Maximize Your Health

Lifestyle, exercise and diet changes directly affect overall health. Regardless of where you are in your wellness journey, you should maximize your wellness behaviors to help stay in good health.

– Eating well is critical in the crusade to wellness. Increase your veggie intake, limit processed foods, eat foods that are high in fiber, and ensure you are drinking plenty of water every day. Limit foods that are high in sugar. Sometimes packaging and slogans can be misleading. If you’re not sure, check the label. If sugar is listed as one of the top three ingredients, it’s probably not good for you. Snack on veggies when you get a craving. Limit your salt (sodium) intake. Many processed foods have extremely high sodium levels even if the food does not taste salty. When grocery shopping, stick to the edges of the grocery store (stay out of the middle!) because that’s where you’ll usually find the healthiest foods.

– Stop smoking and tobacco use.

– Limit excessive alcohol intake. On average, moderate alcohol consumption is considered 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men.

– Get up and move! In addition to the obvious benefits to exercising, it also plays a large role in stress release. Incorporate exercise into your day by going for a brisk stroll during lunch. Try to incorporate exercise and movement into your life as much as possible.

– Obesity studies show a direct correlation to excess body fat and many major illnesses and diseases. On the flip side, those who are underweight have decreased body resources to fight or resist disease.

– Washing your hands is the easiest way to protect yourself from germs. Wash thoroughly and often.

– Get enough sleep. Your body begins having trouble functioning without adequate sleep.

– Manage your stress level. Explore new hobbies, laugh often, allow yourself quiet time and surround yourself with positive influences. All of these aspects can have an effect on your health. If you find yourself under situational stress, try incorporating breathing exercises to lower your heart rate.

– Be sure you are getting the right vitamins and minerals. The Vitamins & Nutrition center provides information on specific areas of vitamin deficiency.

Lifestyle, diet and activity levels all affect your health. By following these suggestions, you’ll positively impact your overall well being. This means you’ll feel better, which means less doctor’s visits and less extensive medical procedures, which means your healthcare costs will also be less. If a healthier lifestyle is something your entire family adopts, your medical savings will be even greater. Try out these lifestyle changes; your health and wallet will thank you.

More Expert Articles From PAF