We all know that a healthy lifestyle is important. However, it is sometimes quite difficult in practice. We are spending more and more time sitting and moving less and less. We often do not adjust our diet accordingly. We explored what a healthy lifestyle means and what you can do to live a healthy life and maintain it.
A healthy lifestyle means that you exercise enough, eat a varied diet and have as little stress as possible. In addition, it is important not to smoke and not to drink too much alcohol. A varied and balanced diet also contributes to a healthy lifestyle. Staying healthy has everything to do with teaching yourself healthy habits and patterns. Including a walk in your daily routine can already contribute to a healthier lifestyle.
It is important to get enough exercise to stay healthy. Exercise ensures a good condition of the heart, blood vessels and lungs. In the long run, it also makes your brain work better. Exercise moderately intensively for at least half an hour every day. By moderately intensive exercise we mean walking at an active pace and cycling or swimming. In addition, it is a good idea to do muscle and bone-strengthening activities such as strength training twice a week.
The Netherlands is one of the European countries with the most people. A good guideline for sitting less is not to sit for more than two hours at a time and to get up and move every half hour. Not sitting too much will make you feel fitter in the short term. In the longer term, it prevents conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and problems with bones and muscles.
Eating a varied diet means that you eat products from the disc of five. Preferably eat plant-based and fresh products that have not been processed. Eat about 250 grams of vegetables and 250 grams of fruit daily. Choose whole grains, legumes, nuts and fish. Drink plenty of water and avoid fruit juices. There is a lot of sugar in this. Eat once per fatty fish such as salmon, herring or mackerel. Eat little red meat and eat or drink a few servings of dairy per day.
During your sleep, your body recovers from physical activities and your brain processes the impressions of the day. Sufficient sleep is therefore very important for a well-functioning body. In general, sleeping between 6.5 to 8 hours is sufficient for a good night's sleep. Relaxation is also very important for a healthy life. But therefore consciously make time for practicing hobbies and other things that you like to do.
Smoking is bad for your health, we all know that. Smoking makes your condition worse. It increases the risk of lung diseases such as asthma, COPD and lung cancer. Many cardiovascular diseases are also caused by smoking. In addition, smoking costs a lot of money and is extremely addictive. So don't do it if you want to grow old healthy.
Drinking alcohol has a lot of effect on your body. Alcohol is absorbed into your blood and is thus distributed throughout your body. In this way alcohol also ends up in your brain. It numbs your brain. The more you drink, the stronger you feel this effect. Alcohol also comes into contact with your kidneys, liver and pancreas via your blood. If you regularly drink a lot, you run the risk of serious damage to these organs in the long term. Drinking a lot of water also increases the risk of cancer. Reasons enough not to drink too much alcohol if you want to lead a healthy life.
A healthy life also includes a healthy weight. If you want to know if you are a healthy weight, you can calculate your BMI. On the internet you will find all kinds of handy calculators that can do this for you within seconds. If you do not currently have a healthy weight and would like help with losing weight, please contact a dietician in Tilburg. A dietitian can teach you how to lose weight in a healthy way.
Read also: 5 reasons why eggplant fits into a healthy lifestyle
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