at a comfortable level and add a little more activity as you go along.
Get enough sleep: A well-rested body is more likely to make healthy life choices, learn new things, and help your mood. The average adult needs at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night. According to the National Institutes of Health, sleep deficiency increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer and depression, A good amount of sleep is what helps your body to recover from daily exercise, helps you to think clearly and also manage stress.
Regular visits to your doctor: As we age, we are at a higher risk for chronic diseases, such as diabetes or heart disease; regular checkups may prevent or catch these diseases at an early stage and help in staying healthy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, your age, health, family history, and lifestyle choices contribute to determining how regularly you should have physical exams.
The choices you made yesterday, last week or last year should not predetermine your choices today. Think of every moment as an opportunity to be the change that you’ve always wanted to be. Take a few moments in the morning to set aside your tasks for the day and a few moments before going to bed to reflect if you accomplished those tasks. Your health is important and taking charge of it can make all the difference between prevention and treatment!