The importance of diet and exercise to healthy living

Unprecedented growth of awareness of fitness has also led to millions of people to adopt better eating habits and exercise as part of healthy lifestyle. However, there are still many others who are still unaware of the importance of good nutrition and good exercise to maintain a healthy body, which can ensure a less stressful and long.

For a strong lifestyle, people need to make many changes in their everyday eating habits. It is vital to adopt foods that are rich in fiber and proteins. On the other hand, foods that enhance cholesterol and fat building in the body need to be avoided. This can be done by reducing the intake of foods rich in oils and fats, junk foods, spicy foods etc. Intake of green vegetables, fruits and salads should be increased.

Water also has a great part to play in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. People should take as much liquid as is possible. Like every living thing on earth, our bodies are also composed of water in majority. It is vital that for a well living this balance is maintained. For this, one needs to ensure that the average water or liquid intake per day in no less than 4-5 liters.

Apart from healthy food the other thing that plays a very significant role in maintaining good body fitness is exercise. Routine exercise not only helps in keeping the body fit but also helps in relaxing the mind from everyday tensions and stresses. Although, it is preferable to perform exercises in the mornings, as it leaves both the body and the mind refreshed energetic, people can exercise during any time of the day.

It is also important to understand that exercise should be chosen according to interest and body stamina. It is not necessary to perform rigorous workouts in the gym to exercise the body. A morning jog or even a long walk in park can be taken as an exercise if it is performed regularly. People who are interested in sports can choose any sports activity of their liking to tone up their bodies. Health blog reviews will provide you the links of many reputed websites online. You can search different cds and DVDs based on home exercises online to stay fit.

5 health tips for the new year

1. Stay Hydrated!

Hydration is necessary for all body systems (especially the brain) to function at optimal levels. I had many clients with chronic diseases like arthritis, fatigue and digestive disorders to improve their health while drinking more water! Adults should drink 1.5 to 2 liters (8 to 12 cups) of plain filtered water per day, children should be encouraged to drink 1 liter (6 cups) per day. Beverages such as coffee, black tea, alcohol and soft drinks have a dehydrating effect and must be consumed in moderation (in the case of soda – avoid it completely). Extra Tip: Squeeze the lemon into a glass of water before breakfast to help detoxify the liver.

2. Eat Right for Your Blood Type

Many diet fads have come and gone, but this is a lifestyle diet that has been around for 40 years and scientifically proven to have a positive effect on your health. The basic premise of the diet is that the four blood types (O, A, B, AB) evolved at different points in history and are thus best suited to the lifestyles prevalent at those times. The four blood types have varying nutritional and exercise needs, pre-dispositions to different types of illnesses and react differently to various foods. If you’re trying to lose weight, lower cholesterol, eliminate allergies or have digestive complaints, depression, or even trying to conceive, the blood type diet is strongly recommended.

3. Hire a Personal Trainer

We all want to make changes in the New Year – especially when it comes to our health and well- being. Exercise benefits every part of the body, including the mind. We all need a little help with exercise sometimes, whether we’re just starting out or we’ve been at it for a long time. Hiring a personal trainer who can assess your needs, help instill discipline and keep you motivated is a great idea and well worth the money. What you spend now getting into shape means spending less in the future on your healthcare. What’s your health worth to you? Interview a few trainers and ask for a trial session.

4. The ZZZ’s of Sleep

Not getting enough sleep will cause an acceleration of the aging process, hormonal and metabolism issues and a breakdown of mental processes. I cannot stress enough to all my clients how important it is to get to bed BEFORE 11pm. The body undergoes a natural repair and recovery cycle between 11pm and 1am; it’s necessary to be sleeping before that time so that the body can heal itself. How much sleep is required? Most of us need at least 9 hours whereas some can function quite well on 7. Watching TV and/or playing video games can stimulate the brain, making it harder to fall asleep – avoid them before going to bed. Eating late at night can also disrupt sleep and cause digestive problems like hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which manifests into hunger and sleep disturbances through the night.

5. Emotional Detoxing – Body, Mind and Spirit

The beginning of a New Year can be the catalyst for a new makeover of the body, mind and spirit. How was last year for you? If you had an extremely stressful one filled with anxiety, fear and sadness – its time to detox emotionally! The Chinese believe that emotions, if not processed properly, can become stored in organs of the body causing illness and disease. Anger is stored in the liver, fear in the kidneys, grief in the lungs and worry in the spleen. Fortunately there are many therapies that can help with relieving our emotional stress including life coaching, energy modalities such as BodyTalk, meditation and exercising.