6 Habits To Support Your Health
Optimizing their health is a resolution that many people make at the beginning of every year. However, because your overall well being is made up of several elements, changing a single habit may not make a huge difference in your overall health. Here are six small habits that can optimize the quality of your health if you add them all to your daily routine.
Take Supplements
Taking vitamins and supplements can be a great way to support your health alongside your healthy diet. Talk with your doctor about any vitamins or supplements you’re thinking of taking, but if you have a vitamin deficiency or need help regulating your gut health, some probiotic supplements could promote favorable gut flora.
Drink Plenty of Water
You’ve probably heard of the importance of drinking water, but you may not understand why this habit is crucial for your health. Up to 60% of your body is made up of water, so it’s no surprise that staying hydrated is important to keep you happy and energized.
You may think that drinking other fluids that have more flavor than water will keep you hydrated because they have water in them, but this isn’t always true. Drinking fluids such as milk or lemonade can help you stay hydrated when you need a little flavor, but caffeine actually pulls hydration from your body, so drinking too many sodas can leave you dehydrated.
If you want to support your health, try drinking more plain water each day. Adults should aim for at least 64 ounces of water each day to stay properly hydrated.
Change Your Eating Habits
Food serves as energy for your body, so it’s important to fuel your body the right way. If you’re eating a diet full of heavily processed foods that have a ton of sugar, you probably won’t feel great and you may have a higher risk of health conditions such as obesity, diabetes or heart disease. It can be hard to change your eating habits, but if you start with one healthy swap a day, you can make a change that doesn’t drastically alter your lifestyle. For example, swap your usual morning bowl of sugar-filled cereal for overnight oats that are just as easy to prepare but have much more nutrition.
Stay Active
Everyone knows that regular exercise is important for your overall health, but you don’t have to be a gym rat to reap the benefits. The important thing is just to find a way to be active each day. You’re more likely to keep up with exercise if you choose an activity you enjoy. Join a dance class for socialization or make it a habit to take an evening stroll around your neighborhood each night. As long as you are moving and getting your blood flowing each day, it counts as exercise.
Stop Unhealthy Habits
People enjoy lots of activities that are not good for their health. If you have one of these unhealthy habits such as smoking or drinking excessively, now is a good time to stop. It isn’t easy to stop an addiction, but you may be amazed by how much better you feel once you stop the habit. Even if you just cut out alcohol, you may have a clearer mind and more energy to spend time doing the things you love. Stopping the habit is challenging, but the rewards are worth the struggle.
Keep Up With Routine Checkups
Your health isn’t something you can change with a quick fix; it’s an ongoing process. You have to monitor different aspects of your health to make sure you are moving in the right direction, and the best way to track your overall health is to partner with a doctor you trust. Keep up with all of your appointments and don’t put them off. These appointments are much more than a formality; they give your doctor a chance to identify any potential health concerns and help you come up with solutions to support your health.
Optimizing your health takes time. There is no quick fix, but if you implement these six habits into your daily routine, you can set yourself up for optimized health in the future so you can live your best life.
