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Tips to a Healthier Lifestyle
There are numerous aspects that factor into living a healthy lifestyle. You may think about following a certain diet and going to the gym five days a week when you hear the term “healthy life.”
In the world we live in today, you might find it challenging to live a healthy lifestyle if you haven’t built healthy habits before. Unfortunately, health advice is mixed from expert facts to unique fad diets.
But how do you master being healthy if you don’t know where to start?
We’ve laid out a few, easy tips for you to be on your way to a healthy lifestyle!
Balanced Diet
First and foremost, a balanced diet is something you can control. You can decide what you eat and what you don’t eat.
80/20 Rule
Have you ever heard of the 80/20 rule? This is a rule used in many different fields and industries, but it is applicable for food too!
This involves eating healthy, clean, well-balanced meals 80% of the time, and treating yourself or indulging the other 20% of the time.
You may wonder how to keep track of the actual percentage you hear mentioned in the rule. But it’s more of a mindset, rather than a diet to follow. The idea behind the 80/20 rule is to focus on a well-balanced diet, rather than having to count numbers such as calories or macros.
You can begin by counting calories or by deciding what 80/20 means to you to get started. If eating a balanced diet during the weekdays count as 80% to you, then allow the weekend to be the 20% where you have a treat.
However, make sure the treats you give yourself don’t offset your hard work for the week. For example, your treat could be a piece of chocolate cake or maybe going out to eat for a meal.
The best part of this is that there is no food restrictions such as following a keto or low-sugar diet.1 You can enjoy most foods you like in adequate quantities and still live a healthy lifestyle.
Incorporate Greens into Your Diet
Did your parents ever tell you to finish eating your vegetables growing up? Were you ever told that the spinach you disliked so much was actually good for you? Well, it’s true!
Green vegetables are loaded with all the “good stuff” you need in your diet such as minerals and vitamins. There are many different options of greens to try, and there are various ways you can incorporate them into your diet. This can be making a salad or adding them into a dish, especially if you don’t like the taste.
Kale is known for its superior health facts, such as Vitamins K and A, and antioxidants.2 There are many restaurants and food chains that are picking up on this popular green and include kale in smoothies, salads, and bowls.
Spinach is another well-known green. Spinach can be added to most meals, and can even be hidden in smoothies and soups if you’re not keen on eating it alone.
There are many other greens you could benefit from including romaine, cabbage, and broccoli just to name a few. Try including some in your next dinner or smoothie to mask the taste!
Should You Take Vitamins and Supplements?
Have you ever taken an over-the-counter supplement or a multi-vitamin? Most people in America do or have at one point in their lives.3
People may be interested in vitamins as a replacement or supplement to a vitamin they don’t typically receive or eat on a daily basis. But do these vitamins and supplements truly help us live a healthy lifestyle?
Maintaining a balanced diet may do more for you than taking a daily vitamin.4 This is why eating healthy, whole foods that are full of minerals and vitamins are a benefit to your health.
If there is a vitamin you are truly deficient in, then taking a daily vitamin might be sufficient. It is best to talk to your doctor if you believe you are lacking in any of the vitamins or minerals you need.
Exercise
If you’re new to exercising, you may not know where to start.
When it comes to exercise, you have to find what works for you. The goal is to find an activity that gets your body moving and heart rate going.
Slow and Steady
I’m sure you’ve heard that slow and steady wins the race! This is a great mindset to have when it comes to exercise, especially for beginners.
If you want to become more healthy and active, you don’t have to start running or boxing every day. Start slow with an exercise you’re comfortable with, and work your way up when you build endurance and strength.
If you’re not sure where to begin, always ask your doctor or another healthcare professional. They can also help you identify exercises that work best for your body type, especially if you have any underlying medical conditions.
Make it Fun
Exercise doesn’t have to be hard, boring, or feel like a chore! Find something you enjoy and it will be easy to stick to.
Take a walk to enjoy the outside scenery, try a new group exercise class, or find a yoga video on YouTube. There are many options when it comes to fitness and finding what works best for you.
Mental Health
Mental health is extremely significant when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. After all, our mental wellbeing has an impact on how we physically feel throughout the day.
Take Care of Yourself First
Although mental health is a huge part of a healthy lifestyle, it’s often overlooked. Mental health involves not only your psychological state, but also your emotional state and social welfare as well.5
If your mental health is declining, it can cause physical health issues.6 This can include depression or anxiety, which can lead you to feeling sick.
If you find it difficult to talk about these problems, know you are not facing them alone. Talking to someone you trust to gain insight on your condition is a great way to break the stigma on mental health.7
Find a Hobby
Partaking in a hobby is a great way to de-stress. Find something you enjoy doing, and make time for yourself to do whatever that may be.
If you don’t already have a hobby that you love, try something new! Find a new book to read, take a class to learn something new, or join a small club to interact with others.
Saber Healthcare Encourages You to Live a Healthy Lifestyle
Saber Healthcare wants you to live a happy, healthy life! Start today by integrating one of these tips into your lifestyle.
Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.
Sources:
- Bradley, Sarah. “How To Apply The 80/20 Rule To Weight Loss, According To MDs.” Hearst Magazine Media, womenshealth. February 8th, 2020. Accessed October 15th, 2020. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a30786152/80-20-rule-weight-loss/.
- Enloe, Autumn. “The 13 Healthiest Leafy Green Vegetables.” Healthline Media, healthline.com. July 1st, 2018. Accessed October 15th, 2020. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/leafy-green-vegetables#:~:text=Leafy%20green%20vegetables%20are%20an,and%20mental%20decline%20(%201%20).
- AOA Media Team. “Poll finds 86% of Americans take vitamins or supplements yet only 21% have a confirmed nutritional deficiency.” American Osteopathic Association, osteopathic.org. January 16th, 2019. Accessed October 16th, 2020. https://osteopathic.org/2019/01/16/poll-finds-86-of-americans-take-vitamins-or-supplements-yet-only-21-have-a-confirmed-nutritional-deficiency/#:~:text=CHICAGO%E2%80%94January%2016%2C%202019%E2%80%94,of%20the%20American%20Osteopathic%20Association.
- “Is There Really Any Benefit to Multivitamins?” Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine. Accessed October 15th, 2020. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/is-there-really-any-benefit-to-multivitamins.
- “What Is Mental Health?” U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, mentalhealth.gov. May 28th, 2020. Accessed October 15th, 2020. https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health.
- “Learn About Mental Health.” U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 26th, 2018. Accessed October 15th, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm.
- “Understanding (and Getting Past) the Mental Health Stigma.” Cleveland Clinic, clevelandclinic.org. June 2nd, 2020. Accessed October 16th, 2020. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/understanding-and-getting-past-the-mental-health-stigma/.