What Is Important For A Healthy Body?

The formula for staying healthy is to assess your body's needs and to satisfy them on a regular basis. This way, you won't accumulate stress or place undue strain on any one area, which encourages injury or illness. It's much easier and less painful to follow a healthy lifestyle plan than to address degenerative problems as they arise. Simply give your body what it takes to keep its metabolism thriving, and you'll look and feel your best.

Consistent, Good Nutrition

At high or low activity, your body is always on and in need of nutrients to complete its complex, life-sustaining processes. Get your daily protein, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals from healthy foods in the five food groups. Choose whole grains, a variety of fruits, a changing roster of vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and lean meat, fish, bean, nut and seed protein foods. Avoid diet cycles that interrupt a consistent nutrient intake by eating three nutritious meals daily, as the National Institutes of Health advises.

Adequate Sleep

Catnaps and sleeping in on the weekends are no substitutes for nightly restful sleep habits. It takes seven to nine hours to hit all the stages of sleep, which enable cellular repair, memory consolidation and appetite regulation. These involuntary processes are vital to your physical and mental health, and maintenance of a healthy weight. The National Sleep Foundation notes that adequate, quality sleep supports your immune system, which can prevent infectious illness and may reduce your risk for some cancers.

Routine Exercise

Regular exercise safeguards your cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health, and stimulates the mind as well. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, significant health benefits come from just 150 minutes of aerobic exercise and two short sessions of weight lifting or other strength-building exercises per week. Avoid heart problems, muscle and joint strains and sprains, and overweight conditions by working off the calories that you consume from food every day.

Stress Relief

Muscle tension, headaches, sleep disturbance and other health problems can crop up when you don't create outlets for daily stress. Physical, mental and emotional events trigger the release of stress hormones in the body, which can build to produce unpleasant symptoms. The National Women's Health Information Center suggests scheduling regular time-outs before stress becomes chronic. Try yoga, dog walking, quiet time reading or connecting with friends to redirect your stress response with positive activities.