According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (DPHP), healthy living starts with a nutritious diet, regular physical activity, good sleep, and plenty of water to promote hydration. However, feeling your best doesn’t need to require a whole lot of time and money—especially if you’re incorporating the right strategies into your daily routine. For some simple tips that will help you to live your healthiest life, read on!
Give Your Skin Some Love
The way you feel is tied directly to the way you look. If your eyes are overshadowed by dark circles, for example, you may not be your most confident. And since your appearance starts with your skin — not makeup — it pays to pamper the skin you’re in. Arbordoun’s herbal skin care products can help you do just that. Further, by taking care of your skin, you protect your body’s first line of defense against the outside world.
Exercise in Short Increments
Regular physical activity is essential to good health, as it prevents weight gain, reduces your risk of chronic disease, boosts your mood, and improves your quality of sleep. Plus, regular exercise helps you to feel more energized and able to tackle everything from grocery shopping to sweeping the floor at home.
For optimal health, MedlinePlus recommends obtaining about 75 minutes of vigorous activity or 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week. However, it’s best to spread your exercise out over three to four days rather than meeting your physical activity requirements in just one or two days. If you’re short on time, even a quick walk, jog, or bike ride can help you to stay on track for the week.
To motivate yourself to exercise—even on the days where you don’t feel like lifting a finger—you may choose to invest in a fitness tracking device such as an Apple Watch or Fitbit. Some of the best fitness trackers on the market are designed to log your steps, monitor your heart rate, and track your workouts—all while helping you to recognize your success and achieve your future wellness goals.
Get a Gym Membership
A study conducted by Iowa State University tells us that obtaining a gym membership is one of the best things you can do to incorporate more exercise into your daily life, reach your fitness goals, and improve your overall health and wellness. Plus, a gym membership may keep you slimmer, lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, and promote better cardiorespiratory health.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the budget to join a gym—especially one that offers flexible hours, clean facilities, and a decent selection of machines and group classes. If this sounds like you, contact your medical insurance provider to see if your existing health plan offers fitness center discounts and/or wellness incentives. Several popular incentive programs include SilverSneakers, Blue365, and the HealthPartners Frequent Fitness program.
Through certain Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap) and Medicare Advantage plans, you may be eligible for a SilverSneakers membership—a health and fitness incentive for seniors 65 years of age and older. If you’re eligible for a membership, you’ll receive benefits such as a membership to participating gyms, access to workout classes, and opportunities to attend social events.
While regular exercise is important at any age, you’ll experience a whole slew of benefits by adding more physical activity into your daily routine as you grow older. As you age, daily exercise may reduce your risk of falling and injuring yourself or suffering from an age-related medical condition such as diabetes, dementia or heart disease.
Eat Real Food
If you tend to follow the Standard American Diet (SAD) or Western Pattern Diet (WPD), it’s time to swap processed foods like frozen pizzas and canned meals for nutritious dishes that contain more whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. Other examples of whole foods include organic, cage-free chicken and wild caught fish.
Moreover, whole foods are packed full of essential nutrients like Vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants, good bacteria, and healthy fats—all vitamins and minerals that help to keep you healthy, strong, and free of disease. Meanwhile, heavily processed foods have been linked to heart disease, certain types of cancers, premature death, obesity, and depression.
While changing your diet and exercise habits may seem daunting at first, these simple modifications will improve your energy levels, boost your mood, and reduce your risk of chronic disease. You may not notice major changes overnight, but these simple lifestyle changes will benefit you daily and as you grow older—helping you to live a long, happy, and healthy life.
By Jennifer McGregor, Public Health Library
