How to Follow a Healthy Lifestyle

Taking some simple steps can lead to a healthy lifestyle.

If you are wondering how to take on more beneficial health habits in your day-to-day life, you may be surprised to discover that the important steps are really quite simple. A study by the Michigan State University, however, found that only 3 percent of the 150,000 individuals they studied were leading what researcher, Mathew Reeves, considered a healthy lifestyle. To turn this statistic around, researchers like Reeves recommend taking several small steps to make big changes.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Stress can be reduced by spending time with loved ones. walking the dog image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com

   Manage stress and promote balance in your lifestyle. High stress levels are linked with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, poor immune function, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, weight gain and psychological disorders. Talk to people you trust when you begin to feel stressed, whether this is a family member or a health care professional. Some stress-reducing activities include regular exercise, creative pursuits such as art or writing, gardening, spending time with loved ones and pets, and practicing yoga, tai chi, reiki or meditation.

2. Eating healthy foods improves our energy and mood. Selection of healthy food image by Nicola Gavin from Fotolia.com

   Eat a nutritious diet with a variety of food groups each day. According to an article in "Moving Towards Healthier Diets," written by Elizabeth Frazao, diets high in saturated fats, calories and salt are related to an increased risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, hypertension and osteoporosis. Even small changes in the diet can yield dramatic results to your health. For example, reducing daily fat intake to recommended levels, and adding more vegetables, fruits and grains that are rich in vitamins and fiber will improve energy, digestion, physical performance and your sense of well being.

3. Regular exercise reduces the risk of chronic illness and stress. swimmer image by Orlando Florin Rosu from Fotolia.com

   Perform thirty minutes of mild to moderate exercise each day. Take a walk at lunch time, bike to work, swim at the local pool, walk your dog, join a local gym or enroll in a yoga class. According to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, regular exercise can help improve your mood, reduce the risk of chronic disease, increase energy levels and even improve sleep. Find a form of exercise that is stimulating as well as fun---on your own, with a loved one or as part of a team

4. Smoking puts our lungs, our heart and our health at risk. a smoker's requisites image by kenny123 from Fotolia.com

   Reduce addictive and potentially toxic substances, such as nicotine, caffeine and alcohol. In addition to increasing your risk of various types of cancer, these substances also increase hypertension and oxidative stress in the body. According to author Henry Osiecki in his book "The Physician's Guide to Clinical Nutrition," ingesting toxic substances should be limited to an absolute minimum. If you are concerned with your intake of caffeine, alcohol or nicotine, speak with a health-care professional.

References

• The Mayo Clinic: 7 Benefits of Regular Exercise
• Moving Towards Healthier Diets: The American Diet: A Costly Health Problem
• Michigan State University: Study Finds Very Few Adults Leading Healthy Lifestyles
• The Health Resource Network: Stress Facts
• "The Physicians Handbook of Clinical Nutrition"; Osiecki, Henry; 2006

Resources

• Dumb Little Man: 50 Ideas for a Healthy Lifestyle