Showing posts with label healthy lifestyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healthy lifestyle. Show all posts

 


Living a healthy lifestyle requires you to make some conscious decisions. For people who are accustomed to living this way, it becomes second nature. If you are not health conscious, however, it will take some effort and retraining yourself. The following are five habits or practices that healthy people recognize and you should too.


 


“Occasional” Bad Habits Accumulate


This goes for both positive and negative habits. Many people rationalize unhealthy habits by saying something like “just one or two won’t kill me.” This might refer to cigarettes, alcoholic drinks or junk food. The problem is, if you do these type of things consistently, they have a cumulative effect on your body. That’s why healthy people recognize that it’s better to curb bad habits to a bare minimum.


 


Taking Care of Your Teeth and Gums is Vital to Your Health


Recent research shows that there is a connection between people’s dental health and their overall health. Cavities, oral infections and gum disease can not only cause problems for your mouth, but they can spread to other areas. That’s why people with gum disease are more likely to suffer from heart disease. That’s why healthy people take good care of their teeth, which includes brushing and flossing daily and scheduling regular appointments with the dentist.


 


Social Connections Are Essential to a Healthy Lifestyle


Being connected to other people and even animals is beneficial to your health. Isolation, on the other hand, can lead to depression and poor health. Studies show that people who are socially isolated, such as many older retired people, are at greater risk for many illnesses than those who are more sociable. That’s why healthy people make an effort to stay connected with friends, family, neighbors and activity partners.


 


It’s Important to Get Enough Rest


Lack of sleep not only makes you feel tired and drained, it takes a toll on your health. There is even evidence linking sleep deprivation to obesity. When you don’t get enough sleep, it can disrupt the balance of hormones that regulate your metabolism. Most people need at least seven hours of sleep per night. If you have difficulty getting enough sleep, you can try scheduling a nap in the afternoon or early evening.


 


Eating Right Can Do Wonders for the Body


People who are serious about their health are often talking about the last meal that they had. They normally use words like quinoa, kale and chicken. Eating right can reduce risk of several diseases like cancer, heart disease, and type-2 diabetes. A great option for a healthy meal would be a nice peanut butter and honey sandwich with some Klosterman Baking Company bread. Controlling you portions has a direct effect on your waistline. Make sure you continue making correct decisions and pick the carrot over the cake.


 


Stress is Bad for Your Health


Stress is one of the most harmful factors when it comes to your health. When you are tense, angry or frustrated, your body releases adrenaline as though you were under attack. If you are frequently in this type of state, it takes its toll on the body. Healthy people understand the importance of relaxing and letting go of stress. Techniques such as yoga, meditation, aromatherapy and massage can help you reduce stress.


 


There are quite a few ways that health conscious people differ from their less healthy counterparts. The above guidelines are some of the most crucial areas to keep in mind if you want to enjoy better health and a better quality of life.


 

When you’re trying to maintain a diet and workout regime it can be very difficult as there are a lot of different temptations to make you stray from the path. Once we have been doing a certain regime for a long time, it can make us feel not only very hungry (because we are eating less than we were in the past) but also it can cause a lot of emotional damage. This can lead to the very serious problem of binge eating. Binge eating is overeating, usually due to a number of emotional factors that make you want to eat more to feel better rather than as a way to sate your hunger.


 


Clearly it is a much better idea to only eat until you are full and satisfied, rather than to give in to your cravings and just eat to make yourself feel better. Binge eating often happens are a long day of doing really well and it can make us feel like the diet is not worth it if we simply binge at the end of the day and undo all the good work we did as a part of the plan. So we have prepared some excellent tips to help you avoid binge eating and stick to your diet plan as part of a healthy lifestyle.


 


The first and most important step in the ways to avoid binge eating is to identify situations in which you know you are more likely to find yourself binge eating. For everyone this will be different so it is very much down to you and your personal habits. Once you have identified the occasions where you are more likely to binge eat it means that you are better equipped to do something about it. For example if you know that you regularly binge eat right after going to the gym then you can ensure that you have a plan in place such as always finding something to do to take your mind off eating instead of just going to the fridge and binging on the food that is available to you.


