Lately, it seems like everyone has implemented some kind of a health plan. It’s great that many people are starting to focus on their long-term health and become more dedicated to feeling and looking good. With technology making huge advancements every year, people are starting to realize that we need to do a better job of taking care of ourselves in order to live longer. If you are interested in healthy living, there are 3 areas you should pay more attention to: brain training, body wellness and healthy diet
1. Brain Training
Taking care of our brain is absolutely crucial for optimal health. Modern medicine can help aging body parts, but there is still little that can be done about the brain. Besides a healthy diet and supplements that support healthy brain function, science has shown that there are many activities that are beneficial to the brain. Decades of studies have been done and the resulting research demonstrates that the key is to constantly train your brain by learning new skills and retaining new knowledge.
Related: 15 Tricks to Improve Your Memory
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Challenge Yourself with New Skills
From chess to puzzles, or learning languages, there are many hobbies you can enjoy that are proven to be helpful. Mind coach Dr. Stephen Simpson has suggested that the game of poker can also have long term advantages because it helps to create new neurological pathways in the brain. While you play poker, you are actively practicing numerous skills that constitute brain training.
First off, poker trains your brain to be more receptive to the stimuli coming from other people. Through playing, you become sensitive to both verbal cues and body language. Aside from this, you also expand your brain because of the necessity to remember odds and patterns, and the mind games that come with raising and bluffing. However, poker is just one example of a mind-expanding game. You may also experiment with board games, mobile games, or even video games to boost your brainpower.
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Polish up the Skills you Already Have
Depending on your age and amount of free time, learning an entirely new skill is not always feasible. Even if that may be the case, building on top of your existing skills and knowledge can go a long way. Instead of worrying about learning a new type of cooking, maybe a new recipe would suffice. Learning a new pattern to use in your knitting, or reading up on the latest car maintenance tips is more than enough. The overall point is to keep challenging yourself and practice deliberate brain training, even if it’s in small and seemingly insignificant ways.
2. Body Wellness
When it comes to keeping your body in top shape, it just takes a little dedication and perseverance. There are many activities you can enjoy for free that are a lot less stressful on your body overall.
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Practice Yoga
Yoga is a wonderful activity that has turned into a worldwide phenomenon. This relaxing and beneficial activity greatly helps your flexibility, as well as blood flow and overall physical health. Not only that, but yoga is known to have many great meditative and stress-reducing properties, making this exercise good for the mind, body and soul collectively. If you need help getting started, there are always plenty of yoga classes nearby that cater to and have great tips for beginners.
Related: Top Yoga Tips for Beginners
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Going for a Walk
While many people will preach about the benefits of aggressive cardio exercise or intense full-body workouts, there is just as much value in easygoing walks through the park. Getting your body moving is the key here. A simple walk to stretch and get your blood flowing can be exactly what you need. If you are interested in turning it up a notch, there is always power walking which is exactly what it sounds like, turning your walking into a vigorous exercise. A simple walk has so many great benefits to your health if you enjoy them regularly.
Related: How to Lose Weight Just By Walking
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Take Care of Your Teeth
One of the most understated, yet immensely important cornerstones of your overall health, is your teeth. In past centuries, having bad teeth was one of the most common causes of illness. Your mouth is home to lots of mostly harmless bacteria. However, if your teeth and gums are in bad condition then bacteria can enter your digestive and respiratory tracts, causing serious complications and health risks.
Luckily, if you are mindful of your oral health and practice some simple steps, you can greatly reduce any chances of complications down the road. First, always brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, and make sure to floss regularly. Flossing removes the buildup of food and bacteria that settles between the teeth. Things like tobacco, coffee and sugary drinks all damage or stain the teeth and should be minimized as much as possible. Last, make sure to replace your toothbrush every three months and schedule regular cleaning sessions with your dentist.
Related: 8 Simple Ways to Get Healthy Teeth and Good Smile
3. Healthy Diet
Your diet plays an important part of your overall wellbeing, and almost everyone will agree with this. What most people don’t understand is that the best diet for you is just a few changes away. Here are some simple and easy tips to get you started.
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Stop Using Unhealthy Cooking Oils
Recently, studies have shown that many of the vegetable-based cooking oils that are common in the kitchen are not good for consumption. While they are cheap and good for cooking, they can have adverse effects after long term use. Olive oil is a much better alternative, although it can be more expensive.
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Stay Away from Refined Sugars & Make Sure to Get a Balanced Diet
While it may be a hard fact to swallow, it’s best to cut out unnatural sugars altogether. Added sugar is everywhere in modern grocery store products, and we are all ingesting way more than we ever intended. Fruits are the much healthier go-to option when you need a sweet treat. Make sure to always read the nutritional facts on your grocery items and remember that the word “enriched” is always bad!
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Make Sure to Get a Balanced Diet
I think everyone remembers the food pyramid and what it represents. Regardless, most people still aren’t eating a balanced diet that includes all of the major food groups. For your protein, it’s always better to enjoy low fat and very clean sources. Instead of heavy red meat you could consider egg whites, lean white fish, baked chicken, and plenty of legumes.
When it comes to carbohydrates, whole grain wheat bread is better than the supermarket white bread. Make sure to include lots of leafy greens that will bring incredible nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, antioxidants and many more. Your body will thank you for the extra servings of organic fruits and vegetables. Overall, just make sure you are eating a colorful and balanced diet.
Related: 10 Best Diet Tips to Lose Weight and Improve Healthy Eating
Conclusion
There are many simple steps we can take on our path towards healthy living. Just a little conscious effort throughout the day as we go about our normal routine is all it takes. If we can make sure to take care of our mind, body and diet together, we are giving ourselves the best chance to live a long and healthy life.
