It’s no secret that making healthy decisions leads people to feel better and live longer. When the year begins, this is one of the main goals of many people and, although it is not an easy goal to achieve, it should be a priority for everyone.
According to the US National Institutes of Health, “Research shows that increasing the ability to create and maintain a healthy lifestyle is very beneficial. It is very important to eat better, exercise, sleep more, stop smoking or reduce stress .
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as: “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being”. This means that this concept goes beyond the presence or absence of one or another disease. Thus, more than a healthy life, we should talk about a healthy lifestyle, bearing in mind the above aspects.
So, here are the experts’ top recommendations for starting the year by putting healthy lifestyle habits into practice.
Balanced Diet: One of the first aspects to take into account is food and more from the year onwards the effects of excess food appear, which is often registered during the Christmas and New Year festivities.
According to information from the Spanish health company Sanitas, a healthy diet is governed by the inclusion of all foods in the food pyramid, but in the right proportions and in sufficient quantities to maintain the body’s nutritional needs based on energy intake. Lead with daily activity. Fruits and vegetables should not be missing from the dishes.
Physical Exercise: General recommendations specify about 30 minutes of physical activity per day, enough to walk at a brisk pace during this period. This allows you to burn extra calories and strengthen muscles and bones, but it also helps control blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood glucose.
Likewise, it is a practice that helps relieve stress, helps you sleep better, achieve a state of relaxation and avoid mood swings, improve self-esteem and a state of personal satisfaction. Experts say it can also be a good way to develop a healthy social vibe by exercising together.
Mental Balance: It does not refer to the presence of mental illness, but to the state of emotional and psychological well-being necessary to maintain and develop cognitive and social relationship skills and to deal with the personal and professional challenges of daily life. Stress, fatigue and anxiety, among others, are some of the signs that your mental state is not entirely healthy.
Social Activity: Social relationships are an essential aspect of human health and therefore of healthy aging. Social isolation can lead to a gradual and irreversible decline in physical and mental abilities, even physical disability and dementia, explains Sanitas.
Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is essential, as it improves the appearance of the skin, maintains body temperature, protects the spinal cord, lubricates the joints, prevents constipation and stabilizes the heartbeat, among many others. functions. He says. Source. It is recommended to drink at least two liters a day, according to experts.
Get Plenty of Rest: the suggestion to rest more hours is a good way to start the year in good health, accurate information from the Doutor Akí portal. Sleep helps muscle development, relieves stress, helps you think clearly to make the right decisions, improves productivity, and also improves your mood. Experts recommend sleeping at least seven hours a day so that the body can recover from daily activities.
