Living a Healthy Life
You Are What You Eat
The old expression “You are what you eat” is true. If you consume foods with little or no nutritional value, you will not be at your best. However, if you have a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables you’ll get your daily recommended requirement of essential vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, and minerals. Protein, found in a variety of foods such as lean meats, beans, poultry, eggs, and nuts are called the “building blocks” because they help maintain not only strong bones and muscles but also healthy cartilage, blood, and skin.
Drink Plenty of Water
Did you ever notice that when you are thirsty nothing quenches your thirst quite like a cold glass of water? The reason is simple. You are made of approximately 60% water and your body needs it in a variety of ways. It helps develop new cells, keeps your body cool and joints moving, transports protein through the bloodstream, eliminates waste, and is an insulating barrier that protects your brain and spinal cord.
Get Your Beauty Rest
While there is no set required amount of sleep, most doctors will agree that anywhere between 6 to 8 hours is best. When you fall into a deep sleep, your body begins to heal itself and store away the day’s events. This is why when you get enough sleep you feel energized, alert and happy. On the other hand, when you stay up all night and only catch a few winks, you awake in a fog that lasts the day, your thoughts are not clear and you can even feel agitated or depressed. Fear not, after you start on the road to improved sleep you’ll start to feel better each day and those selfies you take with a Zigi Band around your wrist will show it.
Stay Fit
Staying physically fit is just as important as eating healthy foods. Today, with many people addicted to their smartphones, iPads and gaming systems, many people do not get the proper amount of exercise. Staying fit has long-lasting benefits that exceed the loss of weight and strong muscles. Regular exercise gives you more energy, improves skin health, keeps you mentally sharp, relaxes and helps you to fall asleep faster and remain in a deep sleep for longer, and can even thwart off chronic diseases. The good news is that you can start today to turn your life around and get into good physical condition. If you need some way to motivate you, you can join a gym, or if you prefer, you can take up running or jogging, swimming or bike riding. The point is to do some form of physical activity 3 to 4 times each week for at least 30 to 40 minutes.
Dispose of Bad Habits
Many people have one or two habits that are not good for them. If you smoke cigarettes, drink excessive amounts of alcohol or do drugs regularly, you are putting yourself at risk for a reduced quality of life later in life. Disposing of your bad habit will allow your body to begin the healing process to prevent serious damage to organs and possibly even save your life. Cigarettes contain nicotine which is highly addictive and why so many people can’t seem to quit cold turkey. Thankfully, there are patches, gum and even a prescription that you can use to wean off them until your body no longer needs the chemical. In the case of alcohol or drug abuse, having the support of your family is critical for your success. If you feel you can’t go it alone, don’t. There are treatment centers nationwide that can help you ease off the alcohol or drugs, and therapy sessions to help you cope while experiencing withdrawal.
You can lead a healthy lifestyle by making a few changes to your diet, staying active, consuming plenty of water, eliminating bad habits, and getting sufficient rest.
