We spend our lives making dozens of choices each day. From brushing our teeth in the morning and choosing what to wear for the day to deciding where to eat, where to go for a run (if at all), and whether to stay home for the night or go out and meet with friends.
We make these and many other little decisions every single day, but we don’t really spend much time thinking about them. We go about our routine and focus on work, family or some other primary goals. It’s usually because we have so much on our plate already – work, family, kids, relationships, exercise, sleep – that we cannot really afford to sit and ponder, trying to do something different and change our lives.
But, is living like that actually healthy? Did you ever stop to think whether or not you are perfectly happy with the way you live your life?
There are plenty of things that we have absolutely no control over, but there are also those that we can control and make sure that we lead a healthy lifestyle filled with happiness and success.
Making healthier lifestyle choices may seem harder at first, but it pays off incredibly and it’s extremely easy once you make just a little bit of effort. Sooner than you realize, it will become your second nature and make a world of difference in your life. Here are some of those choices that you have full control over.
Eat Healthy and Fast
As you must know, eating healthy is directly related to good health. However, even though we all know it, we’re constantly tempted by fast food and various other snacks, especially sugary ones, all of which are very bad for our health.
You control what you eat, so make better choices regarding your diet. Avoid processed foods and sugar and eat as many fruits and vegetables as you can. Enrich your body with vitamins, as well as proteins, fiber, fats, and minerals. Follow a balanced nutrition plan and you’ll successfully prevent many serious health problems, such as diabetes, stroke and heart disease.
Now, when I say “fast”, I don’t mean “eat fast”, as it can be very bad for your health. I mean that you should fast, but only occasionally. Fasting helps you reduce cholesterol and lower blood pressure. It also helps reduce daily calorie intake and helps you lose weight.
However, it slows down your metabolic rate, so it’s not recommended that you do it often. Once a year to detox your body is enough.
Drink Good Drinks (But Not Too Much)
Obviously, you need to drink water for your body to function properly. However, to do so, it needs more than just one or two glasses a day. The recommended water intake is about 2 liters a day, but many doctors recommend drinking between half an ounce and an ounce (between 15 and 30 ml) of water for every pound you weigh.
Besides water, you should pack up on calcium-rich milk (or chocolate milk), teas, lemonade, orange juice, and various other fruit and vegetable juices. However, as nothing is good in excess, be sure to drink all the good drinks in moderation.
Go Somewhere on Foot
How many times have you heard that exercise is good for your health? Well, it’s perfect for your health, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to hit the gym regularly and go for a run every morning (although you should definitely consider it).
Any kind of physical activity, even just a simple 30-minute walk, is fantastic for your overall health. Not only will it speed up your metabolism and strengthen your immune system, but it will also significantly reduce your stress levels.
During physical activity, your body releases endorphins, which is one of the so-called happy hormones, so you essentially feel much better. It also goes without saying that going somewhere on foot will help you maintain a healthy weight, so get out of your car and walk on.
Check Your Cholesterol
High cholesterol considerably increases the risk of stroke and heart attack, so you need to check your cholesterol levels regularly. Even if you have a normal range for cholesterol (less than 200 mg/dL for adults: LDL – less than 100 mg/dL; HDL – 60 mg/dL and above), you should still check it at least once every 5 years.
You can test it at home with a cholesterol home test kit and have the results in a matter of minutes.
Check Your Blood Pressure
Checking your blood pressure regularly is also very important for your health, as it will help you keep it at a healthy level. High blood pressure is very common, but it can potentially cause a stroke if not treated properly. On the other hand, low blood pressure can cause weakness, dizziness and fainting and, in severe cases, damage to the heart and brain.
This is also something that you can easily test at home with a blood pressure monitor, but have in mind that the ones that doctors use are somewhat more accurate.
Visit the Doctor
Visiting the doctor is something most of us dread and tend to postpone until we really need professional help. However, going to your doctor’s office should be at the very top on your list of priorities, even when you feel absolutely fine – especially then, as a matter of fact.
If you visit your doctor for a regular check-up, they’ll be able to detect a potential health issue early, when there are no symptoms and when you can effectively prevent a more serious problem. Therefore, make it a habit to schedule regular doctor’s appointments and put your health first.
These six healthy lifestyle choices that are entirely within your control now seem incredibly easy, don’t they? So, start making them today and transform your life! Before you even know it, you will be living your life to the fullest and feel much more empowered to take on the world!
