6 Practices To Improve Your Overall Health

Cindy Wilson Thumbby Cindy Wilson
BS, Dietetics and Nutrition

There are a lot of factors that come in to play when it comes to improving your overall health. Getting and staying healthy can be a struggle for some people. However, when you do manage to achieve your health goals, it can greatly benefit your body and your mind. 

Improving your overall health also reduces your risk of developing serious medical conditions and diseases. Continue reading below to find out the best practices that you can start now to improve your overall health so you can live a long and healthy life. 

1. Start Eating Healthy

There’s a saying that goes “you are what you eat”, which means what you’re eating right now will probably have an effect on your body later on. A healthy diet with balanced nutrition can bring a lot of benefits to your body which will improve your overall health.

Eating healthy can even help prevent or treat some health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and many more. It can also help you achieve and maintain an ideal weight and lower your cholesterol levels. Make sure that your diet from now on consists of plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as protein-rich foods like lean meats and eggs.

If you have no idea where to start, you can enlist the help of gut experts like Dr Ruscio who provide patients with practical advice in the areas of nutrition, health, and functional medicine.

2. Reach & Maintain The Ideal Weight For You

Obesity is defined as excessive accumulation of fat which impairs health and has become a major global problem. It’s reported that at least 2.8 million people die each year because of obesity and overweight. Being obese or overweight may have a negative effect on your health. It increases your risk of developing certain conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, stroke, some types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and many more.

Even if you’re not diagnosed by any of these conditions, it’s still best to be cautious and do your best to lose excess weight. If you’re overweight or obese, try to bring it down to your ideal weight and maintain this as long as you can. This process is all about self-discipline. Being more physically active and eating a healthy diet are just some of the ways to achieve your health and weight goals. 

3. Exercise Regularly

Exercise Regularly

Exercising regularly is one of the most important practices that you can start doing along with eating a balanced diet to improve your overall health. Exercising offers a lot of benefits, but it’s easy to get lazy, especially since a lot of people are now stuck inside their homes. Most people’s workout routines have suffered due to the lockdown and social distancing regulations.  

Nonetheless, the best time to start an exercise regimen is today. Here are some of the many benefits that exercising regularly can give you to improve your overall health: 

  • Exercising regularly reduces the risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease, some type of cancers, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. 
  • It can also help boost self-esteem, sleep quality, mood, and increase your energy levels. 
  • Regular exercise also helps reduces the risk of stress-induced conditions, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other mental health issues. 
  • Regular exercise can also help you with your weight loss. By engaging in physical activities, your body burns up more calories which is essential for losing weight and maintaining it. 

4. Stop Smoking

It’s a proven fact that smoking contributes to lung cancer. It also causes adverse effects on one’s overall health. For most people, smoking only becomes a problem once they’ve been smoking for several years or if they smoke too much. 

But did you know that smokers who are overweight or obese may also be at greater risk for developing certain types of cancers? Not only does smoking damage the inner lining of the lungs and increase the risk for cancer, it can also damage the heart and other organs in ways that are not immediately obvious.

So, now that you know how smoking affects your health, it might be time to take the first steps to stop smoking. It’s best to quit smoking early on, so you can still have a chance to lead a longer and healthier life.

5. Stop Drinking Too Much Alcohol

Like smoking, excessive alcohol intake can also lead to some serious health problems later on. Alcohol addiction may lead to certain types of cancers such as pancreas, liver, or throat cancer. 

Unlike smoking though, you don’t really need to stop drinking alcohol. Moderate alcohol consumption is what you need. When consumed moderately, alcohol actually has some health benefits such as reducing your risk of developing heart diseases, diabetes, and stroke.

For adult men, they should have no more than 2 drinks a day. As for adult women, one drink a day is more than enough for them. A standard drink should equal to 12 ounces of beer or wine coolers, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor.

6. Get The Right Amount Of Sleep

Even though this sounds pretty easy and simple, a lot of people actually have a hard time getting the right amount of sleep every night. Some even don’t get to sleep at all. Sleep significantly affects one’s overall health. If you only have a couple hours of sleep every night, your immune system may weaken and may increase your risk of developing memory problems and depression. Frequent lack of sleep can also lead to weight gain.

A good night’s sleep is essential to your overall health. Not only does it affect your physical body, but your mental and emotional well-being as well. That is why you should never neglect the importance of sleeping. Be sure to sleep seven to eight hours a night to get some quality sleep.

Final Thoughts

There are still so many practices that you need to be doing to improve your overall health. But starting with the six that above will get you started on the right path. Also, don’t forget to consult your doctor for more ways on how to lead a longer and healthier life.

About Author

Cindy Wilson Thumb
BS, Nutrition & Food Science | Connect with on LinkedIn
Cindy Wilson

Hello, I am Cindy, and this a website where I inspect everything related to nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. I have a BS in Dietetics and Nutrition (Kansas State University) and have completed a dozen specialty courses related to nutrition, biochemistry, and food science. I am open to learning more, but foremost I would like to share all my knowledge with you.

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