Whether you are rich or poor, many people fail to see the link between their habits and their health. They may regard enjoying good health as a matter of chance or as something over which they have little control. Such a fatalistic view holds many back from improving their health and leading a more productive life
In reality, whatever your financial circumstances, there are basic steps you can take to protect and greatly improve your own health and that of your relatives.
Is doing so worth the effort? By all means! You can increase the quantity of your life and avoid needlessly shortening it.
By word and example, you can train yourself to form good habits resulting in better health. The extra time and expense involved will be repaid in reducing suffering, less time lost to illness, and less money spent on medical bills. As the saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".
In this article, we shall consider basic keys that can help you improve your health and lifestyle.
KEY 1
Eat Wisely
"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants".
With these few words, we encapsulates simple, time-tested dietary advice to follow.
*Eat fresh foods. Concentrate on eating "real" food-whole, fresh foods that people have been enjoying for millenniums - rather than modern processed foods. Commercially pre-packaged foods and fast food from chain restaurants usually contain high levels of sugar, salt, and fat, which are associated with heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other serious illnesses. When cooking, try streaming, baking, and broiling instead of frying. Try using more herbs and spices to cut down on salt. Make sure meats are probably cooked, and never eat spoiled food.
*Do not eat too much. The World Health Organization reports a dangerous worldwide increase in overweight and obese people, often the result of overeating. One study found that in parts of North America, "there are more children who are overweight than malnourished. "Obese children are at risk of present as well as future health problems; including diabetes. It is advisable for parents to set a good diet plan for their children by limiting their portions
*Eat mostly plants. A balance plate flavours a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains over meats and starches. Once or twice a week, try substituting fish for meat. Reduce refined foods such as pasta, white bread, and white rice, which have been stripped of much of their nutritional value. But avoid potentially dangerous fad diets. Protect your health by always seeking for food that are healthful. For example, go for nuts and thoroughly washed fresh fruits and vegetables for snacks instead of chips or candies.
*Drink plenty of healthy fluids. Adult and children need to drink plenty of water and other unsweetened liquids everyday. Drink more of these during hot weather and when doing heavy physical work and exercise. Such liquids aid digestion, cleanse your body of toxins, make for healthier skin, and promote weight loss. They help you to feel and look your best. Avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and too many sweetened drinks. One soft drink a day can add seven kilograms to your weight in a year.
KEY 2
Take Care Of Basic Body Needs
"No one ever hated his own body; on the contrary, he provides and care for it". (Ephesians 5:29, The New English Bible).
Taking basic steps to care for yourself can make a world of difference in your health.
*Get enough rest. The demands and distractions of modern life have whittled away at the time people spend sleeping. But sleep is essential to good health. Studies shows that during sleep the body and brain repair themselves, benefitting memory and mood.
Sleep reinforces the immune system and reduces your risk of infection, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, cancer, obesity, depression, and perhaps even Alzheimer's disease. Rather than artificially bypassing sleepiness with sweets, caffeine, or other stimulants, you should heed it and simply get some sleep. Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep every night to look, feel and perform their best. Young people need more sleep. Sleep-deprived teens are more prone to have psychological troubles and to fall asleep when driving.
Sleep is especially important when you are down with illness. Your body can overcome some sicknesses such as a cold, if you simply get extra sleep and drink plenty of water.
*Go to the doctor. Some ailments call for professional medical attention
Early diagnosis usually results in a better outcome and less expense. So if you do not feel well, get help to find and eliminate the cause, instead of merely seeking to relieve the symptoms.
Regular checkups from accredited healthcare providers can head off many serious problems.
KEY 3
Keep Yourself Moving
"if exercise were a pill, it would be the most widely prescribed medication in the world". (Emory University School of Medicine)
Of all the things we can do for our health, few are more generally helpful than physical exercise.
*Exert yourself. Leading a physically active life can help you feel happier, think more clearly, have more energy, be more productive and, along with proper diet, control your weight. Exercise need not to be painful or extreme to be effective. Regular periods of moderate exercise several times a week can be beneficial.
Jogging, brisk walking, biking, and taking part in active sports - enough both to get your heart beating faster and to cause you to break a sweat - can improve your endurance and help to prevent heart attack and stroke. Combining such aerobic exercise with moderate weight training and calisthenics helps to strengthen your muscles and also maintaining metabolism.
Simply using your feet instead of a car, bus, or elevator is a good start. Why wait for a ride when you can walk to your destination, perhaps even arriving there faster? You should encourage yourself to participate in physical hobbies, outdoors wherever possible. Such activities strengthens your body and helps you to develop whole-body coordination in ways that sedentary entertainment, such as video games, cannot.
No matter how old you are when you start, you can benefit from moderate physical exercise. If you are older or have health problems and have not been exercising, it is wise to consult a doctor about how to begin. But do begin! Exercise that is started gradually and not overdone can help even the oldest among us to maintain muscle strength and bone mass. It can also help seniors to avoid falls.
KEY 4
Motivate Yourself
"if you are aware of your weaknesses and are constantly learning, your potential is virtually limitless" - Jay Sidhu
Aiming yourself with basic health information can equip and help motivate you to make needed adjustments for better personal health.
*Keep learning. Public and private institutions in many countries provide educational programs on a wide range of health topics. Take advantage of them, and educate yourself about basic ways to improve your health and to avoid endangering it. Keep an open mind, and be willing to make simple adjustments.
It takes more than self-interest to establish and maintain a healthful way of life. Eliminate long-standing bad habits can be daunting, and making even simple adjustments often requires strong motivation.
These basic keys mentioned above, can help you experience a healthy lifestyle. Start gradually, not setting unreasonable goals for yourself. For example, try cutting down on less-healthful foods, rather than adding them up. Also, try going to bed a little earlier and getting a little more exercise. Doing something is better than doing nothing. It normally takes time - weeks or months before a new good habits becomes second nature. If you persist, despite setbacks, your health is likely to improve..
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