We all know how important it is to stay healthy but how easy is it to achieve? When we are healthy we can get so much more out of life and live for longer. Following a few simple steps should help us to achieve that and reduces the risk of contracting serious diseases such as diabetes and arthritis. Staying healthy is an ongoing commitment and should reflect a lifestyle choice to maintain your active life and independence for as long as possible.
When we think about being healthy, the first thing that springs to mind is eating healthy foods. Choosing the right foods can give you more energy and make you feel better in yourself. The better you eat, the more vitamins and nutrients you are providing for your immune system. Saturated fats and refined sugars will leave you bloated and sluggish and have little nutritional value. They cause your blood sugar levels to rise dramatically and then crash, leaving you feeling tired.
Getting enough sleep is crucial in maintaining the health of your body both physically and mentally. As you sleep, your body heals and repairs and balances hormones. For your immune system to stay strong, it relies on adequate sleep to function. Regularly feeling sleep deprived will lower your defences and leave you susceptible to infection.
Reducing stress is another very important factor in keeping well. Stress cannot be avoided in our busy lives but it does need to be kept in check before it makes us poorly. The physical results of too much stress include high blood pressure, depression and even back pain. When stressed, we tense our muscles and our backs are particularly sensitive to this kind of tension. For a Leicester Osteopath, visit http://www.townosteo.com/
Making sure you take regular exercise is another great way to boost your body. Exercise helps you to control your weight, improves your mood and helps to strengthen core muscles and bones. It might seem difficult to get motivated but exercise really does put lift your mood and could even extend your life so it’s definitely worth giving it a shot.
Staying well hydrated is vital. Did you know that 60-70% of your body is water and every single cell in your body needs water to function. The effects of dehydration are not always obvious and can be blamed on other things. A headache, feeling nauseous or fatigue can all be signs that you are too ‘dry’. The importance of water cannot be overstated in maintaining your body temperature, moving nutrients around, eliminating waste, lubricating organs and joints and steadying blood pressure.
Have physical check ups regularly with your GP so as to spot any potential issues before they become serious. Knowing your body is important and conducting regular self checks for lumps and bumps is always advisable in spotting the early signs of some forms of cancer, for example. Your outlook is essential too and it’s good to have a positive frame of mind, be sure to laugh often, have plenty of calm, relaxing time for yourself and spend time with people who make you happy. The power of positivity is often underestimated.