3 Basic Things to Do for Your Health

Living a healthy lifestyle can add years to your life, as well as help you look and feel young; but there is so much health information available today that living a healthy lifestyle can actually feel overwhelming. Eating a healthy diet, exercising and getting plenty of sleep are the most basic yet most beneficial things you can do for your health. Here’s why:

Healthy Diet

The food that you consume shows up on the outside of your body in the form of your skin, hair, and energy level. It makes sense that the 'fuel' you give your body determines how your body functions and ultimately looks. Choosing a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables assures that you are providing your body with the vitamins and minerals that it needs every day.

If you don't feel like you are getting the allotted fruits and vegetables that your body needs, invest in a good multivitamin. Obviously getting your vitamins and minerals from your diet is better than getting them from a supplement, but supplements are there to pick up the slack if you need them.

Drinking plenty of water has numerous health benefits for your body too. Water hydrates your body which means it hydrates the cells inside your body. Most of the cells in your body require water to function optimally. Water keeps your skin looking healthy and supple. Water can also help to maintain healthy bowel activity.

Eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of water and implementing a multivitamin supplement (if needed) will keep you feeling and looking healthier. Dr. David Cheah recommends “consistently choosing healthy options until they become a habit. Having healthy habits allows people to age more gracefully.”

Get Active

Choosing some form of exercise is another great way to be healthy. There are so many different activities to choose from when starting an exercise regimen. You can learn a new sport, like tennis or swimming. You can jog/run or try cycling. You can get involved in classes where you have an instructor and participants to keep you motivated; kickboxing, yoga or pilates are all very fun and challenging.

Doing some sort of physical activity every day can reduce stress, improve your mood, and reduce your risk of certain cancers and diseases. One of the biggest reasons most people choose to be physically active is for weight control. Keeping your weight at a healthy level for your body type is a very important component to living a healthy lifestyle. One of the best parts of getting involved in a new activity is shopping for stylish workout clothes. There are fun clothes out there for all levels of activity, you could even encourage yourself to work-out with a shopping spree.

Snooze

Getting just a few more hours of sleep every night can reap numerous benefits for your health. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7-9 hours of sleep every night for healthy adults. Getting more sleep can aid in weight loss and building muscles; when you sleep your body is able to repair any damage to your muscles and promote growth.

Getting plenty of sleep also helps your brain stay sharp and alert. People that get the recommended amount of sleep are better able to learn and remember things than people who are sleep deprived. Getting enough sleep can be a hard thing to do though.

Luckily there are a few things you can do that will help improve your sleep quality. Try to stay away from screen time an hour before bed. The lights from phones or televisions don't allow your brain to send tired signals to your body. Reading a book, writing in a journal or spending time with your partner are all things that will help you fall asleep quicker and have a better quality of sleep. Dim the lights in your home or bedroom before bed. Darkness lets your brain know that it is time for sleep. Go ahead and snooze, your body will thank you.

There is always something more you could do when considering your health, but sticking to the three staples listed in this article will take you a long way as far as living a healthier life, feeling good and looking good. Consistently eating healthy foods will guarantee that your body has what it needs to function optimally. Exercising regularly will keep your body and mind in shape and looking and feeling great. Getting enough sleep will keep your brain sharp and rejuvenate your body. All three of these things work hand in hand; all of them aid the others. Getting healthy can be a lifestyle change, the good news is, it's never too late to start.