 


Another great idea if you want to avoid binge eating is to create a food diary so that you can record every single thing that you eat. This is a smart move as it forces you to acknowledge exactly how much you’re eating on a daily basis. This means that if you feel tempted to binge you remember that the details of what you’ve eaten have to go in the diary. Make sure that you also include snacks and drinks and altogether this will give you a great idea of how much you usually eat so that you can stay in control.


 


It’s also a useful idea to find ways of socialising that don’t involve food. For many people, socialising might include going out for a meal or even just going out for a drink, which inevitably involves getting snacks along the way. Try a range of different activities that don’t involve food and you’ll find that there are loads of way to have fun that don’t involve you having to eat all of the time.


 


Finally, it’s a great plan to keep yourself away from temptation. This is simple; if you know there are certain foods that can trigger you to binge eat, just don’t buy them. While it might seem like an obvious trick, so many people go shopping and pick out their favourite foods without thinking about the fact that it might be better for them to avoid these things altogether.

For a healthier and happier lifestyle, it’s crucial to make wise choices with food consumption and mobility to ensure a strong immune system. It will not only improve the body’s overall physique, but will promote endorphins for less stress and a happier attitude.


 


1. Drink Plenty of Water


Although eight cups of water a day has commonly been the most popular recommendation by health experts, it is now said that each person should be consuming half their body weight in ounces of water. Each day, the average person loses three to four liters of water, making it crucial to replenish it to stay properly hydrated and promote weight loss.


 


2. Take a Multi-Vitamin


Even when consuming a high amount of nutrients each day, it can be difficult to have the proper intake that’s recommended. Multivitamins work to supplement food that’s already consumed by containing high amounts of potassium, vitamin B12, and calcium. A daily multivitamin will work more effectively than taking a variety of different supplements, different types can be found at www.naturessunshine.com.


 


3. Choose Organic


By consuming organic produce and grains, it will work to prevent common lung conditions, as well as allergies, for food that is naturally grown without harmful toxins and pesticides. The average piece of broccoli contains up to 33 pesticide residues, which can easily disrupt hormones and weaken the immune system.


 


4. Enjoy Detox Benefits


It’s easy for toxins to quickly build up in the body with artificial ingredients and alcohol consumed, which can cause weight gain, wrinkles, and dry hair. Try participating in a detox once every three to six months with a herbal liver cleanse that will promote a faster metabolism and rid the body of harmful pollutants.


 


5. Increase Mobility


Whether walking the dog each morning or exercising on an elliptical machine throughout the week, it’s important to have some form of mobility, especially with sedentary work. Increase blood flow and circulation by opting for taking the stairs, parking farther away from the store in the parking lot, or joining a boot camp as a way to work various muscles in the body and boost the immune system.


 


With new habits that are simple and easy to practice, it can be easy to restore the body to its original state. By incorporating cleaner foods into the diet and choosing holistic ways to detox the body, it can be easy to have more mental clarity and physical energy for a more productive and happier lifestyle.

Exercise doesn’t need to be a burdensome task, yet so many people treat it as though it is. While not every exercise is suitable for every body, and there is naturally going to be some pain when you’re working your body to the limit, the human body was designed to be used. It’s important to be physically active and move your body regularly, for both flexibility and to maintain a healthy weight. There are many modifiable lifestyle factors which lead to premature deaths around the world, the main ones being our diets, tobacco usage and physical activity. Once these aspects of your life are under control, you’ll notice an increased feeling of wellbeing and less risk of health concerns such as heart disease and diabetes. Avoiding these pillars of a healthy lifestyle could increase your risk of almost every chronic disease by as much as 80 percent and reduce your life expectancy. The power of your lifestyle goes far above and beyond any medication that the world can offer – drugs should be unnecessary if you’re leading a healthy lifestyle, as you’ll be stronger and more able to fight off disease.


 


There is considerable benefit in exercising regularly, beyond the common associations such as a leaner body and improved stamina. As well as helping us to fight obesity and the related health complaints, such as stroke or diabetes, it can also keep our muscles working effectively, our bones stronger and our mood lifted. Research has confirmed that, on average, sitting more each day compared to keeping moving can increase our risk of premature death. And this doesn’t have to mean spending every waking moment at the gym – everything from swimming and aerobics, to walking and dancing can improve your health and fitness. It doesn’t need to be a chore – it’s all about finding something that you enjoy, that fits in with your lifestyle, and that you can do each week to burn calories and improve your wellbeing. Exercise you leave you feeling motivated, energetic and alert. And the more you do of it, the more you’ll notice these fantastic effects. Numerous studies have proven just how much our bodies benefit from regular exercise, yet so many people are reluctant to make it a part of their weekly routine. As active people, we should be celebrating our ability to move, run and jump – instead, we lead increasingly sedentary lifestyles that are quite literally killing us early.


