You can never go wrong when you put your health first. The rewards of taking care of yourself can be life-changing. And though we are almost halfway through the year, it’s not too late to make some lifestyle changes that can boost your health.
As per the views of private GP in London, you can practice these 23 easy things to improve your healthy living to avoid heart disease:
1. Reduce your intake of sugary drinks.
Some sugary drinks cause weight gain and can lead to serious health problems like heart disease, liver disease and diabetes. Coffee, soda, sports drinks and sweetened tea are some examples of sugary drinks that may not be good for you to consume in high quantities.
2. Add more nuts and seeds to your diet
Nuts and seeds improve your cholesterol level. Some are rich in omega-3 fats which reduces the risk of blood clots. Nuts like walnuts, flaxseed and chia seeds have great health benefits.
3. Eat fish that is rich in oil
Fish rich in Omega-3 reduces heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammation in the body. Fishes such as salmon, herring, sardine and mackerel, are good sources of this nutrient.
4. Prioritise exercising
Regular physical activity can help in reducing your risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and so on. Performing regular exercise reduces depression and anxiety.
5. Don’t take your mental health & Wellness for granted
Your mental health is as important as your physical health. So, if you feel something isn’t right with you mentally, don’t suffer in silence, get help. Seek a mental health specialist about your options for treatment.
6. Don’t take trendy diets
No matter how easy it sounds, don’t believe what you hear about overnight weight loss programs or a magic pill. People don’t lose weight that fast, without it having consequences on their health.
Strict diets reportedly lead to cases of anorexia and bulimia.
7. Get quality sleep
An adult should get about 7-9 hours of sleep per night. When you don’t get enough sleep, you feel weak, confused and anxious. It can make some health conditions worse, such as diabetes. Getting quality sleep improves your health and reduces your risk of diseases.
8. Do some strength training
Squats, push-ups and pull-ups are some examples of strength training. It improves heart health; cholesterol levels and reduces blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
9. Give yourself a break from social media
Too much time on social media isn’t good for your mental health. Social media is known to make cases of anxiety and depression worse.
10. Use lots of herbs and spices
Herbs and spices have been proven to be good for health. They help in reducing inflammation, treating diabetes and reducing blood sugar. Some examples are cinnamon and turmeric.
11. Don’t drink too much alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol puts one at risk of heart disease, stroke, liver disease, high blood pressure and so on. Men shouldn’t have more than two drinks per day and women shouldn’t have more than one drink per day.
12. Avoid smoking
Smoking increases the risk of having heart disease, cancer and so on. Those who quit smoking have a greater chance of extending their lifespan by 10 years.
13. Taking a little coffee
Coffee reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes. But don’t take it in excess because caffeine can increase anxiety symptoms and reduce the quality of your sleep.
14. Consider taking a magnesium supplement
As you age, so is your risk of magnesium deficiency. Taking a magnesium supplement can help to prevent strong headaches and improve blood sugar and muscle health.
15. Try taking a vitamin D supplement
Vitamin D is important for bone formation and tooth health. It reduces the risk of cancer and inflammation. Vitamin D is not easily found in foods. Sun is the natural source of Vitamin D. Approximately 20 minutes of daily sun exposure produces enough Vitamin D for our body. There are multivitamin supplement also available to prevent or treat deficiencies in the body.
16. Make your diet colourful
Fill your plate with food that has colour. Colourful foods or vegetables like carrots and blueberries are good in reducing the risk of diabetes and cancer and help in protecting the skin against UV ray damage.
17. Eat more snacks that are rich in protein
Protein increases healthy muscle mass and will fill you more. Unlike carbs, protein doesn’t raise blood sugar levels. Lean meat, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, nuts/seeds and yoghourt are good sources of protein.
18. Include some fermented food in your diet
Fermented foods have probiotics that feed healthy bacteria in the digestive system. It promotes healthy weight and can improve your mood.
19. Go for diabetes screening
Check your blood sugar. According to some of the best private GP in London, if you’re 45 years old or older, are obese, or have a lineage history of diabetes, you are at higher risk of Type-2 diabetes. You should get tested for diabetes at least once a year.
20. Keep an eye on your blood pressure
If your blood pressure is high, you are at risk of having a heart attack, stroke and other related health problems. That’s why it’s important to monitor your blood pressure. Stable blood pressure is 120/80 for the systolic and diastolic pressure respectively.
21. Drink a lot of water
Water is good for your health. It regulates the body temperature and keeps the blood at a sufficient volume. Drink water freely. Don’t wait till you’re thirsty.
22. Take deep breaths
Deep breathing clears the mind and reduces stress. It reduces the feeling of fatigue, and anxiety and improves digestion. Deep breathing can be done anywhere and at any time.
23. Go for regular checkups
Going for screening or a test can help in detecting what could be wrong and it increases the chances of getting treated early. It’s important to visit your healthcare provider every year for a medical check-up. You can consider visiting Private GP London clinic for regular health checkups. They can also provide more personalized health and fitness advice.
Taking these steps and using them in your daily life, can do wonders for your health. What makes this great, is that they are easy to do. Healthy living is possible when each day you make decisions towards it.