5 Positive Lifestyle Factors That Promote Good Health
Many of us aspire to live a happier, healthier life. In fact, healthy living is high up on our list of priorities once the holiday season rolls around. After all, the New Year is the ideal time to turn over a new leaf and start fresh. This is when many of us decide to make positive changes, most of which have to do with our health.
Of course, factors such as genes and environment play an important role in how healthy a person’s lifestyle is. While you certainly can’t do much about these factors, changing your lifestyle as well as your daily habits for the better will go a long way in boosting your wellness and longevity. So if your goal this year is to maximize these two, here are five positive lifestyle changes you should make to promote good health.
Make some room in your schedule for workouts
Our fast-paced lifestyles and busy schedules often leave little to no time for physical activity. Of course, many of us tend to associate lack of exercise with weight gain. However, failing to engage in regular physical activity has far more detrimental effects on our overall health and wellness. It increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis and contributes to a significant percentage of breast and colon cancers.
By making physical activity a part of your daily routine, you can reduce these risks and improve your health significantly. Not only that, but you’ll also manage to save a significant amount of money by simply working out. The best part? All it really takes is around half an hour per day of moderate intensity exercise to maintain good health.
Make sure your meals are well-balanced
Food is to the body what fuel is to a car. In order for the engine to run, we need the right, high-quality fuel. That said, many people struggle when it comes to making healthy dietary choices, thus putting themselves at a higher risk of numerous chronic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Something as simple as keeping your meals well-balanced goes a long way in reducing the risk of developing these conditions.
Other than focusing on foods that pack a multitude of nutrients, consider supplementing your diet for an additional nutrient boost. Whether we’re talking about aloe vera supplements, fish oils, or particular herbs, supplementing your diet will provide your body with the support it needs. It’ll also boost the benefits of a well-rounded diet and help you stay healthy.
Keep your weight in check
Gaining a bit of weight may not seem like (or be) a problem for many individuals. The problem arises when these extra pounds start to add up after going unaddressed for a while. The additional weight then becomes a major contributor to conditions such as cancer, stroke, diabetes, and heart attack. It can also shorten a person’s lifespan, especially in individuals with a BMI of over 30.
While there’s a common belief that maintaining a healthy body weight is complex, all it really takes is a combination of regular physical activity and a well-balanced diet. This also involves making healthy substitutions, engaging in hobbies that keep your body moving, and getting enough sleep. Which leads us to our next tip…
Catch more Z’s
You may be wondering what getting enough sleep has to do with life expectancy. For starters, sleep is a vital process during which our body and mind regenerates. This is also the time when multiple metabolic processes take place, including cell repair and detoxification. After a night of restful sleep, we’re more inclined to make healthier dietary choices. We also tend to memorize and learn things more easily when we get a good night’s sleep.
That said, both too little and too much sleep can be detrimental to our overall health and longevity. Ideally, you should be getting between six to eight hours of sleep each night. If certain conditions such as sleep apnea or insomnia are getting in your way of catching enough Z’s, be sure to consult with a doctor to help prevent sleep deprivation.
Make an effort to stop smoking and drinking
Ditching bad habits is just as important as building healthy ones. If you’re someone who’s consuming tobacco products (including chewing), you’re at a higher risk of developing cancer. Smoking is also associated with premature wrinkles and early aging as well as erectile dysfunction. Add alcohol to the mix, and the negative long-term health effects only get worse.
Ideally, you’ll make an effort to break both of these bad habits, or at least use alcohol in moderation. This means one drink per day for women, and two for men. Anything higher than that increases the risk of stroke, cancer, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
Wrapping up
There’s no doubt that our day-to-day habits have an immense impact on our overall health. In order to live a healthier, more fulfilling life, it’s important that we consistently make healthy choices. In doing so, we’ll be boosting not only quantity, but also our quality of life.
Eve Anderson is a marketing specialist turned blogger. Interested in sports and exciting travel destinations. Love to share content that can inform people.
