Medically reviewed by Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Shera.
You know how they say, “It’s never too late or too early to work towards being the healthiest you”; they say it right! Because a healthy lifestyle does not only mean changing the way you eat but improving your health and wellbeing altogether. And, by following the tips that you’ll be reading ahead, you will be able to discover a healthier, happier and fit version of yourself.
- Become an Aquaholic:
Keeping yourself hydrated is crucial for your body to work at its best. From your brain to kidneys to the joints to your digestive system, water is a necessity. So, why not make a habit of drinking lots of water, let it flush all the toxins out of your body, make your skin glow and your overall health considerably better?
- Give a hoot, eat more fruit!
And of course, vegetables!
This slogan should be the slogan of your life and fruits and greens, your best friends. As they are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber and contribute to a healthy and balanced diet, consuming a considerable amount of fruits and veggies is essential. Apart from that, they help reduce the risk of heart diseases and strokes, too. So, what are you waiting for? Grab an apple in one hand, a cucumber in the other and get it started!
- Don’t forget the carbs
Yeah, you read it right. Carbohydrates are very much essential for health, and anyone who is advising you to cut on carbs to maintain a healthy weight is remarkably wrong.
Not all carbohydrates are bad; rather it’s their quality and quantity which makes a difference.
Now, why should you eat carbohydrates? Well, it’s pretty simple. Your body uses the foods rich in carbs to make glucose, a substance which is the main energy source of your body. When your body is getting the energy that it needs, you are eventually healthy. Therefore, while planning to cut on fizzy drinks and free sugar is an amazing idea, eliminating carbohydrates altogether from your diet is a bad one. Depriving your body of its essential nutrients can never make you healthy, so please pick that bowl of rice and eat it! Just don’t go overboard, okay.
- Start liking to move it, move it!
Physical activity is important for people of all weights and health conditions. Along with burning extra calories and maintaining muscle mass, it is great for our heart and circulatory system. It also makes you focus better and gives an additional high to your mental and emotional wellbeing. So, start taking stairs instead of elevators and go out for a 30-minute walk every day. For additional benefits, like a toned body, join the gym.
- Meditation over medication, always
To achieve overall health being, it’s necessary for your mental health to be sound too. And meditation has proved to be the best way to achieve that.
All of us go through days of extreme stress. Some of us are even victims of mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. While many of us are desperately taking sleeping pills to be able to do something as simple as sleeping, these medicines are playing with our bodies for long-term side effects. Which is why you should start meditating regularly, as this practice is going to make you take control of your thoughts, making you mentally healthy, and happier person over time.
Gradual changes in our lifestyle are easy to incorporate than introducing them all at once. Even if you maintain a healthy living slowly and step by step, it’s still better than doing nothing. Start with drinking water and eating healthy, and once that becomes a norm, move further. It’s a journey, don’t stop, keep going and good luck trying to achieve the healthiest version of you!
Guest Post Credit: Dr. Maleeha Syed
