No matter what your age, it is never too late to start taking care of your mind and body. And the steps you take now can help to ensure you can also enjoy good health later in life. And the beauty is you don’t necessarily have to make any drastic changes. The secret to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is to develop the right everyday habits. Here’s how.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Your body needs the right fuel to perform at its best. And this means your diet needs to be healthy and balanced, as well as nutritious and tasty. The right nutrition can positively impact every element of your life, from your energy levels and immune system to your cognitive function and mental health. Your diet can also play a key role in reducing the risk of disease and illness, including high blood pressure and diabetes.
Eating plenty of fruit, fibre, vegetables and other whole foods and grains should be the basis of your diet, as this will give you all the essential antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals you need for good health. You can also add in daily multivitamin tablets to support your long-term health as well as oily, omega-3 rich fish and unprocessed meat to balance your diet.
Stay hydrated
Water is essential for life and drinking plenty of H20 can have a significant impact on your good health. Being sufficiently hydrated is not only essential for your bodily functions, but also your brain. The amount of water you need depends on how physically active you are, but for sufficient hydration to support good health, between six to eight glasses of water per day is the recommendation.
Keep active
Your body is designed to move, and exercise is crucial to your long-term health. And it doesn’t need to be extreme, as just a brisk 10-minute daily walk can make a difference. The ideal amount of exercise is around 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, and exercising doesn’t need to be a chore. It can be sessions at the gym or walking the dog with friends – anything that gets your heart rate up and leaves you slightly out of breath. And the physical benefits of exercise add up over time, as well as helping to boost your mood and wellbeing. Combining exercise with a balanced diet can help you maintain a healthy weight, which can help you to stay healthier for longer.
Sleep well
As well as getting physical, your body needs plenty of rest so that it can recharge, regenerate, and heal. Sufficient sleep is also essential for your mental health and helps you to wake refreshed and ready for the day. There is a strong connection between sleep and the immune system too. Between seven and eight hours sleep a night is considered optimum for your health and wellbeing.
Limit potentially harmful habits
Life is about balance and protecting yourself, so there are some habits you should reduce or remove altogether if you want a healthy lifestyle. Stopping smoking, reducing your alcohol intake, avoiding junk food, and always using sunscreen when in the sun are some of the key steps you can take to regain control over your health.
Manage stress
Life can be stressful, which can have a negative impact on both your physical and mental health, so for a healthy lifestyle, it’s important to manage any stress. Building resilience and making time to relax and unwind will help you to be better prepared for life’s ups and downs. And ensuring you have a good social support network – both family and friends – will help to cope better with stressful times as well as boost your self-worth, meaning you can live a happier, healthier, and longer life.
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