Everybody wants to live healthier, but with such a glut of information on healthy living out there, it can be tough to know how to start.
He is a list of seven healthy lifestyle tips that any adult can do to start living a longer, healthier life.
- Eat a variety of foods
For good health, we need more than 40 different nutrients, and no single food can supply them all. It is not about a single meal; it is about a balanced food choice over time that will make a difference!
- Replace saturated with unsaturated fat
Fats are important for good health and proper functioning of the body. However, too much of it can negatively affect our weight and cardiovascular health. Different kinds of fats have different health effects. You should limit the consumption of total and saturated fats (often coming from foods of animal origin) and completely avoid trans fats; reading the labels helps to identify the sources.
- Enjoy plenty of fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are among the most important foods for giving us enough vitamins, minerals, and fiber. You should try to eat at least five servings of fruits and veggies per day. For example, a glass of fresh fruit juice at breakfast, perhaps an apple and a piece of watermelon as snacks, and a good portion of different vegetables at each meal.
- Reduce salt intake
A diet high in salt can result in high blood pressure and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. When shopping, try to choose products with lower sodium content, when cooking, think about adding flavor with herbs and other spices instead of salt, and when eating, it helps not to have salt at the table, or at least not to add salt before tasting.
- Reduce sugar intake
Like salt, sugar is something you should also consume in moderation. Sugar provides sweetness and an attractive taste, but sugary foods and drinks are best enjoyed with restraint as an occasional treat. When you feel your “sweet tooth” nagging, try reaching for fruits instead of candy or other sugary snacks.
- Hydrate
Adults need to drink at least 7 cups of fluids a day! Or more if it’s very hot or they are physically active. Water is the best source, of course, and we can use tap or mineral water, sparkling or non-sparkling, plain or flavored. Fruit juices, tea, soft drinks, milk, and other drinks, can all be okay – from time to time.
- Get moving
Physical activity is important for people of all ages, weight ranges, and health conditions. It helps us burn off the extra calories, and it is good for the heart and circulatory system; it maintains or increases our muscle mass, it helps us focus, and it improves your overall health well-being. We don’t have to be top athletes to get on the move! That doesn’t mean you have to go to a gym. Try being more active with regular activities:
- use the stairs instead of the elevator,
- go for a walk during lunch breaks (and stretch in your office in between)
- make time for physical family weekend activities such as washing the car, going for a nature hike, bike-riding, etc.