 | Tips for Health in 2010 |
Health begins with one single step, so what will you begin with today.
1. Maintain a healthy weight
Do what it takes to keep attain and maintain a healthy body weight. My favorite way is to fill your plate as usual then remove 1/3 of the starch and meat. When you are not giving up your favorite foods, it's easier to maintain the lifestyle changes. When you eat more calories than your body burns, you gain weight and when you are eating less, you are losing weight; so work on eating just the right amounts. Try new vegetables and fruits. Our favorite snack is red grapes with small Colby Jack cheese chunks - what a great combo!
2. Increase your activity
One of the most important methods to health is increasing activity, making it part of your daily routine. Experts say 60-90 minutes per day is the goal. The hardest way is to find an aerobic activity that you like and will fit into your lifestyle. There are choices like walking, aerobics classes of any type, biking, tennis, and even going to a gym. But the simplest way to increase your activity is to increase daily activity by parking farther away from the buildings you go to, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking the dog or even walk down the hall to talk to a co-worker instead of using the phone. You can even purchase a pedometer, which measures the number of steps you take, and work on getting to 10,000 steps a day. You may be surprised at how many steps you already take each day.
3. De-Stress
The most important tip for stress reduction is listen to your body. Take care of your health and body physically, mentally and spiritually. We, generally, know what needs to be done but place the goal first and us down on the list of things to do. De-stress basics . . . take a deep breath, eat right, get enough sleep, say "no" when you need to and use humor in all situations.
4. Drink more water
Our bodies are made up of 70-80% water. Our bodies require water to function optimally and improve health. Make a conscious effort to drink one 8 ounce glass every 2-3 hours. Taking care of ourselves can be broken
down into manageable pieces and we find that drinking enough water can be attainable everyday. a quick and simple idea is to drink about 6-8 ounces of water just prior to a meal, it helps you eat less. I find that alkaline water attracts and expels fat. Alkaline water goes down much more easily so it's easier to drink the amounts the body requires.
5. Quit Smoking
If there is one thing you can do for your health; it is quitting smoking. Nicotine and smoke reek havoc on every body system, not just the lungs. Second hand smoke affects our environment as well as harms our loved ones. Quitting smoking is tough but it's one of the healthiest choices you can make. There are so many supplements out there that can help with the nicotine withdrawal but the most effective tool is developing a support network of people who will help you when you feel the need.
6. Detoxify
Health is ffected by every aspect of life in the 21st century. Today's environment, air, food and water are full of toxins that lead to diseases like cancer and heart disease for ourselves and our children. Limit your exposure by eating foods with as little preservatives as you can. When you exercise, be aware of ozone alerts for smog and plan your activities indoors on those days. Our current water supply goes through purification processes to eliminate harmful substances but is chlorinated, which is not considered harmful but it's a chemical we are taking in and running over our bodies and our children's bodies every day. Detoxification (detox) can be as simple as drinking alkaline water , taking detox baths or completing a two week detox with supplements. |
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