A healthy lifestyle simply means doing things that make you happy and feel good. For one person, that may mean walking a mile five times a week, eating fast food once a week, and spending virtual or in-person time with loved ones every other day.
Making changes to improve your health can lead to benefits for your body, your mind, your wallet, and even the environment.
- Prevents disease Healthy habits can reduce the risk of various diseases, including those that may run in your family Swapping out some refined grains for whole grains also reduces the risk of disease. In an observational study of almost 200,000 adults, those who ate the most whole grains had a 29 percent lower rate of type 2 diabetes than those who ate the least.’
- Saves money It’s always smart to see your primary doctor for an annual physical exam. This is especially true seeing how some health conditions, such as high blood pressure, are “silent.” This means they don’t have any symptoms, so unless you are checked, you usually don’t know you have the condition. However, the healthier you are, the less likely you will have to see a doctor. This could save money by reducing co-pays, the need for prescriptions, and other treatments.
- Lengthens lifespan Basic healthy habits relate to living a longer life. If at age 50, you’ve never smoked, maintain a healthy weight, are regularly active, follow a healthy diet, and keep alcohol to moderate consumption, you could live up to 14 years longer. Making even a few of these changes could lengthen your lifespan.
Your version of a healthy lifestyle is whatever you define it to be. There’s nothing you must or must not do in order to be healthy. Identify what makes you feel good and what brings you the greatest happiness. Then, start small when you make changes. You’re more likely to see success this way, and small successes will snowball into bigger benefits. Lastly, if you want help with making any lifestyle changes, talk to your doctor. If they can’t directly help you, they may recommend other professionals, like registered dietitians or therapists.
