Embarking on a journey to health and fitness might feel like a daunting task, especially when you consider the long road ahead. But here’s the good news: breaking this journey into smaller, manageable steps makes all the difference. It’s within the realm of healthy habits that we discover the key to a longer, richer, and healthier life.
7 Essential Healthy Habits For Good Health
Are you ready to embrace a healthier, more fulfilling life? Manish Kumar, a naturopathist, yoga, and meditation practitioner, suggests that you can transform your well-being by making small changes in your lifestyle and adopting seven healthy habits.
1. Hydration: Fuel Your Body with Water
Water isn’t just necessary; it’s the essence of life itself. It profoundly affects the functioning of your entire body, from your heart to your muscles and even your brain. Ensuring that you drink an ample amount of water throughout the day will not only make you feel more energetic but also reduce sluggishness.
2. Regular Exercise: Keep Your Body Active
Regular exercise is your golden ticket to health. Dr Ganesh Lal Mundra, a renowned naturopathist and fitness expert, suggests that by engaging in moderate exercise for at least 20 minutes most days of the week, you can reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, joint pain and certain cancers by up to 50 per cent.
3. Lean Protein: Choose Wisely
For Vegetarians: Getting protein from vegetarian sources is not only possible but also quite nutritious. You can obtain protein from various plant-based foods like legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas), tofu, tempeh, edamame, quinoa, nuts (almonds, peanuts, cashews), seeds (chia, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds), and whole grains (oats, brown rice, whole wheat bread). Incorporating a variety of these foods into your diet ensures you get a well-rounded intake of essential amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Additionally, dairy and dairy alternatives like Greek yogurt, almond milk, or soy milk can be rich sources of protein. By combining different plant-based protein sources, you can easily meet your daily protein requirements while enjoying a diverse and delicious diet.
For Non-vegetarians: When it comes to protein, opt for lean choices in non-veg. Remember this rule of thumb: the fewer the legs, the better. Sources like red meat, with four legs, are high in saturated fats. In contrast, white meat, with two legs, and fish, with no legs, provide you with lean protein and fewer unhealthy fats.
4. Natural Foods: Embrace Whole Nutrition
Shift your focus to whole, natural foods and steer clear of processed alternatives. Whole foods are rich in fiber, vitamins, and nutrients, giving your body the sustenance it craves. When shopping for groceries, think about ingredients; you want to consume foods that are ingredients in themselves, not a concoction of unpronounceable additives.
5. Enough Sleep: Recharge Your Body
Sleep is the body’s miraculous regeneration and recovery period. It’s a critical component for maintaining your mood and preventing overeating. Inadequate sleep affects your cognitive abilities and often leads to impulsive eating. Even as adults, they strive for a solid seven to eight hours of sleep each night.
6. Stress Management: Find Your Outlet
In our fast-paced world, stress is a common companion, but it’s essential to learn how to manage it effectively. Dedicate some “you time” away from your job and responsibilities. Look for relaxing activities that bring joy and enable you to tap into your creativity.
Learn about power naps for a healthy and stress-free life.
7. Purpose: Live for Something Bigger
Always seek ways to contribute to a cause larger than yourself. Whether in your career, through volunteer work, or by investing time in others, this sense of purpose is a powerful force for maintaining independence, freedom, cognitive abilities, and memory as you age.
Does this list of healthy habits appear overwhelming? Don’t fret; break it down further. Focus on one small change or the adoption of one new habit each month. Leading a healthy life requires dedication and discipline, but remember, a healthier life is within reach for everyone, regardless of where you start. Start small, but start today, and watch as these habits transform your life into a healthier, happier one.
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