The ABC's Of Good Health
You want to be healthy, but sometimes it seems like being healthy is a constant uphill battle. What if being healthy was as easy as ABC?
It can be with these easy steps:
A void dental problems by scheduling regular appointments with your dental team. Clean and healthy teeth and gums contribute to overall good health.
B reakfast. Make sure to eat something to start your day. Focus on fueling your body with whole grains, proteins and fruit.
C olourful foods. Try to make your meals as colourful as possible, using a variety of grains, fruits and vegetables.
D rink water. Your body needs water to function properly. Don’t drink your calories, drink water instead. If you don’t like plain water, try adding flavours using fresh fruit and veggies such as strawberries, cucumbers, mint, etc.
E at seasonally and buy locally. By doing so, you'll get the most nutrients from your food because it's at its freshest point.
F it extra activity into your day. Don’t have time to get to a spin class, gym, or out for a run? You can still stay active during the day! Do 10 squats while you brush your teeth. Everything helps.
G o outside. Get some natural Vitamin D. This will boost your energy and your immune system.
H earing tests are also an important part of staying healthy. Schedule regular appointments to help monitor your hearing loss, assess the effectiveness of your hearing aid, and provide strategies for overcoming challenges.
I magine your ideal self. Not necessarily your ideal weight, but your ideal self. How you want to conduct yourself, what’s important to you and how you’ll make that a focus, what your ideal self will feed your body for optimal health, etc.
J unk food toss. Go through your cupboards and fridge and either purge all the junk food or make a pact with yourself that when it runs out, you will not buy more.
K eep a food journal. By keeping a journal of what you eat, you’ll be able to see patterns of overeating, stress eating, etc. This is also a way to hold you accountable when you make that choice to have a healthier diet.
L ook for healthy options for eating out. Instead of eating at fast food or chain restaurants where everything is deep fried, search out local restaurants where there are some healthy options.
M eal plan. Sit down for an hour or so each week and plan out your meals. This helps you stay on track and avoid having to come up with quick, possibly unhealthy meal options.
N ap when needed. Sometimes all that you need is a quick nap! This will give you a great boost of energy rather than reaching for an energy drink or more cups of coffee than you really need.
O pen your mind to natural health options. Research and try out different methods of healing like Reiki, laser therapy, acupuncture, Body Talk and so many more.
P ack your lunch. Often, when working in an office or attending school, it’s easy to make too many trips to the nearest restaurant or cafeteria. Pack your lunch to keep it healthy.
Q uit making excuses. There are so many reasons why being healthy may not be convenient but start listing the reasons that you want to be healthy. No more excuses.
R educe stress. Reduce your level of stress by delegating, meditating, finding your happy place, and taking time for yourself.
S hare Your Goals. By doing so, you make it so all the people you tell are going to hold you accountable.
T ake time for yourself. Schedule time at the spa for a facial, pedicure or massage. Pamper yourself with fresh lashes or pretty nails.
U nderstand your cravings. Focus on what’s causing them. Many times, you can offset your cravings with something healthy.
V ision tests are an important part of preventative health care. Comprehensive eye exams can detect eye diseases and disorders such as glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachments and macular degeneration, as well as other systemic health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
W hole food diet. Rather than trying the newest diet trend, focus on eating a whole food diet. This is a diet that includes lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
X ercise. Exercising three to five times a week can be very beneficial for both your mind and body. Schedule exercise like you schedule meetings.
Y oga. If you’re stressed, yoga is a great way to relax. You’ll focus on breathing and keep your emotions in check.
Z ZZZZ's - Get plenty of sleep. Getting quality sleep is huge, and while the perfect number of hours may vary by person, there are a few things you can do to maximize your sleep quality: make your bedroom as dark as possible, keep it cool, keep electronics away from your bedside table and try to have a consistent bedtime and wake-up time.