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Healthy Habits & Activities

Maintaining health is a common quest for many people. Living a healthy lifestyle can help ward off illness, maintain a healthy life and increase longevity. Although there is no secret recipe that results in optimum health, there are several healthy habits that are characteristic of healthy individuals and their lifestyles.

  1. Balanced Diet

    • Eating a healthy and balanced diet is very important for overall health. Nutrition is vital to help build a healthy immune system, provide energy, maintain a healthy weight and decrease the risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. A balanced diet should incorporate foods from each of the five food groups every day. Diets should limit fats, oils, sweets and sodium and be rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

    Regular Exercise

    • Physical activity is a major component of a healthy lifestyle. Regular activity can help improve not only physical health, but mental health as well. Exercising regularly can help relieve stress, improve self-esteem, improve fitness level and decrease the risk of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Regular exercise is also important for healthy weight maintenance.

    Moderate Alcohol Consumption

    • Moderate alcohol consumption is generally considered to be one alcoholic drink per day for women and no more than two alcoholic drinks daily for men. Excessive alcohol consumption can provide additional calories to the diet that will ultimately lead to weight gain, can increase food consumption while intoxicated, and can alter mental capacity, reaction time and judgment. Chronic consumption of alcohol in excess can damage the liver.

    Avoid Smoking

    • Smoking has adverse effects on every organ of the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking leads to a variety of chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease and respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. Smoking has also been linked with infertility, birth defects and sudden infant death syndrome. Avoiding smoking and secondhand smoke is a healthy habit that should be maintained throughout life.

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