Regular physical activity and healthy eating habits are so important for your health that it is worth the effort to get started. Investigate enjoyable exercises and a variety of nutritious foods that you like to eat so that your lifestyle is healthier and more enjoyable. Many factors, in addition to your physical activity and diet, affect your health, so ask your doctor about any concerns you may have.
Control Your Weight
Physical activity can help you control your weight because it burns calories, so try to find enjoyable exercises that you can make a part of your regular routine. Healthy eating habits can help you control your calorie intake because healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans and lean proteins, are often more filling than unhealthy foods, such as those with added sugars or refined starches. You will gain weight if you eat more calories than you burn, and obesity increases your risk for heart disease and diabetes.
Promote Bone Health
Healthy eating habits, which includes eating sufficient amounts of dairy products, fatty fish and fortified foods, can help you get the calcium and vitamin D you need for building strong bones when you are young and maintaining bone mass as you grow older. Osteoporosis, which occurs when you have weak bones, increases your risk of fractures, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Weight-bearing exercises, such as running and strength training, also reduce your risk for osteoporosis.
Improve Cholesterol Levels
Exercise raises levels of good HDL cholesterol in your blood, which lower your risk for heart disease. Healthy eating habits include replacing saturated and trans fats from unhealthy foods, such as butter, fatty meats, full-fat dairy products and fried foods, with heart-healthy unsaturated fats, such as nuts, canola oil and olive oil. This may lower your cholesterol levels, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary fiber, which is found in fruit, beans, whole grains, nuts and vegetables, also reduces your cholesterol.
Other Benefits
It is important to exercise because physical activity lowers levels of unhealthy triglycerides in your blood, supports a healthy blood pressure, and reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes. Exercise can also help you feel less stressed. Healthy eating habits, such as eating a healthy breakfast and meals on a regular schedule, can give you more energy throughout the day. A high-potassium, low-sodium diet may prevent high blood pressure, and a diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains may lower your risk for heart disease.
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