5 Health Tips To Start Right Now
Health is more important than ever lately to so many of us, so if you are on the “let’s improve our health” train, read these 5 health tips to improve your health starting right now:
Increase Your Water Intake
Getting enough water every day is very important for your health, especially when it comes to weight loss, detoxification, and brain health. Not drinking enough water can obviously lead to dehydration and that can cause headaches, lethargy, muscle weakness and a host of other problems. So what is adequate hydration, and how do we meet these needs through drinking and eating? That definitely varies person to person, but a good starting place is to make sure that you are drinking 8-10 cups a day, preferably more. Usually, I recommend about 12 cups. When you are trying to figure out how much to drink, base it on when you are getting thirsty. If you are getting thirsty, then you need to increase your water intake. Your goal should be to drink before you become thirsty because by the time you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated! If you struggle with the taste of water, add fruit, cucumbers, or packets (no sugar) to boost the taste. You could also dilute juice, but make sure to really water it down because there is a ton of sugar in juice.
Avoid Overeating
It is easier than ever to overeat. With portion sizes through the roof and food at our fingertips, it often feels impossible to reduce our portion sizes, or the frequency of our meals. Food advertising, super-sized meals, commercials, and colorful packaging at the grocery store are designed to entice us, and as a result we end up eating when we’re not hungry, or eating far beyond our actual appetites. Additionally, many commercially prepared foods are highly processed, high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fat which can trick our taste buds into wanting more. Stop feeling as if you have to clean your plate, snack all day, or only eat highly processed foods because you are in a rush. Instead, take the time to prep healthy snacks and meals, and watch your portion sizes. Overeating can lead to a host of health issues, so avoid it as much as you can.
Eat More Plant-Based
When you eat a plant-based diet, you are improving the health of your gut and you are also, in turn, supporting your immune system and reducing inflammation within your body. Fiber (which plant-based foods are high in) can lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar. Fiber can also help reduce your risk of cancer and other diseases, as well such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and mental health issues. There are many reasons why prioritizing a plant-based diet is great for your health and the environment, as well.
Push Yourself In Your Workouts
If you are on a health journey, or a weight loss journey, make sure that you are pushing yourself in your workouts. CrossFit Solid Orange can help you with that! They are a local gym in Tennessee and they offer great deals on Nashville CrossFit gym membership. They offer interval-training bootcamp, strength and conditioning sessions, olympic weightlifting, and personal training, as well. Every single session is led by a professional and knowledgeable coach who will guide you every step of the way…and help push you when you need a boost! If you are concerned with safety or have anxiety about not knowing what to do, don’t fear. They say, “As a beginner you may not know how to do most of the athletic training movements. The very first aspect is teaching you how to do the workout safely. Then staying with you to make sure you continue to work out with proper form.” Last but not least, CrossFit Solid Orange also provides nutrition programs, counseling, and body fat measurements, so it is not just limited to a 45 minute to an hour workout: it can help with your overall health and wellness!
Prioritize Your Happiness
Feeling happy can significantly improve your health because mental health affects physical health significantly (and vise versa). Happier individuals had a 3.7 percent reduction in early death over a 5 year study period based on a somewhat recent study done, and those who felt happiest at 22 years of age were 2.5 times more likely to still be alive six decades later. Lastly, another review of 35 studies showed that happy people may live up to 18% longer than their less happy counterparts. Your mental and physical health go hand in hand and that is shown by these studies. If we prioritize happiness, we are not only living longer, but we are more mentally strong, as well, which is important.
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