If you want to make the right lifestyle moves toward more energy and less stress and strain, revamp your daily routine with healthy choices. Every day brings opportunities to improve your diet and your physical and mental fitness. Review your usual ways of eating, exercising, sleeping and working out daily stress. Then compare them to the recommendations of expert health officials. Simple steps can take you away from chronic injuries and illness and toward a more balanced way of life.
Healthy Food Choices
Instead of relying on convenience foods to furnish your daily nutrition, start drawing your menus from the five food groups. If you include whole grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, seafood, beans, nuts and/or seeds in each meal, you'll get the fiber, vitamins, minerals and healthy carbohydrates and proteins you need. If you pick foods that are low in fat whenever possible, you'll control calories and your weight.
Healthy Activity Level
Instead of waiting until the weekend to work out, and perhaps overdoing it, exercise on most days of the week. Just 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity such as brisk walking, swimming, dancing or shooting hoops can boost your endurance and lower your risk for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, says some exercise is better than none; 150 minutes a week provides substantial health benefits and increases your likelihood of living longer.
Healthy Ways to Sleep
Instead of staying up late to watch late-night TV talk shows, choose a regular bedtime and stick with it, even on your days off. This is one way of ensuring that you get enough sleep every night. A consistent quality and quantity of rest will best support your health and activity level, reports the National Sleep Foundation, which recommends 7 to 9 hours at a stretch. Muscle repair and appetite regulation are just two of the crucial nighttime functions that unbroken sleep provides.
Healthy Ways to Relax
When your stress level rises, instead of indulging in comfort food, caffeine, nicotine or alcohol, choose a healthier outlet. Taking a walk around the block eases muscle tension and improves your mental outlook. Taking a break to read or call a friend also acts to break the stress cycle in a positive manner. Better yet, set aside time to do these things daily or weekly, and manage your stress level before it raises your risk for high blood pressure, gastrointestinal problems or depression.
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