Health and Wellness: 10 Best Health Practices to Keep You in Good Health

According to the New York Post, a majority of Americans when asked about health practices reported that they felt unfit and unhealthy. A high percentage were likely to report problems with pain or sluggishness throughout the week. This is unacceptable.

Do you suffer from these problems, or are there other obstacles standing in the way of your health?

For some, society’s perception of health or an “ideal body” creates unrealistic and unattainable expectations. For others, the pressure of exercise and dieting seems overwhelming. And what happens if you fail?

I can assure you, health isn’t meant to be this hard.

Thankfully, this guide is about to inform you of ten of the easiest health practices that can be implemented in your daily life to help you become a healthier individual.

Best Health Practices: Eating a Balanced Diet

One of the easiest ways to stay healthy is to make modifications to your diet. Your diet should contain all of the essential nutrients: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water.

These nutrients are responsible for helping our body function properly and maintain body structure, such as strong teeth and bones.

ACE recommends that 45 to 65 percent of our calories should come from carbohydrates, 10 to 35 percent from protein, and 20 to 35 percent from fat. Your daily calorie intake will vary depending on your gender, weight, and activity level.

Eating recommended calorie amounts help us maintain a healthy weight.

Being overweight and obese are potential risk factors for numerous chronic health problems.

When modifying a diet, some are quick to enter restriction mode by severely limiting calories or cutting out their favorite foods. You’re more likely to be successful and consistent if you focus on small changes.

Start by keeping your plate colorful and incorporating plenty of fruits and vegetables. Prioritize eating appropriate serving sizes. Eat foods that are high in fat, sugar, or salt in moderation.

How to Stay Healthy and How to Stay Hydrated

Water is one of the essential nutrients, which means we need to do our best to stay hydrated.

Water plays a role in regulating processes throughout the body.

A common recommendation for water intake is around 64 ounces a day. Aim to drink more if you live in a particularly warm area, or engage in an active lifestyle. Knowing the benefits of drinking mineral water such as helping in weight loss, maintaining a clearer skin, and preventing constipation should already motivate you in keeping yourself well hydrated.

In addition to drinking water, watch out for signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, dizziness, and sluggishness. An easy way to monitor hydration is by keeping track of urine.

Hydration means peeing frequently, and urine should be a pale yellow or clear color.

Limit Stress

Everyone will experience stress.

However, it’s how we manage our stress that matters. While stress is largely recognized as emotional tension, experiencing high stress or frequent stress has been linked to a higher risk for health conditions.

When you experience stress, prioritize taking care of yourself.

Take a break from the stressor with a hobby or social engagement. Talk to a trusted friend or family member about the emotions you’re experiencing. Other health practices for managing stress include deep breathing exercises and meditation.

How to Improve Health With Exercise

Exercise is another useful tool for stress management and relief, but it has plenty of other benefits, too!

Like a balanced diet, exercise helps us maintain a healthy weight. It lowers our risk for various health conditions. Similarly, frequent strengthening of the bones and muscles can ease pain and reduce the risk of injury.

Engaging in exercise releases endorphins which promote feelings of happiness and positivity.

The recommended amount of exercise is 30 minutes a day. Depending on your lifestyle, you can split this into smaller increments. Finding a physical activity you enjoy is the best-proven method for staying consistent with exercise.

To receive the most benefits from movement, aim to increase NEAT in addition to exercise. NEAT is non-exercise activity thermogenesis. Increasing non-exercise energy expenditure leads to greater calorie burn and greater cardiovascular health.

Prioritize Sleep

Another benefit of exercise? It benefits our sleep, which is another important factor when considering how to be healthy. Exercise improves sleep duration as well as sleep quality.

Sleep helps to restore our bodies after a long day’s work so that they can continue to perform life-sustaining processes.

Stay Socially Connected

Maintain a strong support system consisting of close family members, friends, or significant other. Having regular social interaction benefits physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Be Consistent With Medication

If you already have a health condition, you may be required to take regular medication.

Consistently taking medication treats symptoms and manages conditions. Like having a poor diet or exercise habits, failing to take medication can increase risks for other illnesses.

Try implementing alarms or reminders to avoid forgetting to take your medication.

Make obtaining medication easier for yourself by utilizing the best prescription services, such as pick-up or delivery. If money is an issue, consider using a pharmacy price checker to stay up to date on prescription prices and savings opportunities.

Activate the Brain

As we engage in exercise to benefit our physical health, we must engage in mental exercises to benefit our brain health.

Keep your mind sharp by engaging in brain stimulation activities such as puzzles, like sudoku or crosswords. Other beneficial activities include learning a new skill or practicing frequent meditation.

Exercise Caution With Tobacco and Alcohol

Tobacco has been linked to various forms of cancer. Similarly, it has been linked to heart and lung disease. Smoking or frequent tobacco consumption can contribute to the development of chronic health conditions.

While tobacco is arguably more dangerous than alcohol, excessive alcohol consumption also poses potential risks.

The goal should be to eliminate any tobacco use and consume alcohol in moderation.

Schedule Regular Check-Ups

The final health practice is scheduling regular check-ups with a doctor. Consulting with a medical professional will provide an opportunity for you to assess any current health risks. Knowing you’ll be visiting the doctor will also keep you accountable.

Additionally, a doctor will be equipped to advise on health practices you should implement to prevent potential health conditions. And in cases of dental emergencies, be sure to fix painful oral issues with the dentist in Tamarac.

Implement Gradual Change

As you can see, there are numerous health practices you can implement that will lead to a healthier lifestyle. However, trying to implement them all at once may be overwhelming. I suggest you start by making small changes to your routine and determine which practices work best for you.

As you progress toward your health goals, continue to incorporate change as you see fit.

If you’re interested in further health and lifestyle advice and want more information, check out the rest of our site!