Making healthy lifestyle changes so that you can be healthier and happier in both mind and body extends far beyond diet and exercise -- although those are two crucial components of a healthier lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle includes taking time to care for your physical, mental and emotional health and preventing both acute and chronic health problems.
Diet and Exercise
Of course, these are two of the biggies when it comes to getting healthy. Eat a nutritious diet rich in fruits and veggies, whole grains and lean proteins, while limiting salt, saturated and trans fats and sugar. And, getting plenty of regular exercise -- trying to get physical activity just about every day of the week -- is essential for a healthy lifestyle.
Alcohol, Tobacco and Sun Exposure
Too much alcohol can damage your liver, add hundreds of extra calories to your diet and affect your sleep. If you drink, it's best to do so only in moderation, which means at most one drink daily for women and at most two daily drinks for men. Smoking and using tobacco in any form is harmful to your health in a number of ways and can increase your risk for many diseases from cancer to heart disease. Protecting your skin from sun exposure is another important element of a healthy lifestyle. Wear sunscreen daily and protective clothing to help reduce your risk of skin cancer.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is crucial for good mental, emotional and physical health. Getting enough sleep can improve your mood and can help you maintain a healthy weight. It can reduce your risk of illnesses, infections and chronic diseases like heart disease. Getting enough sleep also helps improve your ability to learn and your memory.
Deal With Your Stress
Find ways to keep your stress under control. When you're stressed, your mental health suffers and your risk for problems like depression increases. Too much stress can also increase your risk of chronic health problems like high blood pressure and heart disease, and it may also lead to weight gain and obesity.
Stay on Top of Your Health
Good health isn't just about getting healthy -- it's also about staying healthy. See your doctor regularly for checkups and get all recommended health screenings, including mammograms and colonoscopies, for example. Living a healthy lifestyle also includes getting all vaccinations as scheduled.
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