Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being – and not merely the absence of disease. Before the industrial revolution, fitness was defined as the ability to carry out activities during the day without undue fatigue. However, with changes in lifestyles, physical fitness is now considered to be a measure of the body’s ability to function efficiently and effectively – in work and leisure activities – to be healthy, to resist hypokinetic diseases, and to meet emergency situations.
When you adopt a healthy lifestyle, not only are you taking active control to improve your quality of life, but you are also setting a positive example for other members of the family, specifically the children!
Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle
- Eat a variety of foods
- Base your diet on plenty of foods rich in carbohydrates
- Replace saturated with unsaturated fat
- Enjoy plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Reduce salt and sugar intake
- Eat regularly, control the portion size
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Get on the move, make it a habit!
- Start now! And keep changing gradually.
Good nutrition
Good nutrition is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. Your food choices affect your health — not just in how you feel today, but also tomorrow and in the future. Combined with physical activity, your diet can help you to reach and maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of chronic diseases, and promote overall health.
Exercise improves your health
Exercise strengthens your heart and improves circulation. Increased blood flow raises the oxygen levels in your body, which helps to lower your risk of heart diseases like high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, and heart attack. Regular exercise can also lower your blood pressure and triglyceride levels.
There are many types of physical activities one can do including walking, swimming, cycling, running, dancing, yoga, pilates, and jumping, to name a few. Find what is most enjoyable and what works for you, and commit to a daily routine.
Benefits of Regular Exercise
- Increase feeling of happiness,
- Improve your mental health and mood,
- Help with weight loss,
- Improve muscle and bone strength,
- Increase energy levels,
- Reduce risk of chronic disease,
- Help your body manage blood sugar and insulin levels,
- Improve skin health,
- Improve brain health and memory,
- Reduce anxiety sensitivity,
- Help with relaxation and sleep quality,
- Reduce pain,
- Improve positive self-image and boost self-esteem,
- Improve sexual desire, function and performance in both men and women,
- Help with quitting smoking by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms,
- Inspire others to make time for exercise!
How to Make Exercise Part of Your Regular Routine
- Make everyday activities more active. Even small changes can help. You can take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk down the hall to a coworker’s office instead of sending an email. Wash the car yourself. Park further away from your destination.
- Be active with friends and family. Having a workout partner may make you more likely to enjoy exercise. You can also plan social activities that involve exercise. You might also consider joining an exercise group or class, such as a dance class, hiking club, or volleyball team.
- Keep track of your progress. Keeping a log of your activity or using a fitness tracker may help you set goals and stay motivated.
- Make exercise more fun. Try listening to music or watching TV while you exercise. Also, mix things up a little bit – if you stick with just one type of exercise, you might get bored. Try doing a combination of activities.
- Find activities that you can do even when the weather is bad. You can walk in a mall, climb stairs, or work out in a gym even if the weather stops you from exercising outside.
sources: eufic.org, healthline.com, medlineplus.gov, wikipedia.org, greatist.com
*All information/posts on this blog is published for general information and educational purposes only. Arms of Mercy NPC and the armsofmercy.org.za website will not be held liable for any adverse health effects, losses and/or damages whatsoever. Any action you take as a result of the information is at your own risk, and does not replace the advice of a qualified medical practitioner. Always consult with your medical healthcare practitioner.
