Table of contents:
- 1. Avoid excessive stress
- 2. Regular exercise
- 3. Increase the amount of walking
- 4. Choose healthy and nutritious foods
- 5. Get enough sleep
Maybe, you've often met some people who seem always healthy, happy, and rarely even seen as stressed. You are also motivated to start living a healthy life, but doubt because you think that healthy living requires a lot of sacrifice.
Eits, who said? Living healthy and living well can be done together, really. So what to do?
1. Avoid excessive stress
If you want to have a nice and healthy life, don't forget the important point about "thoughts". The reason is, a study says that when we think about something too much to the point of stress, it will increase cortisol levels and cause harmful effects on the body's metabolism.
This can trigger your desire to eat foods that are low in nutritional value. So that it will increase the storage of nutrients that are not good in the body, for example excessive fat in the stomach. In the end, this condition allows you to develop various diseases.
Other studies have even suggested that stress can lead to major depression, which can adversely affect sleep patterns, appetite and mood. Of course you don't want this to happen, do you? Therefore, when you are under stress, it is better to practice deep breathing techniques, meditation, or if the stress is quite severe, try to consult your problem with a psychologist.
The point is, stress is definitely experienced by everyone. However, healthy people manage stress well and don't let it drag on.
2. Regular exercise
In fact, the benefits of exercise are not only able to make your body healthier. However, reported from the Healthline page, exercise has been shown to improve mood and reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Another fact is that exercise can change a part of the brain that regulates stress and anxiety. This will also increase the work of the brain to produce the hormones serotonin and norepinephrine, which can relieve feelings of depression.
Even more interesting, this healthy way of living by diligently exercising can increase the production of endorphins in the body, which will reduce pain in the body, produce feelings of happiness, and of course make life more comfortable and healthier.
Maybe sometimes you are lazy to exercise because you feel that exercise takes a long time. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, you only need to spend about 30 minutes per day for 5 days a week to exercise. The exercise you do doesn't always have to be heavy, moderate intensity exercise is fine.
3. Increase the amount of walking
If you really feel like you don't have time to exercise, at least take the time to take a walk every day for 30 minutes. Even though it looks simple, this healthy way of life has benefits that are no less good than other sports.
For example, increasing the work of the body and brain, reducing the risk of chronic disease, providing anti-anxiety effects, and improving mood. If you still find it difficult, try to invite your closest friends or relatives to accompany you on a small walk in the neighborhood around the house.
4. Choose healthy and nutritious foods
You can get other healthy ways of life if you eat healthy types of food with high nutritional content. Balance your diet composition with various types of foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits, and include healthy protein sources from poultry, fish, tofu, tempeh, milk sources, and nuts such as soybeans, as well as sources of carbohydrates and healthy fats.
A study reported by Livestrong states that food choice plays an important role mood and your mental health. The reason is, the likelihood of developing depression, anxiety disorders, and dysthimia will decrease along with regularly eating high nutritious foods.
However, apart from considering the nutritional content, you also have to consider your body shape. Is including thin, fat, or obese. To find out, please check this BMI calculator. So that you can find out what types of food are best for you to consume in order to achieve a healthy life.
5. Get enough sleep
In order to live comfortably, make sure you get enough sleep. What does getting enough sleep have to do with a good life? Adequate sleep can re-optimize your energy, both physically and mentally. Various studies have also shown that lack of sleep is closely related to many diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and even obesity.
When you are sleep deprived, you will definitely feel irritable, weak, or have trouble concentrating the next day. This certainly makes life uncomfortable. Therefore, make sure you get around 7-9 hours of sleep every night.
