The saying "health is wealth" does not only describe how valuable a healthy life can be but also shows that good health brings happiness and contentment, because, without good health, our vitality and our best will amount to nothing. Good nutrition, adequate sleep and should become a lifestyle and habit of every individual.
living a healthy life is not about how to avoid illness or disease but much more than that. living a healthy lifestyle is about your mental, physical, and social well-being. It does not only benefit the physical well-being but also the mind too. An individual who lives a healthy life has more chances of outperforming others in every activity of life. Researchers have confirmed that students are more likely to learn better when they are well-nourished, maintain good hygiene and eat healthy meals which helps students get better grades, better retentive memory and alertness
There are many ways to have or live a healthy life, but majorly three which help most in our daily lives
1. ADEQUATE SLEEP
It's certain that there would be a decline in one's ability to do work or partake in any activities if there is a lack of adequate sleep, it is said that an average human being should sleep for 7-8 hours a day. Every human being needs to prioritise good sleep. During sleep, your body is busy clearing dirt from the cells and repairing the worn-out tissues, less sleep can lead to the body not functioning well.
One part of the brain called HIPPO CAMPUS helps to code information into long term memory, especially when in deep sleep. so, it is essential to know that poor sleep reduces this activity making it possible for an individual not to remember important things. There are a lot of effects of poor sleeping time which can be high BP, heart attack, stroke, obesity, depression, lower self-drive and impairment in immunity. It reduces life expectancy and you are more vulnerable to brain ageing and chronic diseases. That is why every individual should pay more attention and prioritize good sleep.
2. FREQUENT CHECK-UPS
Being healthy physical does mean you should not check on yourself. Ask an average individual when last he/she visited the hospital for a medical check-up, you will realise most will answer NO. A regular check-up can help to find potential disease or illness before the symptoms start to occur or the illness aggravates. Preventive care is important. Having a regular check-up helps you get a preventive care
WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE REGULAR CHECK-UPS
- Increase lifespan and improve health
- Detect potential life-threatening health diseases early
- Reduce your risk of getting sick
- Limit the risk of complications by closely monitoring existing conditions
- Get updated on new medical information or technologies that are available.
Frequent check-up is essential to know that not only sick people go to see their doctor, ensure you see your doctor at least once every six months to maintain good wellness of your body
3. AVOID EATING LATE AT NIGHT
Most people don't really care about this compare to other medical health measures, which is why it is included in the step to leave healthy. Eating late at night has become a habit for some people. Timing of your meals is very important as same as you watch what you eat. Eating late at night can cause a health hazard-wealth gain and an increase in the risk for nighttime acid reflux. Nighttime acid reflux is also known as heartburn, the feeling can be a burning sensation in the stomach, chest and throat, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, nausea. If it happens regularly, it may be indicative of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), 79% of individuals with GERD experience the symptoms after bedtime according to International Foundation For Gastrointestinal Disorder (IFFGD). It can be avoided or stopped by eating smaller meals more frequently, losing excess weight, quitting smoking and avoiding lying down for 3 hours after a meal
HOW TO AVOID EATING LATE AT NIGHT
i. Avoid eating junk food during the night
ii. Don't limit your calories too severely at Night
iii. Stress can lead to cravings for junk food, hence, Calm yourself before going to bed
Foods that can still be eaten at night
Nuts, Whole Grain, Hard boiling egg, smoothie with fresh fruits
Misconception about health
The Myths Vs Facts
Myth- Exercising at night ruins your sleep.
Fact-Not for everyone, even researchers found that nighttime exercise may have no impact whatsoever on your sleep quality and for some people, exercising before bed can even result in better sleep.
Myth- Eating eggs causes cholesterol
Fact- Eggs have no effect on your blood cholesterol if not taken excess however, Harvard University's analysis of two 2018 studies even suggests that eggs can improve your heart health
Myth- Coffee Stunts' growth
Fact- Genetics determine your height
Myth- Microwave ovens are a major cause of cancer
Fact- Microwaves emit electromagnetic radiation, a form of non-ionizing radiation, similar to the radio frequency waves that come from your cellphone. It is not strong enough to alter the structure of cells
Myth- your body needs juice cleaner
Fact- your body cleanses itself, the liver, kidney, and skin will get the job done on their own however, fruit juices purely made from whole fruit can serve as an antioxidant to your body
Myth- Cracking your knuckles causes Arthritis
Fact- your joints may crack but those noises typically have nothing to do with your risk of Arthritis
However, living a healthy life or making it a habit, is not going to happen in one day, it must be a lifestyle meaning you must learn to live it and develop the habit of healthy living. Positive health habits can be developed by taking a few steps e.g
i. start at a slow pace - if you aim to always exercise every day, it will be advisable to start at a slow pace, you can jog or walk around for a duration of 20-30mins and gradually increase it.
ii. Schedule regular Check-ups with your doctor, whereby your doctor will examine, discuss and give you the extra push you needed
What you enjoy must do becomes your habit, and then becomes your lifestyle. Make healthy living your lifestyle today
Written by Adekunle Daniel.