As the new decade enters, it is timely to tick off of our new year’s resolution bucket list on ways of self-improvement including of course our healthy habits. Thinking about realizing our health goals, is as important as reaching other goals at different aspects for our total well-being. Moreover, experts have offered various tips to kickstart a healthy living by 2020. Here are a few:
Exercise
As generally observed, one don’t understand the importance of regular exercise until being flagged down of non-communicable diseases. Deciding to go on a regular exercise doesn’t need to be strenuous but one can start at the simplest ways up to making it a habit. Remember that the amount of exercise needed depends on age-group. At any opportunities, there’s no need to always put pressure to change your ways. You can always start slow and move forward. At some point, you may not notice how far you’ve gone already and just experience the most rewarding feeling of being physically fit.
Eat Healthy
WHO (World Health Organization) recommends to eat a combination of different foods, including fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains. Always note the three (3) basic food groups (Go, Grow and Glow) in filling your plates every time you eat which provides essential nutrients for life and growth. To add, eating healthy also means having adequate water intake. Let us also be reminded the importance of SAFE drinking water to avoid water-borne diseases, such as cholera, diarrhea, polio and more others. As the saying goes, “Water is life!”, thus makes us replenished and helps eliminate harmful toxins in our body. Let our Pinggang Pinoy plate be our guiding light in conveying proper food proportions in this new decade.
Curbing salt, sugars, and fats
These three nutrients are vital and have important functions in our body. However, all these in excess can also do harm. One should be fully aware of the consequences it may bring once taken out of control. Too much salt could put you at risk of hypertension, on the other hand, too much consumption of sugar increases risk of tooth decay and most importantly, disturbs your physiologic metabolism that could lead you to diabetes. Also, recognize how saturated/trans fats, coming from biscuits, cakes, pastries, sugar-sweetened drinks and some other processed foods contribute to heart conditions blocking your healthy vessels when accumulated. Truly, these sort of foods are irresistible, but know that in unhealthy eating, regrets come last.
Alcohol and Smoking
Self-discipline will always be the key when talking about these two. Having a quit-plan for smoking and harmful alcoholic intake will entail so much effort, motivation and self-efficacy to achieve longevity. Not only that these two unsafe habits causes NCDs but also risky to our mental health. Don’t let your self be the killer of your own body.
Accentuate Positivity
A healthy mindset could nurture a positive outlook in life. We are at our best when negativities are out of our hand. With a stress-free mind, we can make sound decisions and even impart positive impact among others. Truthfully, we only live once and we have to do everything not to waste our precious time all for just letting the world rest on our shoulders. Let us practice framing optimistic thoughts in order to live a happier and healthier life.
The beginning process maybe a bit difficult but will yield best results. A healthy habit leads to a healthy lifestyle. (DPA/AMF)
