10 Healthy Living Tips
Here are 10 suggestions to make your life healthier and
happier.
Date: 01/01/05
Source:
www.health_fitness_tips.com and Sofia M. Pico, LMT
10 Essential Health Tips (The Basics to Practice Every Day) "He
who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything."
-Arabian Proverb
1. Move More
Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if
given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your
dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn.
Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a
stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't
have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or
tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it.
Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do
it!
2. Cut Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats
(i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products
such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in
low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine,
butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are
available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free
cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning
machine…. Then be one!
3. Quit Smoking
The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960
when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your
health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products
that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in
adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems
the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your
children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood
smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next
one.
4. Reduce Stress
Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms.
Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive
thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak
in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book;
visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch
a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count
to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid
difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing
red, think pink clouds….then float on them.
5. Protect Yourself from Pollution
If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least
avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway
fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when
the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when
air quality outside is poor. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard
and have plants in your home. It's a good pollution deterrent. Avoid
cleaning and household products that contain harsh chemicals (most
well known brands do). Instead opt for environmentally safe and
cruelty-free products. They will keep your home free of fumes and
help the planet too. Thought for the day: 'Smoke gets in your
eyes'…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do
pollutants….hum the tune daily.
6. Wear Your Seat Belt and Avoid Using You Handheld Cellphone
While Driving
Statistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help
alleviate potential injuries in car crashes. Thought for the day:
Buckle down and buckle up.
7. Floss Your Teeth
Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity
and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because
people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who
don't? Thought for the day: Floss and be your body's boss.
8. Avoid Drinking Alcohol
While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a
day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, other
studies suggest that complete abstinence is best and more than one
drink a day can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney
disease and cancer. Thought for the day: Think before you drink.
9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook
There's a definitive connection between living well and
healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. Thought for the
day: You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing.
10. Choose Your Parents Well
The link between genetics and health is a powerful one.
But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill
health doesn't mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed
you. Thought for the day: Follow these basic tips for healthy living
and you can better control your own destiny.
Image by Andrew Kashnig
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