Healthy Lifestyle

Healthy Lifestyle A healthy lifestyle is a life that keeps you fit, energetic and reduces the risk of many diseases, based on the choices you make about your daily habits. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being… Healthy Living is about taking responsibility and making smart health choices for today and for the future” (2001). In this essay we are going to describe just some of the proper habits you can take into account to start with this lifestyle: good nutrition, daily exercise, an adequate sleep and also physical and emotional wellness are the foundations for having a good health. Firstly, a good nutrition is a crucial part for being healthy. To get the dozens of essential forms of protein, vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals and fats, you need to eat a varied diet. Rotate your choices among grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and protein food groups that are diverse in nutrition. Similarly, limit your portion sizes at meals to control your weight and reduce risks for cardiovascular and other diseases. It is important to keep in mind that the cardiovascular, muscular, immune and other body systems depend on a permanent supply of nutrients to feed cell growth and metabolism. Secondly, exercising is another important aspect for having a healthy life. Calories accompany the nutrition in foods, and if you do not expend them all, you will gain weight. Consequently, having extra weight increases your risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Your lifestyle should support a constant healthy weight, so it is important that you remain active daily by doing some exercises outdoors. Most doctors from the American Heart Association recommend at least 30 minutes a day of moderate aerobic exercise to burn calories and build up your heart and lungs. Additionally, weightlifting or another form of strength training keeps your muscles and bones fit and free from pain, strain and fractures. Thirdly, sleeping the necessary hours is vital for having a good health. Usually, from 7 or 8 hours is considered to be a good amount of sleep. Sleep is a time for the body to relax, recharge its “batteries”, regenerate new cells, rest the mind and allow

the immune system to function at its highest capacity. For this reason, sleep actually can prevent people from getting sick. In addition, staying well-rested allows you to think more clearly, improves your mood and reduces the risk for depression. Finally, a physical and emotional wellness can have a positive influence in your healthy lifestyle. Your body responds to everyday stress with a release of hormones that prepares you to react. If you do not relieve this state through relaxation, the effects accumulate and can create muscular pain, headaches, sleep disturbances and other symptoms. A lifestyle that includes regular stress management breaks this cycle before it can progress to unhealthy levels. Likewise, managing stress in positive ways, instead of smoking or drinking alcohol, reduces wear and tear on your body. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests limiting some of your activities to make time for relaxation. It is recommended that to achieve physical release you can do it through stretching, massages, yoga or enjoyable exercises. Furthermore, to have a good emotional wellness you can be in contact with friends and family to relieve mental pressures, and take time out to read, make a hobby or experience another activity that makes you feel good. In conclusion, there are many other habits you can find out in books or other sources, any of them can take you to a new lifestyle in which your health and body will be the main benefited. Feel free to add as many habits as you need to achieve this. Nevertheless, do not try to do them all at once, start with 1 or 2 for a month and then add others until you have achieved all your goals. If you can follow the simple steps we described above you will be on your way to living a healthier life. Sources: Successful Balanced and Healthy lifestyle program, BVG Janaka das, (April 26, 2011) from: http://bhls.wordpress.com/2011/04/26/definition-of-balanced-and-healthy-lifestyle/ URL: Healthy Holistic Living / Definition of healthy living: http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/Definition-of-Healthy-Living.html World Health Organization (WHO): http://www.who.int/en/ The American Heart Association: www.heart.org/ The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: www.hhs.gov/