Keeping your body healthy can feel like a never-ending battle, and with so much information out there, it’s hard to know where to begin. It doesn’t have to be so complicated. If you want to live a healthy life and keep your body at its best, follow these five simple tips.
1. Eat a Balanced Diet
Everybody knows that eating a balanced diet is important for physical health, but what does ‘balanced’ actually mean? Well, to start with, you should be aiming for at least five portions of fruit and veg each day. Beyond that, you need to eat plenty of carbohydrates, enough protein, and some dairy products (or dairy alternatives). The NHS has a helpful resource to help you understand what a balanced diet looks like.
Don’t worry about making every single meal perfectly balanced; just focus on the long term.
2. Get Some Exercise
Keeping your body moving is essential for good physical health. You should aim to do 30 minutes of moderate exercise – that’s anything that gets your heart rate up – five times a week. That might sound like a lot, but don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym every day!
Take the stairs instead of the escalator when you’re out and about, and get off the bus or train a stop earlier than you need to and walk the rest of the way. Small changes like this can make a huge difference and will keep your body healthy.
3. Go to the Dentist
Dental hygiene is an important part of health, so taking care of your teeth should be a priority. Brush twice a day, floss regularly, and visit the dentist at least once a year. Whether you visit a dentist Asheville NC based or elsewhere, a regular trip to the dentist can keep your teeth healthy and clean, meaning you reduce your risk of developing gum disease and other oral health conditions.
4. Get More Sleep
Sleep is essential for a healthy body and mind. If you’re not getting enough sleep, you run the risk of serious health problems. Obesity, heart disease, and even diabetes are all more common in people who don’t sleep enough.
You should be aiming for seven to nine hours of sleep every day. If you struggle to go to sleep or stay asleep, you could try:
Having a warm bath or shower before you go to bed
Cutting out caffeine after 4pm – even cups of tea!
Doing some gentle stretches the hour before bed
Turning off all screens at 9pm
Meditating
Buying black-out blinds or curtains to keep the bedroom dark
Sleeping with earplugs in
Listening to white noise during the night
These are small changes that could make a big difference to help you get the sleep your body needs.
5. Drink Less Alcohol
The average British person drinks over 100 bottles of wine every year, so it’s safe to say that the UK is a nation of drinkers! Drinking too much alcohol can be incredibly unhealthy, so follow government guidelines and try to limit your alcohol consumption.
According to the NHS, regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week – about six pints of beer – can have long-term effects on your health. Cutting down the amount of alcohol you consume is another way to keep your body in tip-top condition.
Keeping your body healthy is an ongoing issue, but making lifestyle changes doesn’t have to be hard. Eat well, exercise regularly, and avoid overindulging. It’s pretty simple, really!
