3 easy habits for a healthier lifestyle

A report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine states that less than 3% of adults are fully engaged in living a healthy lifestyle. 

Even though the report further indicated that women live slightly healthier lifestyles than men, the score remains surprisingly low for both genders. 

This is usually due to a combination of factors that support or hamper an individual’s progress in living a healthy lifestyle. 

Therefore, the deciding element is a conscious decision to live each day better than the previous one. Here are a few ways to do this. 

Opt for unprocessed foods regularly

A healthy diet consists of vegetables, fruits, proteins, and grains. Unfortunately, due to people’s busy schedules, it’s almost impossible to stick to a regular home-cooked meal. This is where the convenience of processed foods comes in. 

However, processed foods tend to contain high amounts of sugars, salts, fats, and preservatives. These are harmful to the body and, especially when taken regularly, can cause avoidable health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

Unprocessed food is a healthier option because it’s fresher, contains no preservatives, and has higher nutritional values beneficial to the body. The objective is to do this regularly to form a habit that you can’t do without. 

Indeed, you can have your cheat days where you relax a bit on what you eat, but limit that to once or twice a month. 

Depending on how creative you get, unprocessed foods will taste just as good as processed, but with better value.

Admittedly, sometimes, this can be hard to do without nutrition professionals. Fortunately, many nutritionists such as Kristen Blake are trained in health and wellness to lead you on this healthy path.

Adopt a regular fitness routine

Exercising isn’t all about hitting the gym for cardio workouts. It can be as simple as taking a walk, riding a bike, doing yoga, playing tennis, or swimming. The idea behind a fitness routine is to get your body moving in varying levels of activity.

Did you know that a single swimming session is a whole exercise for the entire body? Your upper and lower torsos receive a great workout as they both work together to move against the water resistance.

That explains the moments of lightness you feel immediately after completing a swim session. There are four main types of exercises you should be aiming for, and they’re:

• Aerobic or cardio, for example, running, jumping rope.
• Strength training, such as squats
• Stretching, for instance, arms and leg rotation when sitting or standing.
• Balance exercises like the knee lift while standing.
  

Furthermore, you benefit more from exercising because it’s a great stress reliever and helps release the feel-good hormone that allows you to do more.

Keep the body regularly hydrated

Hydration is a crucial part of healthy living. Water is an essential fluid your body needs to remain at optimum hydration levels. For people who replace water with drinks, it’s worth knowing that soda contains a lot of sugar, which is harmful to your body and negatively impacts your journey to a healthier lifestyle.

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The average adult body requires about two to three liters of water within a twenty-four-hour period.

To determine if you’re drinking enough water, check the color of your urine. If it’s pale yellow or colorless, that’s good news. However, a deeper shade of yellow, brown, or a reddish tinge is cause for concern.

The body loses water through sweating, urination, bowel movements, etc., and that explains why you should replenish it.

Besides, your organs will function properly and flush toxins quicker when you increase your water intake.

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