Staying Fit and Eating Right – Keys to a Healthy Life
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010by Herb
“Go outside and get some sun!” “Eat your vegetables!” Who among us hasn’t heard these phrases when we were kids? Well, believe it or not, our mothers were wiser than we thought. Getting fresh air and exercise, and eating properly are the keys to a healthy, vigorous life. They can help you ward off the ravages of aging, look and feel younger, and just perhaps, live longer.
As we grow, our bodies need adequate exercise and nutrition in order to develop properly. After we’ve grown up, especially as we pass our middle years, it is essential to helping the body maintain and repair itself.
Good health habits should start early in life and continue throughout our lives. It’s never too early to get kids started on a healthy lifestyle, and it’s never too late to make fitness and proper diet a part of our daily regimen.
Fresh Air, Sunshine, and Exercise
While too much sun is not good for you, if you’ve ever lived in a place like Alaska, or anywhere above the Arctic Circle, you know how important sunshine is. Long, gray days can be depressing, and this can affect your physical condition as well. In addition, the skin needs some sunshine to be healthy.
A minimum of 20 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise daily will help you stay fit and avoid a lot of common illnesses. Even a brisk walk, just enough to get your heart rate up, will make you feel better and keep you fitter than you would be if you spend all your time on a couch or in front of a computer screen.
Appropriate strength building exercises help the skeletal structure develop and stay strong. Consider your skeleton as the frame that holds everything together. For kids, whose bones are growing, and women, who tend to bone mass loss as they age, strength building exercises such as light weight lifting can be very helpful.
Nutrition
The vitamins and minerals in the food we eat, along with vitamin supplements when our diet does not provide enough, are the building blocks of the body. Iron, Calcium, Vitamin C, and the like, are all necessary for the various components of the body to grow and function properly.
Fiber, though technically neither a vitamin nor a mineral, is also necessary for proper body functioning. Insoluble fiber can’t be digested by the body, and it slows the digestion of other foods, reducing the amount of fat the body absorbs. Fiber from grains and other plant foods also acts as a scrubber to remove saturated fat from the bloodstream and prevent plaque buildup on artery walls. An added advantage of fiber is a natural laxative that promotes regularity and makes stools softer. As we get old, this is a real plus. In addition to fiber from food, products like Metamucil™ are a good supplement to ensure you get enough fiber on a daily basis.
Relieve Stress
In addition to the mental and emotional anguish that stress creates, it can also cause real physical illness and retard recovery from illness. Learn to relax and take things easy. Teach your kids to “count ten and forget it” when things bother them.
Reduce Bad Habits
Smoking is one of the major causes of illness. It also causes skin to look dry and old. If you smoke, cut it out, or at least cut it down. A glass of wine or other alcohol in moderation can be beneficial to maintaining healthy blood pressure. Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol, though, as it not only causes discomfort, but can complicate other health conditions.
Curb unhealthy snacking. Instead of candy or soda, opt instead for celery sticks, a handful of nuts, or other foods that are low in fat and sugar. Limit between meal snacking, and don’t eat just before going to bed.
It All Adds Up
Each of these little habits – getting a bit of sun, doing a little exercise, getting enough nutrition, and avoiding too much stress – can add up to big improvements in your health.
About the Author:
Herb likes to stay fit and eat well. Please check out his website with information on hickory kitchen cabinets and details on shaker kitchen cabinets.
Article Courtesy of: Go Articles
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