How To Live A Healthy Lifestyle....

 

To live a healthier life you will most likely need to make some adjustments in a wide variety of areas. Being "healthy" is based on many things including: your genetics, diet, exercise routine and lifestyle choices. Since you cannot control your genes, making changes to items you have control over can help lead to a healthier lifestyle. Focus on making small changes to your diet, exercise and other lifestyle factors to help make you healthier.

Below are some tips that will make you live a healthier lifestyle:

Regular Checkups: (an appointment with your doctors). 

One key to improving your health and maintaining it is regular doctor visits. These health care professionals will help support your desire for a healthier life. They'll also be able to tell you if you need to start or stop anything in order to have a healthier life.

·   Visit your primary care physician. Talk to him about your current health condition and if there is anything they'd recommend to help you live a healthier life.

·   Also visit your dentist. It's typically recommended to go twice a year just for a checkup. This is another important visit you shouldn't overlook.

·   Visit any other doctors you may need. 

 

Ensure you Check Your Weight Regularly. 

There are a few ways to check on your health status without a doctor. Measuring your weight and overall size can give you some insight into whether or not your body is healthy as well.

·   Weigh yourself. Note your weight and compare it with national standards for ideal body weight. This will tell you if you're close to a healthy weight or should consider weight loss.

·   Measure your waist circumference. Another way to interpret your weight and health is by measuring your waist circumference. A large waist may mean you have a high amount of visceral fat which could be dangerous to your health.  Men should have a waist circumference less than 40" and women should be less than 35".

·   Also figure out your BMI with an online calculator. Again, this is just an additional method of letting you know whether or not you're at a healthy weight.

·   If many of these measurements are too high and you feel you might be overweight or carrying too much weight, this can be a part of your life you work on so you can be healthier.

 

Build A Support Group. 

A support group is a great part of a healthier lifestyle. They not only can provide support for your goals but also are a support to your mental and emotional well-being.

·   A big part of a healthier life that often gets overlooked is your mental and emotional health. A support group doesn't have to just be there to cheer you on, but be a good friend.

·   Ask friends, family members or co-workers to join you on certain goals. Maybe others want to lose weight, eat healthier or exercise more.

·   Studies show that those people who have a support group are more likely to meet their long-term goals.

Eat Reasonably and Mindfully.

 Mindful eating is a way of eating that helps you bring more attention and focus to how you eat.  Mindful eating is important to a healthier life as it helps you enjoy eating. If you're aiming to live a healthier life, it's not about avoiding every unhealthy food or working out every day. It's about moderation that works for you.

 

·   People who eat mindfully typically eat less, have an easier time losing weight and get more satisfaction out of their meals.

·   Eating mindfully involves a variety of things. To start, turn off all electronics (like your phone or TV) and remove any other distractions. You need to be able to fully focus on your meal.

·   When you're eating pay attention to how your food looks, how it tastes, the textures and temperatures. Really concentrate on each bite.

·   Also take at least 20-30 minutes to eat your meal. When you take your time with your meal, you may end up eating less and enjoy your meal more.

·   Many health professionals suggest a common rule known as the 80/20 rule. This means that 80% of the time you choose healthy activities or things that will promote a healthier life. 20% of the time you can choose something a little less healthy (like sleeping in instead of your morning workout or having an extra glass of wine).

·   When you first start on your goals towards living a healthier life, make sure to include treats and fun things that might not necessarily be considered "healthy." These things will support your mental and emotional health.

 

Maintain A Balanced Diet. 

A well-balanced diet is the cornerstone of a healthy diet. Eating well is important to help you live a healthier life.

·   When you eat a well-balanced diet you're able to consume all the recommended nutrients your body needs. You’re less at risk for nutrient deficiencies and other side effects of a poor quality diet. You will feel and be healthier.

·   A well-balanced diet is one that includes all five food groups each day. In addition, it’s a diet that features a wide variety of food. Don't eat the same few foods each day. This limits your ability to eat a wide variety of nutrients.

 

Drink More Water.

Make a conscious effort to drink more water. Being adequately hydrated is essential to living a healthier life.

·   When you're dehydrated you may experience a variety of side effects that may not only affect your health, but how you're feeling as well.

·   When you're dehydrated you may have chronic headaches, fatigue and afternoon fogginess.

