We all know how important it is to look after our health. Possessing a healthy body and mind not only boosts your energy and confidence, but it also gives you greater reflexes, strengthens your immune system, eases the symptoms of degenerative illnesses like arthritis and dementia, slows the aging process, and generally keeps you feeling and looking fighting fit, ready to face whatever life throws at you.
It doesn’t take much to live a healthier lifestyle. No matter your age or fitness level, these simple, common-sense tips will drastically improve your health.
Improve your diet
Everyone loves to indulge now and then, but whether you have a sweet tooth or a love of takeaway pizza, it’s important to remember that treats should remain treats: something you eat only occasionally.
Frequently ingesting excess salt, sugar, and processed fats can lead to unhealthy weight gain, high blood pressure, heart problems, lack of energy and mental focus, diabetes, and lower life expectancy.
Cutting your intake of these harmful chemicals is easier than you might think. Simple lifestyle tweaks, such as removing salt from the dinner table, adding more fruits and vegetables to recipes, substituting white bread and rice for wholegrain, and choosing low salt and sugar free options can make a huge difference.
Prepare food correctly
Another way to ensure that the food you eat benefits your health is to prepare it properly.
Unsafe food containing bacteria, viruses, parasites, and harmful chemicals can cause over 200 different illnesses, from sickness and diarrhoea to cancer.
Before you buy food at the shop or market, check the label to make sure they’re safe to eat, and when cooking, follow the Five Keys to Safer Food: 1) Keep it clean; 2) Keep cooked and raw food separate; 3) Cook thoroughly; 4) Keep food at safe temperatures; 5) Use safe water and clean utensils.
Cut back on alcohol
A little alcohol won’t do you lasting harm, but contrary to some popular beliefs, no amount of alcohol – not even a small glass of red wine a day – is good for you.
Alcohol is a poisonous drug, which is why excessive consumption leads to alcohol poisoning, alcohol dependence, mental and behavioural disorders, liver damage, heart disease, and cancers.
Cutting down on alcohol gives your body and mind time to recover, keeping you healthy. On the flip side, excess alcohol consumption is associated with everything from heart disease and liver failure to cognitive decline and even erectile dysfunction visit postmymeds.co.uk who offer Viagra for sale – if you are suffering from this particular issue).
Stay active
Any physical activity that gets your heart rate up is good for you.
The average adult should try to do at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day. That doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym every day. Going for a jog or a swim, having a dance, doing yoga, moderate housework, or even walking the dog can provide significant health benefits.
Get regular check ups
Meeting up with a medical professional every few months can help you find health problems before they become a health crisis.
Diagnosing health issues early makes them much easier to treat and cure. If you notice any unusual changes to your body or its functions, don’t hesitate to contact a doctor, who will be able to tell you if there’s anything wrong and what can be done about it, setting your mind at ease.
Contact your nearest health facility to find out what health services, screenings and treatments are available to you.
Get vaccinated and boosted
Vaccinations work with your body’s natural defences to build protection against diseases. They are perfectly safe, and can prevent the contraction of cholera, diphtheria, cervical cancer, Hepatitis B, influenza, measles, mumps, pneumonia, rabies, polio, tetanus, typhoid, yellow fever, and of course, COVID-19.
In Britain, children under 15 and adults over 50 are entitled to free vaccinations against a variety of illnesses. You can also receive vaccines through the NHS if you’re planning on travelling to certain regions.
Ask your physician to check your immunization status if you’re unsure, and be certain to protect yourself against preventable health problems.
Practise safe sex
Healthy, consensual sex is good for your mental and physical wellbeing, but all sex comes with the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
Practise safe sex to prevent HIV and other infections like gonorrhoea and syphilis. Using condoms is the easiest and most effective way to keep yourself and your partner safe, but you could also consider preventative medications, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a revolutionary drug which prevents you from contracting HIV.
Get tested
It’s impossible to take care of your health if you’re unaware of your health status, especially when it comes to reasonably common serious infections like HIV, hepatitis B, STIs, and tuberculosis.
These diseases can cause serious health complications and even death if allowed to go untreated. If you discover your status through testing, you will either know how to go about preventing these diseases or, if the test comes out positive, be told how and where to receive the care and treatment you need.
Most public and private health facilities will be able to perform the necessary tests quickly and easily, giving you the results as soon as they’re ready so you will know how best to care for your health.
Use online pharmacies
When you’re in need of medication, whether recently prescribed or a repeat prescription, getting to the pharmacy in time isn’t always an option. Perhaps you have an unforgiving work schedule, are travelling, or have other commitments preventing you from making the trip to your local chemist.
If that’s the case, using an online pharmacy may be the best solution. No matter how busy your schedule, your health must come first. Online pharmacies will deliver your medicine wherever you need it at a time that suits you, providing convenience and peace of mind.
All pharmacies in Britain, even those working exclusively online, must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Online pharmacists therefore must reach the same standards as any other pharmacy, so you know they can be trusted with your health.
Talk to someone if you’re feeling down
Depression is a common mental illness which affects over 260 million people worldwide. It can affect anyone, no matter their age, gender, background, or circumstances. It might be triggered by a particular event, or it might come completely out of the blue. Either way, there’s no shame in it, and you need to do something about it.
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and requires the same level of care. Depression can manifest in several different ways, but you may feel hopeless or worthless, you may be afflicted by negative or disturbing thoughts, or you may simply feel empty, as though you can’t find joy or passion in anything.
Depression can also have an impact on our physical health, including chronic fatigue, aches and pains, and problems resulting from lack of sleep, activity, and a healthy diet. In severe cases, it can also lead to self-harm, including suicide. This makes it vital that you seek help if you are suffering.
Talking to a trusted friend, family member, colleague, or mental health professional may be hard, but it is the first step to recovery. You are worthy of living a happy, healthy life, but we all need a little help to do so.
By taking steps to improve your physical and mental health, you can live the fulfilling life you deserve.
