Most chronic diseases are caused by high-risk behaviors. By changing your negative lifestyle habits, you can avoid developing a chronic disease and quickly improve your quality of life.
Stop Smoking
Smoking increases the risk of health problems like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and lung diseases such as emphysema. Surprisingly, and unfortunately, smoking has even been linked to causing certain cancers such as colon and bladder cancer. It’s important to take the first step to improved health by quitting smoking.
Eat Foods That Support Good Health
Healthy food can prevent heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases such as certain cancers. A healthy diet can better manage pre-existing diseases as well. A well-balanced diet includes the right portions of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein from vegetables such as beans and other legumes, and trying to limit consumption of generally low-fat products. Limiting the intake of sugar, saturated fats, and sodium also contributes to a well-balanced diet and better overall health!.
Be Active
Get regular physical activity. Regular physical activity can prevent chronic diseases. Moderate physical activity can even be just walking or gardening for at least 150 minutes a week, which may sound like a lot. However, 30 minutes a day, even broken up into two 15 minute activities each day, will be sufficient. Make sure to include light stretching as part of your routine to stay flexible.
Stop Drinking (Too Much) Alcohol
The intake of too much alcohol can lead to high blood pressure, cancers, heart problems, stroke, and liver problems over time. A single drink per day may not pose as much of a risk, but try to reduce health risks now by eliminating or limiting your intake of alcoholic drinks.
Get Good Quality Sleep
Lack of sleep can result in the development of heart disease, depression, high blood pressure [hypertension], diabetes, and even obesity. Aim for at least 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep every day.
Aim to make healthy choices at every turn throughout your day. Consider health outcomes while you make daily decisions about diet, exercise, and sleep. These decisions all add up to better health outcomes in the long term. Prevent obesity, and serious chronic disease by implementing the good habits noted above.. Every health-minded decision will help create a longer and happier life!