Pathways to a healthy life

Have you ever wondered about changing your life for the better? Do you sometimes think you want a healthier and fitter lifestyle; to live a happier and more positive life? Well this article will provide you with the opportunity to create a better living for yourself. Research has shown that four bad behaviours (smoking, drinking too much alcohol, not exercising, and not eating enough fruits and vegetables) can lead you into an early grave, and, in effect, age you by as many as 10 years. The good news is you can do something to correct these and other unhealthy behaviors. Adopt the following habits to keep your body looking and feeling young.

Avoid late night eating: Gone are the times of late night snacks or desserts. Try setting a time limit, no later than 6:30 pm and making sure to not eat anything later than that. If you really need to eat something after 6:30 pm, make sure it is a snack that is healthy. Consuming heavy food at night is unhealthy. In most cases the process of digestion is slow, causing you to feel uneasy and uncomfortable.

Don’t skip breakfast: Whatever healthy option suits you best, it’s good to know that eating breakfast is good for you. Begin your day with a breakfast, even if it is something small. This will prevent you from binging later when you become over-hungry. Besides, breakfasts are meant to be small and light foods.

Know when you need a snack: You can have snacks or small meals in between your meals, but be sure it is healthy: nuts of every kind, low-fat yogurt, protein rich peanut butter, raw vegetables, whole grains and fresh fruit.  The things you should cut out completely are processed foods. They're sugary and are nowhere near the nutritional value of fresh healthy foods.

Make exercise a part of your life: You don't have to run on the treadmill for hours or lift 50 kg weights.  You can make exercise to be very easy and fun, so make it that way. You can take a long walk around your neighborhood when the sun sets. To make it fun, you can go with a friend. The length of the walk really doesn't matter as long as you are getting your blood flowing in your system. You can also find a friend to workout with if you feel not too comfortable doing it alone or too lazy to do so. You can teach each other your favorite exercises, as well as motivate each other. There's nothing wrong with a little competition! Every week look through your schedule and make times to workout. You may not make each appointment, but having it there reminds you that you do have time.

Avoid fried foods: Fried foods are tasty, but they contain lots of bad cholesterol and fats, which in turns can clog up your arteries and cause future health problems for you.

Get enough sleep. Getting enough sleep will help you feel well rested and ready to face the day in the morning. It gives your body time to rejuvenate. This is when your body repairs itself on a cellular level while preparing you to start another day with a sound mind.  

Make a conscious effort to drink more than enough water. It is the life source to everything living on Planet Earth. It hydrates your skin, gives your hair that glorious luminous glow, and much more. You can read our articles and guides on healthy habits and living. Water gives life; therefore it is important that we drink more of it to live healthy and be in good

Eat appropriately

 Eat three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner); it is important to remember that dinner does not have to be the largest meal. The food that should be bulkily consumed should consist of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk products. Choose lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts. Choose foods that are low in saturated fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars. Look at labels because the first listed items on the labels comprise the highest concentrations of ingredients. Control portion sizes.  Eat the smallest portion that can satisfy hunger and then stop eating. Snacks are OK in moderation and should consist of fruits, whole grains, or nuts to stop hunger pangs and not cause excessive weight gain. Avoid sodas and sugar-enhanced drinks because of the excessive calories in the sodas and sugar drinks; diet drinks may not be a good choice as they make some people hungrier, leading to increase food consumption. Avoid eating  large and heavy meals close to bed time to decrease indigestion and weight gain.