World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Being healthy is crucial as it helps your body stay strong, fight illnesses and be able to cope with stress. Healthy living doesn’t need to be expensive, but it involves embracing simple ways that you can incorporate into your daily life. It is important to take care of your health and also improve it, and this is by making smart health choices and lifestyle so as to feel and look your best at every age.
Below are 9 simple ways in which you can boost your health:
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet
You are what you eat so choose what you eat so embrace a good nutrition by keeping a healthy, balanced diet. Healthy eating helps improve brain function, enhance your health and maintain a proper weight, hence avoid a number of illnesses. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, high-fiber foods, whole grains and lean meat and fish. Keep healthy snacks nearby and always chose this every time you feel hungry in between your meals.
Fruit are an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps boost the immune system; potassium, which helps regulate the blood pressure and antioxidants, which help fight off the free radicals in the body. Take whole grains such as rice, bread, and cereals as this helps reduce cholesterol level and lessen the risk of getting heart disease. Try and avoid processed foods and foods and beverages that have a high content of sugar, salt, fat, and calories because they increase the chances of you becoming obese or overweight. Salt has an adverse impact on your blood pressure, so chose to use spices and herbs to flavor your foods.
If you are not getting enough vitamins and minerals in your body, then you can take multivitamins, calcium and magnesium supplements to make sure that you remain healthy.
To stay healthy you should embrace healthy cooking methods such as steaming, poaching, baking, and grilling rather than frying so as to cut your fat intake.
- Stay hydrated
Water is essential for most organ function so drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. This enhances nutrient absorption, digestion, detoxification and skin hydration and most illness symptoms such as a headache, do lessen when you take water. Start your day with a glass of water to cleanse off the toxins and enhances metabolism throughout the day.
- Take tea
Take more of black or green tea instead of coffee because tea contains antioxidants, which support dental health, increase bone density, inhibit the growth of cancer cells and strengthen the cardiovascular system. Herbal teas are also good for boosting your health as they contain high levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Regular exercising
Regular exercise keeps off diseases such as heart diseases and helps build strong bones and muscles. You don’t have to go to the gym as there are many exercises you can do outdoors or even at home. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day for five days a week.
Do simple aerobic exercises such as swimming, jogging, walking, dancing or bicycling. Weight lifting and strength training help strengthen the body, improve your flexibility and build muscles.
Doing yoga helps increase flexibility and mobility, relieves stress and slows the heart rate. As you do the various poses, you loosen the muscle, hence making them adaptable, which lessens the risk of getting injuries.
- Manage stress
Mental health is important to your physical well-being, so it is essential to be able to manage your stress levels or do away with stress. Prolonged stress leads to a number of health problems such as stroke, heart diseases, depression, ulcers, high blood pressure, migraines, and obesity.
You can manage stress through meditation, relaxation techniques such as breathing and exercising. Slow breathing causes the body to release body chemicals that help relieve stress and improve the immune function. Other ways include soaking in a hot tub, taking a walk, reading a good book or helping someone out.
- Avoid risky behavior
Some behaviors will have a negative influence on your health so you should avoid them. Stay away from smoking as it is known to be one of the leading causes of cancer. It may be hard, but there are medications and therapies, which help smokers kick their smoking habit. Drink in moderation and don’t drink and drive.
- Laugh and stay positive
Laugh more often and stay positive and this will help reduce the risk of developing heart diseases. Laughter helps relieve hay fever, ease pain, help fight infection and control diabetes. Bring more laughter into your life by watching a comedy or having fun with friends. Staying positive and having an optimistic outlook on life helps you live longer because you reduce your chances of worrying and being stressed, hence low chances of getting physical and mental illnesses.
- Sleep
Sleep is important, and it should not be considered as an option. It is essential for growth and development, disease prevention, maintaining right hormonal balance and learning and retention of new information. Insufficient sleep leads to higher stress levels, imbalanced blood sugar levels, mental problems and immune problems.
Try to go to bed each night, and you can choose to have a sleeping schedule and stick to it so that you don’t have insomnia. Create a comfortable environment such as low lighting, and this will help you relax and sleep.
Don’t take any caffeine or alcohol a few hours before going to bed as this may give you trouble sleeping. You may read a book or listen to some music, and this will soothe and make you relax.
- Stay off the sun
The sun rays are harmful to your skin to ensure that you apply a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 and this reduces the chances of damage to your cells, which results in skin cancer. Use effective revitol skin brightening cream. Wear sunglasses each time you are out in the sun, and this will ward off the sun off your lids.
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