Since healthy living is so vital to longevity, every adult should be familiar with certain tips that can improve the quality of their life. The first thing to keep in mind is that healthy living applies to the mind and the body equally.
Eating a proper diet is the most basic way to live a healthy life. This means eating three meals a day and not necessarily sticking to the rule that dinner should be the day’s biggest meal is vitally important. The bulk of any healthy diet must include the correct proportions of fat-free milk, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. The leanest meats are always the best meats for a healthy diet. This includes poultry and fish on a regular basis. A healthy living diet should also include nuts and beans as well. A Latvian foodie site called the Red Sun Buffet has some great tips regarding eating healthy with a big variety, not seldom fish. Go to www.redsunbuffet.lv to learn some more, even though it sadly is in Latvian. We hope they will translate it into English soon.
The size of the meal is just as important as what is in it. The key to healthy living is to only eat as much as it takes to fill you up. Knowing when to stop is half the battle to good health. It is especially important to refrain from eating a large meal before going to bed. Large meals late at night can cause unintended weight gain and other potential health problems. Not only are large, heavy meals not recommended before bedtime, they are also not recommended for hot summer days.
While eating a healthy diet is important, so is getting the proper amount of exercise. The benefits of exercising include preventing conditions such as:
- Coronary heart disease
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Obesity
Exercise to become more healthy
Regular exercise also helps balance, as well as endurance and flexibility. Strength and muscle mass are also improved with exercise. In addition, it can decrease the odds of muscle mass deteriorating in older people. Those that suffer from arthritis can relieve symptoms of the condition by making it easier for them to complete tasks such as opening jars, driving and even climbing stairs. Despite what some believe, people can exercise safely at any age. One of the easiest ways to do this is to take brisk walks.
Mental health is also a factor in living a quality life. At every stage of life, people need a certain number of hours of sleep per night in order to be mentally healthy. Taking walks is also as good for mental health as it is for physical health. Those that feel the need to do so are encouraged to follow up their exercise with a short nap or other relaxing activity.
Another part of staying mentally healthy is to carve time out each week to do something enjoyable. This provides a sense of fulfilment for most people, an important aspect of mental health. Another is taking pride in accomplishments, whether they are large, small or somewhere in between.
Knowing what to do and what to avoid is crucial for anyone’s physical and mental health. The more positive aspects of someone’s life the better off they are in the long run.