Your health is the most important thing in your life. Without it, nothing else really matters. However, keeping healthy is a lifelong pursuit that many people fail at. To make it simple, here are 13 practical health tips for everyone.
Eat a healthy diet
This is the foundation of good health, and it is incredibly simple. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables, drink plenty of water, anddo noteat too much red meat. It’s a lot easier than you think to make an unhealthy diet healthy by avoiding certain foodstuffs like processed foods or removing more unhealthy foods from your diet like white bread, sweetened beverages, and alcohol.
Nearly every food contains salt and sugar, but most of it is hidden. As a result, years can go by without you even realizing how much salt and sugar you are eating. Salt should be avoided as much as possible – buy unsalted foods or avoid processed foods altogether if you need to and try not to add salt at the table. Sugar’s even harder to avoiddon’t drink sugary drinks, look for sugar in the ingredients list of foods (and don’t buy them), and try not to add sugar at the table.
Healthy fats are an essential part of a healthy diet, but some types of fats can contribute to heart disease and other metabolic disorders. Everyone should be reducing the number of saturated fats and trans-fats they are consuming, but these tips are especially important for people with heart conditions or thyroid issues.
Avoid harmful use of alcohol
Alcohol is a staple part of many people’s lives, and it can be very enjoyable. However, drinking too much alcohol is bad for you in multiple ways: it has been scientifically proven to damage the liver, it can lead to dependency problems if you drink regularly, and excessive consumption of alcohol (in any form) contributes to liver disease, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Try to drink alcohol in moderation – once or twice a week if you are male and less than that if you are female. If you have any liver problems, get your doctor’s advice about the consumption of alcohol.
Do not smoke
Smoking is another one of those things that many people start in their youth and continue with until they are senior citizens. It is a habit that causes all sorts of problems, including heart disease, lung cancer, and eventually emphysema. Avoid inhaling smoke by any means necessary – it is not worth the risk.
Be active
Everyone knows that exercise is essential to good health, but it is even more important than you think. If you do not exercise enough, your body will store fat more easily, and you will notice weight gain as a result. Exercise also helps to prevent heart disease and keep cholesterol levels down – another common way for people to develop heart disease.
Check your blood pressure regularly
Without noticing it, your blood pressure can slowly increase over time. This is one of the most important things to check regularly if you have heart or circulation problems as a result. You can easily measure your own blood pressure at home with a blood pressure monitor. If it is high, make an appointment to see your doctor and discuss managing the problem. If you live in assisted living Colt’s Neck NJ, you will get your blood pressure checked regularly.
Get tested
The body is a funny thing, and sometimes it can start doing potentially harmful things. If you notice something wrong with your body, make an appointment to see your doctor – sooner or later, they will tell you the same thing if there is nothing seriously wrong, but why wait?
Get vaccinated
Many diseases have been successfully eliminated, but they still exist in the wild. So if you’re traveling somewhere new or regularly exposed to individuals who are ill (e.g., through work), get vaccinated for common illnesses like respiratory infections and hepatitis B as a precautionary measure – it’s better than being sick!
Prevent mosquito bites
Mosquito bites can be a big annoyance, and they can also carry diseases like malaria. To prevent mosquito bites, use bug spray or citronella candles, wear long sleeves or pants at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes tend to bite most often, and keep your windows shut.
Follow traffic laws
Driving fast or poorly can easily cause an accident, and then you could get seriously hurt. To avoid this, follow all traffic laws and do not drive too fast. You could also save money on your auto insurance by staying under a specified number of miles driven per year.
Drink only safe water
The CDC recommends only drinking water that has been treated or filtered to remove/kill germs. This includes water from natural sources like lakes, rivers, and streams. If in doubt, stick to bottled water, especially in foreign countries.
Breastfeed babies from 0 to 2 years and beyond
A lot of people argue about how long to breastfeed babies. But if you are physically able, breastfeeding is a good way to get some nutrients for your baby and to help mom lose weight. Some people have trouble breastfeeding or do not want to do it, but there are ways around this, like pumping regularly or using formula as a supplement.
Take antibiotics only as prescribed
Taking antibiotics when you do not need to can cause big problems. It will not help fight infections that are caused by viruses, like the common cold. Antibiotics also kill good bacteria, which make up the immune system and keep your gut healthy. Taking too many antibiotics also increases your risk of getting an infection caused by a type of bacteria called superbugs.
Clean your hands properly
A lot of people do not do this or only do it to a certain extent. To properly clean your hands, first wet them with warm water and soap for at least 15 seconds. Then rub the lather between each finger for another 15 seconds. Finally, rinse thoroughly with warm water and then dry off.
