There is no magic formula for remaining healthy, but there are a number of practices and lifestyle changes you can include in your routine that will help you stay lean, healthy and both physically and mentally fit. Actively bringing about changes to your sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet and overall poor physical health can be quite a daunting task. However, small but consistent steps will bring about observable changes and achieve fitness milestone that you may have thought were impossible to accomplish. Following are a few habits you should start incorporating into your diet today, so you can look and feel healthier tomorrow! 

Make Exercise a Habit

Stay active! A regime of exercise is important for all people of all weight ranges and health conditions. Physical activity helps to burn off excess fat and calories and it is great for blood circulation as well. Making exercise a part of your daily routine not only keeps the heart fit and pumping but is a great way to improve the health of your lungs as well. It is not necessary to do a full-blown cardio workout if you’re not particularly fond of intense exercise. Any form of movement will do as long as you’re doing it consistently. Whether it is yoga, pilates, walking, running, swimming, cycling, or any other type of exercise, the more regular you are with it, the sooner you will reap its benefits. Simplemoderations in life like taking the stairs or going for a walk to start with can lead you towards a healthy lifestyle.

Eat a Balanced Diet

Diet plays a large role in staying healthy as it provides the body with all the necessary nutrients required for its function. Most individuals only consider vegetables and fruits as “healthy foods”. However, all food groups are equally important and contain vital elements necessary for the proper growth and function of the body. It is important to maintain a balance between key food groups such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Eating a balanced diet has many benefits that can go as far as preventing or treating some serious health conditions which include heart disease, stroke and diabetes. A healthy diet can help you lose weight and lower your cholesterol levels as well.

 Processed foods often contain high amounts of fats, sugars and salt and that can lead to a plethora of health concerns if consumed regularly. For this reason, it is best to have whole foods and home-cooked meals to attain the best nutrition.

Moreover, quitting alcohol and drug usage is also very important. Intake of these dangerous substance kills healthy cells in the body and eventually reduces the body’s functional capacity.

Get a Good Quality Sleep

A goodnight’s sleep is all one needs to keep functioning properly throughout the day. Getting proper sleep is oftentimes neglected or sacrificed. Sleep is the foundation for good health as it helps regulate our metabolism. While you sleep, your body rebuilds muscles, removes toxins from the brain, regulates hormones. Sleep also helps to boost other functions such as appetite control, immune system, metabolism and body weight. In addition, the cells and antibodies in the body fight infections during sleep. It is recommended for an adult to get an average of 7 – 8 hours of sleep every night.

Drink Plenty of Water

Clean plain drinking water is one of the most important necessities for your body. no other liquids can truly replace plain drinking water. Drinking plenty of water has many more benefits than you realize. It helps to relieve constipation, removes kidney stones (if any), rejuvenates the skin, and also aids in weight loss. It is recommended to drink at least eight glasses of water every day to ensure your body stays hydrated and rejuvenated.

Manage Stress

Being healthy is not just about physical fitness. The holistic approach to being healthy includes taking care of your mental and spiritual health as well.  Stress can be managed in a number of ways. Although there is no set formula for it, a few simple steps can go a long way. The most important steps of all though, are being cognizant of your mental well being and taking out time for your own self. This can be practised by simply doing what you love, at least once a day, with no guilt or restriction.

If you feel overwhelmed at any point, you can always reach out to a therapist to help you manage your anxieties and stresses. Talking to a trained professional has numerous benefits and a significant impact.

Conclusion

The best way is to remain healthy is to make healthy habits a part of your daily routine. Your focus should not only be on your diet but also on exercising, sleeping, reducing stress and hanging out with friends and family. However, you must always remember, that as with everything else, consistency is key. You must continue to strive for better health physically, mentally and spiritually.