Many people find it difficult to maintain proper health. There are problems all around us, from improper eating habits to a lack of exercise. Overuse of medications can also damage your health, since these chemicals are foreign to the body. These issues get in the way of the natural state of health that is possible for your body.
According to Dr. Bomi Joseph of Peak Health Center, good health is determined by four variables. The first is good habits relating to nutrition, sleep, and exercise. The second is consistency, or the ability to keep your good habits in practice regularly. The third is time, represented by the lifelong commitment to your health. Fourth comes trust, or the knowledge that your body is built for good health if you can unlock its full potential.
1. Good Habits
Many people believe that it is possible to eat whatever you like, relax instead of exercise, and take no particular care of their health. This could not be further from the truth. Good habits are a must when building health that will last a lifetime.
First, a person’s diet must be nutritious and promote bodily health. Omit refined sugars and grain products, empty calories, and processed meats from your diet. Do not consume any sugar-sweetened beverages or fast food.
Concentrate on eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats and dairy. Many health-conscious people and vegans prefer to avoid dairy, but they should be careful to add in whole foods sources of calcium. Just these simple dietary changes can make a huge impact on your health. Dr. Bomi Joseph suggests to avoid fad diets like the Keto diet. These diets have not been studied in the long term, and the excessive amount of fat consumed on this diet could be hazardous to your heart.
Sleep is another vital area to work on. Most adults require about 8 hours of nightly sleep to function. Alcohol and caffeine can interfere with sleep patterns. Some people may be able to get by on 6 hours of sleep, but 8 is better. Avoid sleeping longer than 9 hours, since this has been shown to cause health problems.
Exercise must be undertaken regularly. Just 30 minutes of moderate physical activity 3 to 5 times a week is enough to significantly improve health and prolong life. People can choose to jog, walk, go to the gym, bicycle, or swim, among many other diverse exercise choices. The best exercises are the ones which make you sweat. Everyone can benefit from exercise, even extremely overweight people or those with mobility restrictions.
Start with just a little physical activity at a time and add time to your workouts as you go. Starting too quickly or pushing yourself too hard can result in injury and burnout. Once you have a solid routine of physical activity, keep up with it.
2. Consistency
Starting a new healthy living plan is exciting, but in truth, people often fail to meet their goals. Many people may start off with a great deal of enthusiasm but cannot maintain their good habits. Consistency is key to living a healthy life, according to Dr. Bomi Joseph. Perseverance is important.
Even if you relapse into your previous unhealthy habits, forgive yourself and move forward. Especially when you are becoming accustomed to healthy living, you will need the ability to pick yourself up and get back with the program. An all-or-nothing mentality can lead to depression and anxiety.
3. Time
Keeping up your healthy habits over the years will lead to optimal physical health. When you have spent years working on your healthy habits, it will be easier to maintain improved physical strength and appearance. Over the years, the cumulative effects of a good diet, proper sleep, and exercise will show in your increased vitality. You will be able to keep healthy well into old age if you are faithful.
4. Trust
When you are struggling to put your healthy living plan in place, you may feel like rebelling and going back to your old, dangerous habits. Whenever you feel like giving up, remember that your body is made to achieve healthy standards. Following your healthy habits gives your body what it needs to survive and to reach its full potential.
Four Steps to Wellness
Dr. Bomi Joseph reminds readers that a healthy lifestyle is always a work in progress. If you find that something is not working for you, change it. Rotate among a number of different exercises and keep your meal plan varied. Living a healthy existence does not mean existing in a state of deprivation. When you can find healthy balance with all 4 of these elements, you will be able to move closer to your true potential.