Tips for the healthy lifestyle
A healthy life is all that one desires. But it is not as easy as said. To lead a healthy lifestyle, certain changes need to be brought into life and eating habits of individuals. These need to be slowly incorporated into the routine life, so that the body is able to adjust with the changes and starts to feel the healthy lifestyle impact. The following are some of the tips for a healthy lifestyle
1. Consuming a wide platter of foods
In order to live a healthy lifestyle, an individual needs more than 40 different types of nutrients. There is no single super food which can satisfy this need. An individual can consume a variety of foods across the day from breakfast to lunch right up to dinner in order to gain the required nutrients in the right proportion.
2. Consume the foods that are higher in carbohydrates
Almost half of the daily requirements of calories in a day must come from those foods that are rich in carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are obtained in good quantities from foods such as pasta, potatoes, cereals, rice, and bread. For a healthy lifestyle, one must try to include these varieties in every meal. The wholegrain foods, such as pasta, wholegrain bread, and cereals, would improve the fibre intake of the body.
3. Replace the saturated fat with the unsaturated fat
It is to be noted that fats are a key to good health as well as effective functioning of the body. But as it is well known that too much of anything is not good, so is the case with fats. Excessive consumption of fats may negatively affect the health of an individual in terms of overweight as well as cardiovascular problems. There are different types of fats which have a different impact on the health of an individual. One should try to avoid or reduce the intake of saturated fats, as well as Trans fats. It is a good idea to see the nutritional value of the products before purchasing the same.
4. Enjoy plenty of fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables provide an individual with the maximum portion of the daily requirements of nutrients. They provide a good amount of minerals, vitamin as well as fibre. One should have at least one serving of fruits and vegetables for all the meals from breakfast to dinner.
5. Avoid the excessive intake of salt and sugar
For a healthy lifestyle, one must avoid excessive consumption of salt and sugar. Excessive intake of salt and sugar may cause high blood pressure, and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Sugar offers sweetness to make the food tastier. But added sugar in the foods and drinks are best enjoyed only in moderation or better as an occasional treat. Fruits can be used as substitutes for sugar to add sweetness to the food.
6. Eat in regular portion size
One must eat different kinds of foods at regular intervals, as well as in inappropriate quantities. This is one of the key features of a healthy lifestyle. Skipping meals like breakfast, lunch or dinner, may cause an individual to snack and hence miss out on the important nutrition of that particular meal. If one is short of time to have a full meal, it is best to break it up into healthy snack intervals such as whole wheat vegetable sandwiches, yoghurt with fresh fruit, dried fruit etc. One should avoid packaged foods, which are excessively salty or sugary since they fill up the stomach but are of no good nutritional value.
7. Consume a good amount of fluids
An average adult needs to have a minimum of 1.5 litres of fluids in a day. If they are more active or if the temperatures are hot, the water requirements may rise as well. Water is considered to be the best source of fluids. There are other options as well such as fresh fruit and vegetable juices, tea, milk, soft drinks and other drinks etc. All of these must be consumed at regular intervals to keep the body hydrated.
8. Keeping a healthy body weight
There are various factors that determine an appropriate body weight for each kind of individual. The weight of an individual is dependent on factors such as height, age, gender, and genes. Being on either side of the scale is not good. Being underweight can cause weakness in the body and it becomes less immune to fight diseases. Being overweight is also not a good thing, since it increases the chances of a large variety of diseases, such as heart diseases, diabetes, and cancer. An appropriate indicator of weight is the Body Mass Index. One can refer to it to know the right weight needed at different stages in life.
9. Making physical activities a habit
Physical activities are an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Different forms of physical activities are needed in order to be healthy and fit. The physical activities help to burn off any excess calories, help improve the mental focus and are good for the cardiac as well as blood circulatory system. Such activities also maintain or increase the muscle mass of the body along with improving the overall health and well-being. Even a 15-minute daily exercise routine is enough for a healthy lifestyle.
10. Incorporate small and gradual changes in lifestyle
The gradual changes for a healthy lifestyle are relatively easy to bring in and maintain, as compared to drastic changes in the daily routine life. Those devoid of fruits and vegetables can start by adding them gradually into their diet, one meal at a time. Those who skip meals can consume healthy snacks as compared to packaged or unhealthy foods. A gradual introduction to walking or jogging is a good idea to start with the exercise part.
Thus it can be seen that, by introducing these small changes and using the tips from above, a healthy lifestyle can be a great option.
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