It’s a new year with a chance to hit new goals. Why not start 2024 off with a healthier lifestyle. Here are some tips to help.
Loosing Track of Healthy Habits
A lot of people overindulge in food over the holidays. In fact, according to a survey conducted by Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, 66% of Americans admitted to overeating over the holidays. Additionally, of those surveyed, 55% reported they had less time for themselves and constantly felt tired.
The holiday season is a time for people to travel and spend time with family and friends. Subsequently, “Holiday travel, activities with friends and family, and trying to get a bunch of things done can cause people to lose track of their healthy habits,” said Barbara Bawer, MD, family medicine physician at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. Dr. Bawer is also a community medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.
Furthermore, if people drop one of their healthy habits “it can affect other areas very quickly,” Dr. Bawer added.
Consistency Is Key
The key to a healthier lifestyle is consistency. Thus, making heathier choices and changes to ones daily routine is important. Furthermore, the goal is not to take the enjoyment out of the food eaten. However, understanding how food and drink choices impact ones bodily functions needs to be kept in mind when enjoying sustenance.
Additionally, at meal time people should have non-startchy vegetables, lean protein, and complex carbohydrates. For example, half of the plate should have non-starchy vegetables. Furthermore, a quarter of the plate should hold a lean protein like:
- Chicken breast.
- Tuna.
- Salmon.
- Lean Beef.
- Or ground turkey.
Next, the last quarter of the plate should hold a complex carbohydrate. Like, beans, ancient grains, lentils, winter squash, or sweet potatoes.
Drinking More Water
The human body is composed of water. Roughly 66% water to be exact. Furthermore, 22% of the bones have water with the muscles holding 76%. Additionally, 83% of human blood is composed of water with the lungs being 90% and brains 95%. Drinking plenty of water is essential to a healthier lifestyle.
A large percentage of Americans do not drink enough water which causes dehydration. Furthermore, as people age, dehydration becomes more commons. Moreover, up to 28% of older people are not meeting their hydration needs.
Men should be drinking around 15.5 cups of clear fluids a day for a healthier lifestyle habits. Furthermore, it is recommended that women drink about 11.5 cups of fluids a day.
Other Habits for a Healthier Lifestyle
Furthermore, adding a healthy weight goal to ones healthier lifestyle achievements is not a bad idea. Obesity can shorten ones lifespan in addition to having other health problems. Moreover, obesity is linked to low self-esteem, stress, and depression.
In addition, to better eating habits and drinking more water, regular exercise should definitely be added to ones healthier lifestyle habits. Furthermore, exercise is a common new year resolution. Exercising regularly can protect people against chronic illness. It also helps lower stress levels and boost mental health.
Another healthier lifestyle choice is not to smoke or vape. Furthermore, smoking affects pretty much every organ in the body. It is also associated with a lower quality of life and a shorter lifespan. Not to mention people who smoke are at risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, or a range of cancers. Additionally, there hasn’t been many conclusive studies on vaping though there have been reports of certain people developing wet lung from do it.
Finally, making healthier lifestyle choices, no matter how big or small, can have major benefits. Start off slowly, make one change at a time before changing another aspect. That way these healthier habits have a chance of sticking.
By Sheena Robertson
Sources:
Science Alert: Expert Reveals 5 Things That Can Help You Live a Longer Life
Yahoo!: How to drink more water: 10 tips to help you stay hydrated in the new year
CantonRep The Repository: Dieticians offer help, healthy eating options
Maine.gov: Hydration – June 2020
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