When spring arrives and the clocks change many of us feel it’s an ideal time to shake of the winter cobwebs (and extra pounds) and start adopting a healthier lifestyle.
Healthy living doesn’t have to mean heading down to the gym five nights a week or donning a pair of running shoes. Simple changes to diet and daily routines can make a big difference and these types of small adjustments are also easier to stick with long term. Below we highlight five simple changes that can lead to a fitter and healthier you.
Eat a Piece of Fruit before Lunch
If you feel peckish before lunch grab a piece of fruit such as a banana or apple to take the edge of your hunger pangs. You’ll be less likely to head for greasy and fatty foods at lunchtime and it also gets you closer to one of your five a day.
Change your diet
Having a full nutrition overhaul can work out where you are lacking and what you need to do to aid your diet. Having a nutritional panel test checks for common deficiencies in a broader diet. HealthLabs has been offering customers affordable lab testing online since 2015. They work with thousands of trusted CLIA-certified lab locations across the United States, making inexpensive laboratory testing a convenient option for those who are without insurance, who have high deductibles, want confidentiality, and/or whose doctors won’t prescribe them the lab testing they want to have done. Many plant foods such as nuts, seeds and avocados are low in unsaturated fats which reduces cholesterol, whilst also providing antioxidants which are good for health
Drink More Water
Water is an integral part of the human diet and drinking enough H2O is essential to the body’s healthy functioning. There are lots of positives to staying properly hydrated including improved energy levels and focus, weight loss, reduced risk of cancer and helping avoid constipation. The guidelines published regards the levels of water a person should drink each day are mixed. However, 2 litres is the level mentioned by many health authorities and also a relatively easy goal to aim for. It’s also advisable to have a glass or bottle of water nearby that you can take smaller regular sips on. This helps maintain your levels of hydration throughout the day and prevents you feeling thirsty.
Quit Smoking
Despite the fact that the health issues associated with cigarettes have been well known since the 1960’s the UK still has approximately 18% of the population that smoke. Quitting smoking is by no means easy but in recent years a new solution to help those that wish to stop has become increasingly popular. E-cigarettes from Redvape.com mimic the process of smoking and many of the e-liquids used contain Nicotine, which is the addictive element of traditional smoking. The benefits of vaping over smoking are still being investigated. However there is enough evidence available for both the NHS and Cancer Research UK to recommend vaping as a healthier alternative to smoking. In fact, the NHS has stated that vaping is 95% healthier than smoking as it contains none of the harmful chemicals found in traditional cigarettes. Tobacco based e-liquids are a popular choice amongst ex-smokers as they provide much of the taste and sensation of smoking without the harmful side effects.
Get Walking
Walking is a simple and free form of exercise that almost everyone can take part in. Regular waking activity has been shown to reduce the risk of several illnesses including heart disease, asthma, stroke and some forms of cancer. No special equipment is needed and it can be easily introduced into many people’s existing daily routines. The NHS recommends we aim for 10,000 steps per day and with many smart phones nowcoming with free step trackers built in this is a relatively easy target to track.
XOXO
Debbie
This is a collaborative post
