Health Is Wealth: 16 Simple Tips To Stay Healthy

We’ve been hearing the statement “Health is wealth” since our childhood. However, not all of us are acquainted with its literal meaning. It means that no matter how wealthy you are, if we are not healthy, there is nothing we can cherish in life.

People are suffering from overweight, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart diseases, kidney problems and so many other unknown problems, and a lot of these problems occur because of our lifestyle. Whats the point if you can afford to go to a luxurious 5 star hotel for lunch but cant eat there because of your health. Or you can’t enjoy a drink with your friends once in a while simply because you over did drinking during your younger days? Money means nothing when it doesn’t afford you the time and means to spend it on yourself and your loved ones. Staying healthy therefore becomes a necessity. Even a little money is sufficient, if you have your health support your run with good times!

Here are some tips on how to stay healthy

1. Take Care of Food:
   Avoid unhealthy food that is high in calories. They gradually take a toll on your health leading to weight gain, heart diseases and cholesterol. Eat seasonal fruits that are rich in fibers, vitamins and proteins. Nobody asks you ban those delicious desserts all together at the every beginning. But a little moderation at the beginning can ensure that you never reach the stage where you can’t have it anymore. Make it a point to eat healthy stay healthy.

2. Breakfast is A Must:
   
   Never skip breakfast, our metabolic rate decreases leading to weight gain and digestion problems. Breakfast increases concentration, helps us focus better and controls weight.

3. Washing your hands. And then washing them again. And again. And again. And…
   Hand sanitizers were invented for a reason. If your hands are dirty, you clean them. But after that you STOP. You have to. If you keep feeding your hands with sanitizers just like a loving mom feeds her baby with plain yogurt, ..err..mm..okay, didn’t get the punchline now. But still, it’s not a healthy practice.
   Research says that limited germ exposure is actually good as it builds immunity and an overly sterile environment is not good at all.

4. Avoid Mindless Eating:
   You are hungry, you eat. You are bored, you eat. You are angry, you eat. And you are lazy to do your chores, you eat again. Unless otherwise you have plans of getting shifted to a hospital permanently, DON’T do this.

Eat when you are hungry. As simple as that. Your stomach isn’t a dump-yard in which you can allow your emotional appetite to dispose its junk cravings. Eat only when you are hungry. And make sure it is only healthy food you are taking in. Eating just because food is there stacked inside the fridge, and that too being completely oblivious of what you are eating, can be dangerous.

1. Check The Nutrition Labels:
   
   Even I know what nutritional labels are. No big deal. But what most of us don’t know is to read them whenever we buy anything edible. All we do is fill the trolley with whatever that comes to our hand. Just like we have the evergreen habit of avoiding them, nutritional labels have the evergreen habit of telling us what the food contains. And mind you. They are ruthlessly honest.
   They give us a clear picture about how good those ‘natural’ or ‘low fat’ foods we get attracted to are.

2. Avoid Pessimistic Thinking:
   
   This, by far, is the most poisonous drug ever known to humanity. The irony is that it is self-induced. And the misfortune is that the person who is thinking negative doesn’t know they are doing so. We are so habituated to destructive thinking patterns that rarely we realize what we are doing to ourselves. Developing an optimistic attitude can alter your life in amazing ways. Most of the things around aren’t as bad as they seem to be. It is just your mind playing the dirty trick.

3. Balanced Diet:
   Incorporating proteins, minerals, iron, vitamins, calcium, carbs and fat (good fat) in your daily diet is very necessary. Fruits, vegetables, lean meat, poultry, milk, whole grain foods make a balanced diet

4. Late Night Meal:
   
   Having meals on time is as important as having a healthy meal. Having meals at-least a couple of hours before you hit the bed prevent obesity and other severe health complications. Also, late night snacking might result in indigestion which interferes with your sleep.

5. Exercise:
   Exercise is a must, workouts, aerobics, walking or jogging regulates heart rate giving you more energy to work hard through the day. Exercise early in the morning won’t make you feel lazy in the day. It improves blood circulation and releases muscle tension giving you a stronger body and mind. Exercise is an effective way to boost your health and keep your energy flowing at optimum levels. Most people give preference to lame excuses than to regular exercise. Don’t wait till you have the necessary equipment or till you join a gym. Exercise routines as simple as push ups or crunches (which can be performed at home) can go a great way in building health. A study has shown that individuals who never did any exercise lost about seven years of life compared to the ones who did. Now, that isn’t a wise bargain, is it?

6. Don’t Sit Continuously For Long Hours

Whether it is at your home, office or any other place, continuously sitting in one place is not a trivial issue to be ignored. Sitting for long hours without any movement slows metabolism and weakens muscles. Make sure you get up and move around for every couple of hours. Stretch your muscles from time to time. Early to bed and early to rise is always the best way to stay healthy.

1. Practice Yoga:
   
   Yoga helps in overall mind and body development. It is a two-in-one medium to keep you healthy both mentally and physically.

2. Avoid Smoking:
   Smoking ruins your health, sooner or later. Cancer, lung diseases and heart problems all result because of smoking.

3. Control Your Drinks:
   Alcohol may relax you after a hard day’s work, but it also reduces the number of white blood cells (WBC fights germs) and thereby indirectly weakens the immunity system.

4. Use Less Salt:
   Reduce the salt intake in your diet, as it may lead to strokes and heart diseases in future.

5. Have Lots Of Fluid:
   
   Drink at least 8-9 glasses of water every day. It not only flushes your system but also keeps your skin good and healthy.

6. Proper Sleep:
   
   Get a minimum 8 hours sleep because it relaxes your mind and keeps you healthy. The human body is a machine. And just like any machine requires rest and recharging, our bodies also need sufficient amounts of sleep. Most of us, burdened by the monotony of work, tend to sleep less and focus more on our tasks. But the thing is, you can’t really focus if you haven’t had a good night’s sleep. Adequate sleep increases our productivity levels and helps us in getting our tasks done faster. So the next time you plan to skip your sleep in order to complete that important assignment or get done with a crucial task, think twice. You might be giving away too much for too little.

Prize your Health. It is precious! All it takes are the above tips to stay healthy!