Our modern lifestyle presents a lot of challenges to the health-conscious individual, particularly when you work in a high-stress environment or spend a lot of time dealing with people. Because our work takes priority over a lot of things in our lives, we’re bound to overlook our own health in the pursuit of personal success. Exhaustion and stress are major causes of declining health in today’s adults and a major cause of low productivity. In order to function at your best and keep a clear mind all day, you may have to make a few adjustments to stay fit.
Here’s where to start:
Contents
High water intake
For a person who works in a physically-demanding environment a small amount of dehydration can cause a significant drop in performance. When you’re moving around all day, you’re using more water than somebody who’s working at a desk; and if you’re not hydrated then your mental performance will be reduced and your body will lose strength faster.
It is recommended that you start your day by drinking warm lemon water as a way to flush out toxins from your body and improve digestion. It might take a while before you’re able to drink the recommended eight glasses of water per day, however you can start out with a few glasses and then gradually increase your water intake to a standard level.
Eat breakfast every day
A good breakfast starts you off at a high level, giving you the energy you need to face the day ahead. You need a healthy breakfast to balance your sugar levels and maintain proper weight, and also as a way to prevent food cravings during the day. Make sure your meals are packed with a minimum of three out of the five food groups. Cereals, whole grain breads, low-fat dairy products, and fruit are good choices. When you take a high-fiber cereal with low-fat milk or yoghurt it can reduce your body weight in the long run.
Exercise
As an adult, you should strive to spare 30 minutes of your day to perform simple exercises. Exercise is good for increasing oxygen levels in the blood, burning calories, and rejuvenating cells; which leaves you feeling stronger and refreshed. There are plenty of options for a 30-minute workout; for example you can jog, run, walk, go swimming, or join a gym where you can get help from a trainer. It’s important to stay motivated as you start your daily exercise routine, and you can do this by joining workout groups in your area to meet people who can help you achieve your fitness goals.
Follow a healthy diet
Many of us find it difficult to stick to a healthy diet because we’re constantly surrounded by sugary and oily food that makes us feel good. But the dangers posed by eating the wrong food are serious and far-reaching. You current health is determined to a large extent by the food you eat, so a simple way to prevent disease is to eat healthy meals every day. Vitamins and minerals are the key to a strong immunity and healthy development, and a lack of proper nutrients jeopardizes your body’s ability to ward off diseases. A healthy diet consists of the right combination of proteins, carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and healthy fats. Remember to:
- Eat light meals
- Avoid biscuits, store-bought cakes, breads, and flour
- Eat more buckwheat, brown rice, spelt, and quinoa
Reduce stress
Stress causes the body to release high levels of cortisol which is fine in smaller doses but when it stays in your blood in elevated levels it can cause changes in your body. Here’s how the stress hormone cortisol affects your body:
- It limits your immune system’s ability to prevent diseases and opportunistic infections
- Interferes with your metabolism
- Causes food cravings – particularly sugary and fatty food
- Causes heart disease
- Makes you prone to ulcers, depression, and stroke
Yoga is effective at relieving stress and enhancing blood flow. Simple meditation exercises can help you become more grounded and empowered to face your daily challenges – and if you can spend some time in nature, that can also reduce stress.
Get enough sleep
Sleep allows your body to heal and a regular sleeping schedule keeps you healthy in the long term. Healthy sleep plays an important role in maintain mental and physical health, quality of life, and improving performance. The way you feel when you’re awake is determined to some extent by how well you sleep.
Adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep to function at their best, and children need even more sleep. A good night’s sleep also improves our learning skills, cognitive function, skills like playing the piano, handling machinery, and making good decisions.
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