Did you know that what you eat daily can impact your lifelong health? Your current lifestyle may seem harmless now, but later, it hits back with a bang in the name of lifestyle diseases. That’s where the simple rules for a healthy lifestyle come in. Being healthy may seem complicated, but it’s not. A simple daily routine comprising healthy food choices, adequate exercise, and rest can improve immunity and prolong life.
The first step is to review your current lifestyle and make amends before disease strikes. The seven simple rules for a healthy lifestyle are simple and practical. You’ll feel stronger, have optimal health, and feel energized every day. There’s a lot of information already about healthy living, but it just drops down to the seven rules for a healthy lifestyle that you can follow every day. Let’s get started.
In This Article
7 Rules for a Healthy Lifestyle
#1 Exercise
Lift things around, move often, or walk more every day. Exercise doesn’t mean that you must have a gym subscription. There are many ways to be active in the comfort of your home. You can skip rope, play with your children, and take walks. Choose activities that you enjoy and do them regularly.
Regular exercise lowers blood sugar levels and reduces insulin resistance. It reduces the risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. It also improves mood and can prevent depression. Moreover, it helps you shed some pounds and at the same time manage a healthy weight. It boosts immune function, reduces blood pressure, and promotes optimal brain function. The list is endless.
Incorporate regular exercise into your routine. Have mid-intensity exercises 3-4 times a week for 30 minutes, such as swimming, rope skipping, running, and walking.
Also Read: What are the 5 Benefits of Regular Exercise?
#2 Eat more fruits and vegetables; Five portions a day
How often do you eat fruits and vegetables? Did you know you should take five portions of fruits and vegetables daily? According to Harvard Health, fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins and minerals that boost immune function and prevent cancer.
Additionally, they promote weight loss, prevent constipation, and reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. For a healthy heart and body, ensure to incorporate vegetables in all your meals and eat fruit after every meal.
#3 Cut back on processed foods.
Most times, sweet things aren’t so healthy. They are addictive and make us slaves of bad health choices. According to the National Institute of Health, eating sweetened foods increases the risk of obesity by 60% in children. Soda, cakes, biscuits, French fries, and burgers have added sugar/salt, additives, and artificial sweeteners.
According to Harvard Health, they have low nutrient content; call them ’empty calories. Excessive consumption may cause dire health consequences, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. They are also high in trans fats, which raise LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood. In return, plaques form in the arteries and block the proper circulation of blood. As a result, the heart pumps harder, resulting in hypertension, stroke, and heart attack.
Replace processed foods with natural and unrefined whole grains, lean meat, legumes, and pulses; the closer to the natural form, the better.
Also Read: Facts about Fast Foods That Will Make You Rethink Your Health Choices
#4 Don’t skip meals.
Ensure that you have three primary meals and two snacks daily to maintain a healthy weight. Skipping meals is a sure way to add more weight once you resume your regular diet. However, it is not a good weight loss plan because it makes the body shift into starvation. The body believes there’s ‘famine.’ Therefore, it absorbs and stores all the food once you eat. Therefore, you will never lose weight by skipping meals.
#5 Take adequate water
Increase your water consumption by drinking eight glasses per day. Water nourishes body cells, makes more blood, and removes toxins from the body. According to the Cleveland Clinic, failure to drink enough water causes constipation, fatigue, and migraines. Set aside bottles of water that measure up to 2 liters and ensure you complete them by the end of the day.
#6 Have adequate rest
Sleep is crucial for good health. Ensure that you sleep for at least seven hours a day. Chronic sleep deprivation may cause obesity, heart problems, and stress. You overwork the body when you don’t have adequate sleep. It improves overall health and keeps you alert, focused, and productive.
Also Read: 5 Pillars of Health and Wellness
#7 Avoid stress
High stress levels raise levels of cortisol, which affects your metabolism. It can cause depression, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. Stress can also lead to weight gain when people binge eat when they try to shift the stress. According to Mayo Clinic, meditation and exercise can relieve stress.
Moreover, simplify your life. Forgive yourself easily and move on from things that cause you stress. Don’t be overwhelmed by activities and situations. Remember, if you can’t control it, don’t stress over it. Instead, make a to-do list and break down your tasks into small, manageable, simple tasks.
Learn how to handle stressful situations and seek help if you can’t manage them alone. For example, if you have depression, seek professional help.
Also Read: How Does Exercise Improve Mental Health? (9 Surprising Ways)
FAQs
- What are the 3 keys to a healthy lifestyle?
The three keys to a healthy lifestyle are healthy eating, regular exercise, and adequate sleep. These three are important for your health and well-being.
- What are the 4 pillars of a healthy lifestyle?
The four pillars of a healthy lifestyle include exercise, sleep, nutrition, and rest. The four pillars work together for optimal health and well-being.
- What is a health triangle?
The health triangle consists of physical, mental, and social health. Physical health is how your body functions; mental health is how you manage your emotions, thoughts, and actions. Your social health is how you relate to others.
- What are the 4 steps to a healthy lifestyle?
The four steps to a healthy lifestyle include reviewing your current state, adopting regular exercise into your routine, eating healthy foods, and regularly monitoring your progress.
- What are 4 healthy habits a person can have?
The four healthy habits you can adopt that will improve your overall well-being include good nutrition, regular exercise, getting optimal sleep, and managing your stress levels through relaxation techniques.
Final Thoughts
Make better choices today. No matter how young you are, your current lifestyle choices may seem harmless now, but your body will pay for your indulgence in the future. Unfortunately, you will not have an opportunity to reverse the negative impacts. You can take gradual steps to apply these rules. For example, if you eat french fries daily, cut back twice a week, then gradually cut back once a fortnight or month. You can also decide to take the high road and start today.
Whichever way you choose, know that your health is in your hands. Make healthy choices today. In the long run, you will be happy you made the right choices. It starts with these seven simple rules for a healthy lifestyle—one day at a time.
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