Simple Steps to Better Health
8 Simple Steps You Can't Ignore to Improve Your Health
Posted on April 17, 2020
Better health is something we all want.
Some are willing to work a little harder than others to get it.
Of course, there are things you can do to work smarter, rather than harder, to achieve the good health you desire.
Put these 8 simple steps to action to improve your overall health and wellbeing.
1. Go On a 10-Minute Walk
According to Harvard Medical School, walking for ten minutes each day is a great way for people who don’t normally get exercise at all to introduce the benefits of exercise into their day.
Not only does it help to get your blood flowing and improve circulation, it also helps you get exposure to fresh air and a little sunshine-sourced vitamin D (depending on the time of day you choose to walk).
And, it can motivate you to do even more exercise over time.
The good news is that you’re up, moving around, out of the office, and off the couch – for at least 10 minutes.
2. Eat a Healthy Diet Rich in Superfoods
You know, all too well, how important it is to eat foods that are healthy for you, including superfoods.
Unfortunately, most people do not get nearly enough fruits and vegetables, much less those that are considered superfoods.
Detox Organics offers an outstanding resource for getting sufficient superfoods in your daily diet effortlessly.
It’s nearly impossible to argue with the logic of a move like this – especially when it is so delicious.
Even better, you don’t need a cape or tights to eat superfoods, though eating them might make you feel like you can leap tall buildings in a single bound.
3. Learn to Let Go of Stress
Actively eliminating stress from your daily routine is one of the most important things you can do for the state of your health.
Seriously, stress is bad for your heart, mind, body, and soul.
Too much prolonged stress causes a wide range of negative health conditions including:
-
Heart disease
-
Stroke
-
High blood pressure (hypertension)
-
Depression
-
Ulcers
-
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
-
Migraines
There are even correlations between stress and obesity.
The good news is that there are many things you can do to help reduce your stress and let it go, including things like meditation, yoga, hobbies, art, and even gratitude journaling.
When you focus on things in life you’re grateful for, you have little time left over for stress.
4. Get More Sleep
Sleep, like stress, affects your overall health.
If you go too long without getting enough sleep on a regular basis, your overall health will suffer.
Aspects of your health affected by sleep, or lack thereof include:
-
Immunity
-
Inflammation
-
Stress
-
Mental acuity
-
Depression
As you can see, insufficient sleep causes not only your physical health to suffer, but your mental health to suffer as well.
This makes sleep a double whammy when you’re not getting enough — and outstanding medicine when you’re getting just the right amount.
You might even want to consider going to bed earlier at night to work in an extra hour or so of sleep so you can see what a difference it can make for your health.
5. Exercise Your Brain
Believe it or not, this can be more important than you realize.
There are certain activities that exercise the brain better than others, especially if you’re hoping to avoid certain conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
In fact, mounting evidence suggests that learning to play a musical instrument can be a protective factor against dementia and other cognitive impairments.
As an added benefit, you can drive your neighbors crazy while you practice your new instrument night after night.
Crossword puzzles also help to keep dementia at bay.
Of course, exercising your brain is healthier in the here and now as well, helping to keep you on your toes in the workplace, too.
6. Schedule Your Workouts
The American Council on Exercise recommends you should schedule in your exercise sessions, just like you would schedule an appointment.
No matter how busy life gets, you can always seem to pencil in five to eight minutes here and there for something that’s good for your health, like exercise.
Just remember you don’t have to engage in a full-on workout to get the benefits of exercising.
In fact, just a few minutes of vigorous exercise penciled-in throughout your day can yield a massive positive effect on your health and fitness.
Pencil in a few minutes at the soccer field, before taking kids to school in the morning, or even while waiting for kids to get off the bus after school.
Here’s the key: when you put it in writing, you are more inclined to do it.
7. Ditch the Salt and Switch to Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs add unbelievable flavor to food without forcing you to feel like you’re sacrificing the savory flavor salt brings to the table.
Salt can contribute to high blood pressure, which can lead to other health problems.
By simply stepping away from the salt for seasoning, you may find you not only live longer, but enjoy a greater quality of life in the process.
As an added benefit, you just might learn that your food tastes considerably better without the salt.
8. Enjoy a Little Wine and Skip the Whine
There have been several studies extolling the many virtues of drinking red wine.
Among the many potential benefits of drinking red wine are the following:
-
Zaps inflammation
-
Antioxidant-rich
-
Reduces stress
-
Lowers the risk of heart disease (in moderation)
-
Benefits mental health
-
Promotes growth of beneficial gut flora
While some argue that white wine can be equally beneficial, most studies conducted at this point have focused their attention on red wine.
You might have to conduct a study of your own comparing the differences between the two for the big picture.
While good health is never a one-size-fits-all process, these small, but mighty steps can help you make improvements to your health — and your quality of life in the process.