Every choice you make has consequences. This is especially true when it comes to your health. They may not be immediate, but they’ll rear their ugly heads eventually. Eat too much high-fat fast food and you risk cardiac problems. Drink too much high sugar soda and you may find yourself with diabetes.
It’s always easier to fix something before it becomes a major problem. Be proactive instead of reactive. Here are ten things that will leave you feeling better in a matter of days:
Health Fix #1: Eat more Unprocessed Food
When foods are processed, chemicals and other additives are used to help make the product taste better or last longer. So, the more you eat, the more unnatural and potentially harmful substances you’re putting into your body.
Try to eat as many natural, organic foods as possible. Stick with proteins like lean beef, pork, chicken, turkey and eggs. Choose complex (less processed) carbs like brown rice, sweet potatoes and barley. Eat a good amount of fruits and vegetables to give your body the nutrients, vitamins and minerals it needs to help you live a long, fruitful life.
Health Fix #2: Cut Down on the Amount You Eat Out
It’s speculated that the average person eats out four to five times a week. While it’s not bad to indulge every now and again, when you do it on a regular basis, it adds up. Most meals served in restaurants and fast food joints have more calories than the average person should eat in a whole day. So if you’re eating an extra four or five days worth of calories every week, you’re doing some major damage to your waistline and, subsequently, your health.
Try to eat most of your meals at home. It’s easier to control your portions and limit your fat, both of which will do your body good.
Health Fix #3: Drink more Water
The human body cannot survive without water for more than three to five days. It’s necessary for proper body functions and maximum joint fluidity. Don’t get enough and you feel lethargic and run-down. Also, it’s easy to mistake thirst for hunger since most of the cues are similar. So, while you may think its food you want, you actually need hydration.
Increase your daily water intake. Keep a bottle or glass of water on hand at all times and sip it often. When you exercise, drink at least four ounces every fifteen minutes to replace the fluid you lose through sweating. If you feel thirsty then you’re already dehydrated.
Health Fix #4: Cut Down on Your Alcohol Consumption
When you imbibe often it can be damaging to your body. Drink too much and you risk liver problems or pancreatitis, both of which can be fatal.
Alcohol also tends to affect your ability to make good, healthy decisions. Even if you have the intention of having a salad for dinner, get a drink or two in you and you’re more likely to go for the pizza or chicken wings. Not to mention that you may skip your workout the next day if you had too much booze the night before.
Pay attention to how much and how often you celebrate with some spirits. While it may feel good at the time, it rarely feels good when the effects wear off.
Health Fix #5: Get Some Activity Daily
Lack of exercise contributes to a number of health issues. Not only do sedentary people tend to have higher rates of obesity, but also more issues related to lack of movement, like stiff joints and muscle aches.
You don’t need to follow a high intensity exercise regimen to gain benefits either. While that’s the best for your body, research shows that just adding some extra activity into your daily routine helps. When you go to the store, park as far away from the door as possible so you have to walk further. Choose the stairs over the elevator. Walk during work breaks instead of sitting around dishing office gossip. Pace while you’re talking on the phone. Every little bit counts.
Health Fix #6: Pay Attention to Your Posture
Bad posture can lead to unnecessary aches and pains that you feel immediately, and down the road. Although one of the most common issues with bad posture is back pain, effects of not standing or sitting properly can be felt through your entire body. For instance, if you spend a lot of time in front of the computer and sit with your shoulders hunched forward, you’ll likely notice issues with your shoulders and neck.
Always try to keep in good form. Keep your back straight, shoulders down and back and hold your tummy in as if you’re trying to draw your navel to your spine. While it may seem difficult at first if you’re not used to it, correct yourself enough and eventually good posture will be second nature.
Health Fix #7: Thoroughly Clean Your Environment
If your living area isn’t sanitized, you’re subjecting yourself to germs and viruses that other people leave behind, and dust and mold that can have a harmful effect on your respiratory system. Spend some time thoroughly cleaning the spaces that you spend the most time in, like your home, office and vehicle.
Be sure to disinfect areas that get a lot of touch-traffic, like door knobs, handles, remotes and computer keyboards. Replace furnace filters so that the air that circulates your home is clean. Wash bed sheets regularly to get rid of bed bugs. Not only will your place smell and look better, but you’ll feel better too.
Health Fix #8: Engage in Activities You Enjoy
If you don’t give your body a way to relieve stress, it continues to quietly build in your body. Then, one day, it brims over and all the sudden you’re dealing with issues like chest pains, headaches and fatigue. So, find activities that you like doing that relieve some tension and anxiety and commit to doing them regularly.
If you like to bowl, join a league. If flowers are your thing, grow a garden. Whatever it is that makes you smile, make sure it’s a part of your life.
Health Fix #9: Spend Quality Time with Close Friends and Family Members
People who have deeper, more fulfilling relationships report higher levels of life satisfaction and tend to live longer. Set aside time in your busy schedule for people that are important to you. Meet a friend for coffee or visit a family member you adore but don’t normally make time for. Not only will you be improving your health, but theirs as well.
Health Fix #10: Make Sleep a Priority
Sleep is necessary for you to function efficiently. It’s during these few hours of complete relaxation that your mind has an opportunity to rest and your body to rejuvenate itself. Aim to get at least seven to eight hours a night. Yes, it can be difficult when you have so much to do, but you’ll be so much more productive after a good sleep that you’ll actually get more done in less time.
Making tiny adjustments like these to your weekly regimen will give you huge benefits for years to come. You’ll have a healthier mind and body and be able to enjoy life to its fullest and that’s what it’s about, isn’t it?
Add Comment