If you’re new to exercise, it is important to take things slow to begin with so that you can acclimatise your body to extra exertion. However, once you’re fitter and more able, the world is your oyster – you’ll have so many options for ways to exercise. Why not mix it up and try something new each week? The general rule is if it gets your heart racing and your muscles moving then it counts. Check out your local fitness centre and see what they’re offering in the way of exercise classes – most local gyms provide a range, such as aerobics, dancing, boxing, swimming and football. It’s also a fantastic chance to socialise with people in your local area – you may even wish to pair up with a fitness buddy to workout with each week. Exercise is something that can seem tiresome and boring if you approach it in the wrong way. But once you change your outlook, you may find that it’s something that you really look forward to each week – the benefits will certainly keep you coming back for more.

iron2Iron plays an important role in the body, as it helps to create new red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body. If you become deficient in iron, it can lead to anaemia. Iron can be found in many foods but is most commonly associated with red meat – however, foods such as beans, nuts, dried fruit, soy, dark-green vegetables and wholegrains also provide a great source of this nutrient. Interestingly, although people think that spinach is the ultimate provider of iron, it also contains a substance which makes it difficult for the body to absorb it – while you shouldn’t stray away from spinach, be sure to top it up with other foods as well.


Men need just over 8.5mg of iron each day, while women need 14.8mg – this is because women lose blood each month due to their menstrual cycle, so it’s important that they get plenty of iron in order to stop the body from struggling without it. Iron supplements may even be advisable in a female diet, but speak to your GP who can advise you whether or not you will need these.


Too much iron can actually be bad for you –  a high dose is considered to be anything over 20mg and it can lead to nausea, constipation, vomiting and stomach pains. In severe cases, an extremely high dose of iron can even be fatal. This is especially the case in children, so be sure to monitor your child’s diet carefully and make sure they don’t take any supplements that could cause them to overdose on this nutrient. Generally, you can get all of the iron you need from a balanced diet that’s rich in fruit and vegetables, but if you’re concerned that you may be iron deficient, speak to your GP who can run blood tests and see if your levels are too low.


Arthritis painWhat is osteoporosis?


Osteoporosis is a condition which weakens the bones, making them more susceptible to fractures and breaks. It is also sometimes called brittle bone disease and can be very debilitating if you develop it, even leading to death in severe cases.


What is Osteopenia?


Osteopenia is the terms used for the state of your bones if they are not as healthy or strong as they are meant to be – when left untreated, this develops into osteoporosis.


Why are my bones not as strong as they are meant to be?


A variety of factors influence how strong your bones are, from your diet to your lifestyle, so this is something you should discuss with your GP who will have access to your medical records. Past health concerns may also impact the state of your bone health now.


Can anything be done?


Both of these conditions can be treated, with your bone health returning to normal or at least improving. You will be best off treating this condition as early as possible though, so if you think you are at risk you should speak to your GP as soon as possible.


How do I do this?


There are three factors to remember to improve the health of your bones. Taking supplements, weight bearing exercises and checking your hormone balance can all help.


Which supplements do I need?


Vitamin D and calcium are both renowned for their health-boosting properties when it comes to your bones. But bones need more nutrients than just these to be health – protein, vitamin C and zinc are also needed.


What constitutes weight-bearing exercise?


Weight bearing exercises such as yoga, tennis or dancing are all great for helping to keep your joints supple and healthy.


What hormone balance is needed for my bones?


Oestrogen and progesterone are both required for healthy bones – they help to slow the breakdown of bones and prevent further damage. Progesterone is great for building new bones to help keep them strong and healthy.


Will my GP prescribe drugs for Osteoporosis ?


Your GP will prescribe a mixture of calcium and vitamin D supplements to help boost your health and ensure your bones stay strong.


What about the drugs that slow the breakdown of bones?


If you have severe brittle bones, you may need stronger drugs which your GP will need to prescribe. Fosamax and other drugs have been known to show side effects so do your research first and foremost.



Things to Watch Out For With Bone Conditions