You could spend a bundle on supplements and gym memberships, but you've probably got all the tools you need to build a healthy body. A knowledge of the basic food groups lets you optimize your diet and to power a daily workout on the home front, street or playing field. A place to sleep becomes your maintenance shop for nightly repair. All you need is a quiet corner to practice stress relief, the mental exercise that contributes to an all-around healthy body.
Nurture It
You can't enjoy physical health without eating the right foods and maintaining a healthy weight. To energize and to keep calories from fat under control, consume whole grains, beans, vegetables and fruits more often and cut back on meat. Keep bones strong with low-fat milk and yogurt. Following a consistent eating plan instead of periodic dieting keeps your body fed daily and your nutrient stores topped off. To preserve your body's natural fluid balance, choose water over caffeinated and alcoholic drinks.
Challenge It
Rest and relaxation will do you more good if you exercise first. Some exercise is better than none, and the more you do, the greater the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal benefits. You'll see an increase in endurance and strength with only 30 minutes of daily aerobics and short, twice-weekly sets of weight lifting or resistance band training. Work up to higher levels of activity gradually, and vary your routine with different sports and activities, to stay motivated.
Rest It
To recuperate and regenerate from active days, catnaps won't do. You need prolonged sleep periods to move through all the subconscious cycles of sleep. Get seven to nine restful hours of sleep per night to complete body processes from muscle repair to hormonal regulation of growth and appetite. Like consistent diet and exercise, consistent sleep habits give your body the support it needs to achieve good health.
Blow Off Steam
Your mental state influences your physical condition, and stress build-up can harm both mind and body. Managing stress is superior to reacting to an overload once it happens. Too many stress hormones can impede health, creating muscle tension, sleep disorders and high blood pressure. Reserve time every day to listen to music, practice stretches or chat with a friend. Making yourself feel good breaks the stress cycle to preserve healthy body function.
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