Which vitamins are good for me? What’s the best way I can lose weight? When should I get a flu shot? And on and on… So we decided to provide a guideline that is straightforward and simple to follow. If you should you feel you want to learn more, just click the links provided.
See Your Doctor on a Routine Basis
You don’t avoid bringing your car in for routine maintenance, right? Then you should do the same thing with your body. With that said, the older you are, the more this should apply.
Bottom line: Make routine visits to your physician. At the very least, make it a point to have yearly checkups where they can do a complete workup and confirm that everything is alright.
If there are issues, that doesn’t mean that you have reached your end-of-life cycle. But it does mean that you might need some extra nutrients or some other non-threatening additions for you to have a healthier lifestyle. And if you are told that there is a need for follow up (e.g. X-Ray, MRI or to see a specialist). Just do it. Many times, it is just to confirm there is nothing wrong.
And we don’t mean just your doctor. Make sure you visit your dentist for checkups as well. Dental checkups and cleaning is an essential part of staying healthy for not just your teeth but your heart as well.
Wash Your Hands!
One person told us (but this applies to millions of others who do the same thing) that he washes his hands many times a day and he attributes that to not having a cold or similar illness for years. This doesn’t mean that you need to turn into a germaphobe, but even if you do, so what?
Howie Mandel is one and so is Jennifer Lawrence and there is nothing wrong with being a little obsessed with keeping clean (although Mandel is a little more on the extreme side).
Carry some of those $1.00 anti-bacterial bottles or wet wipes, but the bottles may be more practical since you can get more cleaning done with them.
While we are on the subject of obsessive cleaning (which we are saying is a good thing), wash your hands after touching a door handle, especially one of those restroom door handles. Just because you washed your hands before leaving doesn’t mean that you won’t get contaminated with bacteria on your way out. Who knows what germs are on those things?
When you leave public transportation, wash your hands. That’s where these antibacterial bottles come in. And those airline tray tables! Clean them before with anti-bacterial solution or wipes before you eat on one.
Have kids? If yes, you need to raise the bar and keep your house as clean as possible. Kids, especially the younger ones are magnets when it comes to dirt and bacteria and schools are notorious for breeding these magnets.
Teach your children when they are young the importance of keeping clean and why. Carry antibacterial cleansers with you. Going to a restaurant? Give them the wipes to wash prior to eating. Do the same everywhere you go with your kids. Start them early and they will be doing this on their own by default before you can say “dirt”.
What Are the Healthists Foods to Eat?
We are not talking about dieting, although much of what is discussed here can apply to a healthy diet.
You know what they say: “An apple a day…”, and that is so true as you can’t go wrong with fruits and vegetables, blueberries, raspberries, grapes, oranges, bananas, avocados, broccoli and garlic, just to name a few. These are some of the most nutritious foods you can eat.
Then there is fish. Salmon is rich in nutrients, especially vitamin D, but just about any fish, even tuna will be a boost to your body’s health. Some seafood such as lobster and crab provide zinc which helps keep the immune system working properly and they are not big weight gainers. All these foods help enrich your immune system, keep your heart healthy and your bones too. Some even help keep the wheels in your brain moving like a well-oiled machine.
Don’t forget to go nuts! That’s right. Find some packages of cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans or any nuts from this family of super nutrition. Macadamia nuts are said to contain some of the highest concentration of nutritional items.
Let’s not forget about dark chocolate and there are many combinations of foods that contain both dark chocolate along with other nutrients. On the con side, it does contain a certain amount of sugar, but the antioxidant content in dark chocolate is extraordinary and the main idea is to find foods that are rich in antioxidants. By absorbing these vitamins and antioxidant-rich foods, you will be moving in the right direction towards a healthy body and mind.
Want to go further? Try organic foods. They contain fewer pesticides and since some pesticides can be destructive to your immune system, they can be an added benefit.
Best vitamins to help fight off diseases are vitamin C and vitamin D. Make sure your body gets the recommended dosage every day and keep an eye out for those foods that have a high level of antioxidants and there are many, some mentioned here.
As far as avoiding colds, follow what is mentioned in this article as well as these guidelines which provide more detailed information.
Drink Right
Eight ounces of water a day is still the recommended dosage. Water is the most natural liquid you can put in your body and by doing so, it helps to clean out those elements that don’t belong there. It is a great weight reducer too!
Green tea is a winner. Great for the heart and has loads of antioxidants.
What not to drink: Soda which has many non-nutritional factors is not recommended to be your daily drink, as well as other drinks high in sugar. Drinking alcohol doesn’t have many benefits either, but red wine can be advantageous for your heart and help prevent cancerous diseases as well.
Get Vaccinated
Flu season is among us now. Don’t go without a shot, especially if you are a senior or have young children. But in general, taking precautions for any of the recommended vaccinations is of extreme importance. Besides the flu, there are vaccines for pneumonia, shingles, and Pneumococcal conjugate to name a few. If you are traveling, definitely find out what medical precautions you need to take before leaving. Speak to your doctor about what vaccines are needed for you.
Get that Body Moving
Did you really think that we were not going to let you read this article without the mention of exercise? Well, here you go! Make those 10,000 steps a daily routine. Getting the blood pumping is vital!
Those Eight Hours Do Mean a Lot
Just about every sleep study has concluded that humans need a good seven-eight hours of sleep every night.
Sleep apnea
Many people who have this sleep apnea, also called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) don’t know it, but their partner might. That is because snoring is a common sign that you might be one of those individuals who have this illness. We’re saying ‘illness’ because technically that’s what it is. For the most part, it is not life-threatening for most people, but if an oxygen denial event termed hypoxia develops, it can become dangerous and life-threatening.
With that said, sleep apnea can be a destructive element to your body and mind, because you can walk around tired for different times of the day and subsequently, your cognitive abilities may be diminished. Additionally, if you don’t get the recommended 7+ hourse of noghtly sleep, your body loses its chance to replenish and recuperate, especially if you already have an illness or injury.
What does sleep apnea do exactly?
OSA consists of the complete obstruction of the airway while sleeping. This obstruction prevents air from entering the lungs. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is characterized by recurrent episodes of airway collapse during sleep. A critical issue with an apnea event is how long oxygen is cut off. When the airway is blocked for more than ten seconds oxygen loss begins to occur.
Bottom line: Your body needs at least seven hours of sleep per night. If you do not get it, you can be prone to tiredness during the day and more importantly, you are not giving your body the ability to heal or strengthen. To learn more about sleep apnea, go here.
If you don’t feel you are getting enough sleep, regardless if you have sleep apnea or not, see your doctor.
Stay Calm
We all can get a little stressed out now and then, but if you are finding that you are more stressed than you should be, this will have a negative impact on your body. There are many ways to reduce stress. Work on it and do your best to stay stress-free.
Bottom line: Stay clean. Eat right. Dring right and sleep the recommended hours for a healthier lifestyle. See your doctor and dentist on a routine basis even if it is just for a checkup.