5 ways to improve your health
We asked experts what one health-improving tip they would give to adults who are otherwise healthy and don't smoke.
1. Focus on the mind
It is very easy to think only about your physical health.
According to Dr. Nadine Sammy, Associate Lecturer in Support and Exercise at the University of Eater, we should focus on improving the mind by developing self-awareness.
According to them, you might think it's to stop yourself from bothering yourself, but it's more than that.
Self-awareness is an ability to understand different moods, and feelings and this ability can play an important role in improving mental and physical health.
He says that 'by understanding your feelings, reasons, and behavior more deeply, you can consciously make better decisions for yourself.
For example, what motivates you to exercise? When do you want to exercise too much and when too little, and why?'
There are many ways to do this, she says, including keeping track daily, meditating, focusing, or simply reflecting on yourself after certain activities or at the end of the day.
2. Get a dog
A gym membership, a Pilates class, or a morning walk are just a few of the things that come to mind when we think of being physically active.
Dr. Rhos Thatcher, of Exercise Physiology at the University, says that going to the gym rarely works for many people, with many giving up after a month or two.
Instead, they suggest finding other ways to continue regularly in our daily lives.
There are many ways to do this, from skipping your office elevator while shopping to parking your car far from the supermarket.
But they say there are special benefits to owning a dog.
If you make sure to walk your dog for 30 minutes twice a day, you can improve your activity as well as reap the emotional benefits of owning a dog.
Dr. Thatcher says: This way you can spend time outside the house, exercise, have a loyal companion and at the same time improve the life of another living being. With all these things, you can improve your physical and mental health.
3. Growing items per week
We've all heard that we should eat five portions of fruits and vegetables a day.
But according to Dr. Megan Rosy, it's not just the quantity that we should strive for, but also the change.
They say we should aim to eat 30 different growing foods a week.
Because growing a variety of foods plays an important role in our better health.
The bacteria in our gut, known as the microbiome, play an important role in our health.
Allergies, obesity, Parkinson's, and even depression are linked to gut bacteria.
'One way we can easily make a change in what we eat is a little bit of information about what we buy,' says Dr. Rosie.
Instead of buying only a gram, buy four different pulses. Instead of buying one kind of seeds, four different seeds should be bought.
4. Smile more
During the holiday season, most of us plan to lose weight and hit the gym.
But the problem with such 'arbitrary' goals, says Dr. James Gill, is that they are often difficult to achieve and failure to achieve them leads to a loss of confidence.
Dr. James Gill suggests considering trying to be happier instead. Dr. James Gill, the researcher at Warwick Medical School and locum GP, says: 'There's a list of specific things you can do to make your life healthier, but if you're not enjoying your life. So you probably can't rely on hard and patient changes.'
But what can you do to be happy?
Make a life change that makes you smile more often, says Dr. Gill. Similarly, identify one thing that makes you unhappy and try to improve it.
"Hold on to these two things, and you'll be ready to explore other things you can do to improve your health throughout the coming year."
5. And finally, get more sleep
Everyone may know this, but we should all make it our goal to get enough sleep (seven to nine hours of sleep a night is essential for the most healthy teens).
Dr. Gavin Buckingham, senior lecturer in support and health sciences at the University of Easter, says that even a small amount of sleep deprivation (five hours a night) can affect cognitive functions, including decision-making.
Many things can help improve a good night's sleep, such as avoiding caffeine consumption near bedtime. But Dr. Buckingham recommends stopping the use of electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptops while sleeping, or at least using a blue light filter.
You must be logged in to post a comment.