5 Reasons why a healthy lifestyle is important for you

what is a healthy lifestyle for you?

There are so many ways of defining this based on each individual.

we all have our perception of a healthy lifestyle because, at the end of the day, it is what makes you happy.

For some people, it is waking up early every morning and running for an hour. For others, it is eating a healthy diet, meditating on their life while doing yoga, spending quality time with their loved ones every other day, and never taking alcohol or smoking tobacco.

These are just some of the answers you get to hear from different people.

Do a small test and ask a few of your friends or family members and you will have a very long list of answers.

That notwithstanding, it’s not easy for most people to decide to lead a healthy lifestyle and stick to it.

Finding the time to prepare a healthy meal, connect with friends, or exercise can be hard.

However, the benefits of a healthy lifestyle far outweigh the excuses of always looking the other way.

Let’s get to it:

1. Reduced risk of acquiring diseases

Unfortunately, most of us have had the experience of being unwell.

It’s a sad fact, but again that’s part of this life!

Who would want to go back to that terrifying moment?

As much as you can't control all the diseases that may get to you, there is a ton of others that you can reduce the risk of, by simply living healthy.

Clinical studies have shown that living healthy can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Eating fruits and vegetables has also been associated with a lower risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

Another study involving 194,784 adults without type 2 diabetes showed that those who ate more whole grains had a 29% lower rate of acquiring the disease in comparison to those who ate less.

To sum up, a PubMed study concludes that adding 90 grams of whole grains to your day’s diet; lowers cancer risk by 15%, cardiovascular disease by 22%, and coronary heart disease by 19%.

2. Improved mental health

Remember in the beginning we related a healthy lifestyle to what makes you happy.

Your mental health affects your feelings, thoughts, and actions.

Eating healthy, exercising, and spending quality time with your loved ones are some of the activities that help in coping with daily stresses.

Food, diet, and exercise have been associated with improving and preventing morbidity and mortality related to common medical and psychiatric diseases.

Engage in healthy mental activities and enjoy life.

Leading a healthy lifestyle can help boost your body’s confidence. There is always something new out there that you have not tried or tested. Go ahead and try it out.

Always use positive affirmations like ‘fake it till you make it’, ‘ I look great today’, ‘I am killing it today’, and ‘ I am the boss’, as you go about your day.

Let go of toxic people and surround yourself with the right people.

Finally, when you realize you have a problem, seek professional help.

3. Live your life to the fullest

Did you know that exercising can prolong your life?

Well, a 2020 study found a relationship between physical activity and death! Participants who did a moderate-to-vigorous activity for 11 minutes had a lower risk of premature death in comparison to those who did the same activity for only 2 minutes.

Those baby steps you are taking towards a healthy lifestyle can indeed prolong your lifespan.

Note, lifestyle factors affect the risk of mortality over time. Excessive smoking, too much alcohol intake, inadequate sleeping, and toxic relationships are some of the factors that will hinder you from living your full life.

A study conducted amongst US adults revealed that you could prolong your life expectancy by 14 years and 12.2 years for women and men respectively at the age of 50 by living healthy.

I mean, who doesn’t want to live a long yet fulfilling life?

4. Motivate your family members

Believe it or not, children learn mostly by copying adults around them or their peers.

Now, apart from children, the adults around us also copy some of our habits, and in this case, we shall stick to good habits only, right?

When you start preparing your healthy snack or meal while the rest of the family does the other, ‘not so healthy stuff’, you set an example.

Similarly, when your loved ones see you starting an exercise routine, chances are someone will be motivated to join you.

Eventually, you become a good example for everybody in your family including the children and grandchildren, and you all get to live happily.

5. Save money!

Exciting! Right?

While it is advisable to see your primary care physician at least once a year, it is rather fulfilling to find out your healthy lifestyle is paying off.

You do not have to spend so much on treatments or prescriptions, for medical conditions that you can lower their risk by living healthy.

The healthier you are, the less likely you will need to see a doctor.

What you can control, go ahead and take the first step, the rest will follow.

And hey, you get to save some money while at it!

Wrapping it up!

You get to define a healthy lifestyle in a way that works best for you and makes you happy.

What this means is, it will be easier for you to attain your goals once you come up with the plan yourself.

What works for you may not work for me or your other friend.

Keep in mind the positives of your effort; you will be more relaxed, motivated, healthy, enjoy life, be an inspiration to your loved ones and save some money!

The ball is in your court, what’s it gonna be?