·   Aim for about eight to 13 glasses of clear, hydrating fluids each day. This amount will vary based upon your age, gender and activity level.

·   Drinks that can count towards water include: water, flavored waters, decaf coffee and decaf tea. Keep in mind that sports drinks often contain a lot of sugar, and should be diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio.

 

Limit Alcohol Intake. 

Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to weight gain or a weight stall and also have negative effects of your overall health.

·   Health professionals typically recommend that women consume no more than one alcoholic beverage daily and men consume no more than two alcoholic beverages daily.

·   Limit these even further than the recommendations to help support your desire to lose weight and be slimmer. Alcohol provides only calories, no nutrition.

·   Typically one serving of alcohol is 4-oz of wine, 2-oz of liquor or one 12-oz beer.

 

Boost Your Serotonin Levels Naturally. 

Serotonin (“the happiness hormone”) regulates mood, sleep, memory, and appetite. You can increase the serotonin levels in your brain by eating vegetables and seeds with a high tryptophan to protein ratio. This is because serotonin is synthesized by tryptophan, an essential amino acid that comes from protein in food.

·   Tryptophan cannot cross the blood-brain-barrier when there is too much Large Natural Amino Acid (LNAA) in your blood plasma.

·   The carbohydrates in seeds (and vegetables) cause an insulin-mediated reduction of LNAA in your blood plasma, such that more tryptophan can enter the brain where it will produce more serotonin.

·   The best ingredients are seeds like sesame, pumpkin, sunflower, butternut squash seeds. But don’t roast them, because this lowers their effect.

·   Tryptophan-rich animal products (like chicken, milk, and cheese) will not increase the serotonin levels in your brain. If any, they will have an adverse effect. This is because the carbohydrates in animal products don’t lower the LNAA levels in your blood plasma.

 

Exercise Regularly

Physical activity is an important component of a healthier lifestyle. However, if you do not enjoy the type of exercise you do this can work against your goal of living a healthier life.

·   Find an exercise routine that you truly enjoy. This will also help support your mental and emotional health. Exercise should feel rejuvenating and enjoyable.

·   Make a work out mix that you listen to only when you are working out. Every time you switch on the mix your body will get into the pattern of knowing it's time to work out!

·   Find exercises you enjoy: walking, cycling, yoga, ballet — just make sure you are exercising consistently. Peruse your local free library for any workout DVDs or reading material. There is a plethora of information on the internet.

·   Find a buddy to workout with. You can teach each other your favorite exercises, as well as motivate each other to go during a lazy spell.  Also, there's nothing wrong with a little competition!

·   When doing moderate-intensity cardio, you should be able to talk, but not, say, sing a song. You should break a sweat and your heart rate should be at 50 – 70% of your maximum heart rate.

·   If you want to see additional health benefits from your cardio exercises, aim for 300 minutes each week.

 

Manage Stress. 

Health professionals will be able to give you direct guidance on how to better manage your stress, a hectic lifestyle and other life situations.

Stress is a hard to control emotion that can wreak havoc on your health. Low-grade chronic stress is very common and can inhibit your progress towards living a healthier life.

·         Stress can lead to a variety of health related side effects including: headache, depression, fatigue, raises your risk of a heart attack and type 2 diabetes, acid reflux, and reduced immunity.

·         Engage in other behaviors to help you calm down, release stress and anxiety. Try: meditation, yoga, light exercise, listening to music, talking to a friend or taking a hot shower or bath.   

·   You may want to talk to your primary care doctor about a local therapist or someone they would recommend you to.

·   Seeing a therapist isn't only reserved for those people dealing with a significant mental illness like depression. Many studies have shown that people of all ages and background can benefit from seeing a therapist or a life coach.

 

Get Adequate Sleeping Time

Getting more sleep will help you feel more rested and ready to face the day in the morning. It gives your body more time to rejuvenate itself as well! This is when your body repairs itself on a cellular level.

·   It's typically recommended to get between 7–9 hours of sleep each night.

·   To help you get a well-rested sleep, do not exercise right before bed, turn off all electronics, turn off all lights and things that make noise. This will help you get the best sleep.

·   Don't ignore chronic sleep problems. If you can't get enough sleep, aren't sleeping well or do not feel well-rested, make an appointment with your doctor to see if they can help alleviate this problem.