Living a healthy lifestyle can benefit you, regardless of age. A healthy life is one where you feel good, perform well, and live without serious health problems.
The word ‘healthy is relative. Lots of people nowadays have a distorted view of living a healthy life. Many people think eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is healthy, but after looking at some statistics, we can see that this is far from the truth.
The number of people who live a healthy life has risen in recent years, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also states that the percentage of disease-free Americans has steadily increased over the past twenty years, from 40 percent in 1991 to 58 percent today.
With that in mind, here are a few tips to help you live healthier.
- Get Regular Medical Checkups
Medical checkups are essential for good overall health and well-being, as they allow you to spot any problems before they become serious.
For instance, if you have diabetes or suffer from high blood pressure, you must get checked by your doctor regularly—at least once every six months—to ensure everything is okay with your treatment plan.
Similarly, exposure to certain toxic substances is also proven harmful and can cause various health disorders. Some might appear later in life, such as peritoneal mesothelioma if you worked in the construction industry or the military. You can learn more about who is at risk if you suspect you were exposed to asbestos.
- Eat Nuts and Seeds
You may have heard that nuts and seeds are a healthy food choice, but you might not know why. Nuts and seeds are high in protein, fiber, and vitamins (especially vitamin E), all of which help strengthen immunity. They also hold monounsaturated fats—the good kind!
Monounsaturated fats can help lower cholesterol levels in the bloodstream by reducing LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) while increasing HDL (the good kind). Omega-3 fatty acids found in nuts and seeds have been shown to decrease inflammation throughout the body, making you feel less pain during exercise or activity.
- Avoid Ultra Processed Foods
To avoid ultra-processed food, you will want to limit your intake of these foods:
- Foods with added sugar
- Foods with added salt
- Foods with added fat (like butter and mayonnaise) or oil (like vegetable oils)
If a food has more than 1 percent saturated fat, it has been labeled as “high” in saturated fat. You should also avoid foods labeled “low-fat” because they might have more sugar than their higher-calorie counterparts!
In addition, many manufacturers use artificial colors and flavors to make their products seem fresher on shelves at grocery stores, which is equally harmful to your health.
- Get Enough Healthy Sleep
Getting enough sleep is an integral part of supporting a healthy lifestyle. Sleeping helps your body recover from physical and mental stress, helps you to feel more alert during the day, and even helps you lose weight. The amount of sleep that is optimal for each person depends on their age:
- Children (ages 0-5): up to 12 hours in 24 hours
- Teens (ages 6-18): 11-14 hours in 24 hours
- Adults (over 18): eight ½ -10 ½ hours per night
- Eat a Healthy Diet
Eat 5-9 smaller, lighter meals throughout the day. Whole foods have more nutrients than processed foods, which means they are better for your health overall. Choose whole fruits instead of drinking juice or smoothies, as they have less fiber.
For example, apples have more potassium than apple juice; tomatoes have lycopene—a powerful antioxidant that may help lower cancer risk; blueberries are high in antioxidants like vitamin C (which protects against heart disease) and other nutrients as calcium and iron.
- Stay Active
Exercise is proven to be good for your heart, but did you know that it can also help improve mood, sleep, and even weight loss?
Exercise can help you live longer by keeping your blood pressure at healthy levels, which means that if you are experiencing symptoms of high blood pressure like dizziness or fainting when standing up, exercising will help to prevent these problems.
It is also recommended that people with diabetes must participate in regular physical activity to reduce the risk of complications such as heart disease or stroke.
- Reduce Artificial Trans Fat
Artificial trans-fat is terrible for your health, so avoid it in your diet. It is found in many processed foods, including cookies and crackers, margarine, microwave popcorn, pizza crusts, and fried potatoes.
To reduce the amount of artificial trans-fat you consume:
- Avoid baked goods with partially hydrogenated oils (or “partially hydrogenated oils”).
- Buy healthier options—like whole-grain bread instead of white bread or multigrain cereal instead of cornflakes.
- Avoid Depression
Depression is a severe mental condition that can affect how you think, feel, and act. If left untreated can even last for years. It can be treated with psychotherapy or medication. The following symptoms, if found, require serious medical attention:
- Lost interest
- Unable to sleep well
- Quit Alcohol Consumption and Smoking
Alcohol is a depressant, which makes you feel sleepy or relaxed after consumption. This may be why most people prefer to eat food before drinking alcohol. When you quit alcohol, you feel more confident, can take charge in relationships, and focus on essential things that were ignored when you were addicted to alcohol.
- Keep Company with Good People
To live longer, you must surround yourself with good people. People who are positive and have good values will help keep your mind at ease, which is essential for longevity. On the other hand, if someone has negative thoughts or traits, then they can cause harm to your physical body as well as mental well-being.
- Stay Hydrated
Water is excellent for keeping your body functioning properly and helping you stay fit, but it is also vital to drink enough of it! Aim for eight glasses a day—and make sure they are all full of electrolytes to help keep you energized throughout the day.
Avoid sugary drinks like soda and sports drinks, which are known to cause weight gain if consumed in large quantities.
Conclusion
We all want our lives to be better, happy, and free of disease, but most of us are unaware of how to achieve these goals. The good news is that this type of life is attainable if you’re eating right, exercising regularly, and avoiding certain unhealthy habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol.
If you find these tips helpful, do not forget to comment in the section below.