Healthy Lifestyle

What is a healthy lifestyle, exactly?

These five areas were chosen because prior studies have shown them to have a large impact on risk of premature death. Here is how these healthy habits were defined and measured:

• Healthy diet, which was calculated and rated based on the reported intake of healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, healthy fats, and omega-3 fatty acids, and unhealthy foods like red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, trans fat, and sodium.

• Healthy physical activity level, which was measured as at least 30 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous activity daily.

• Healthy body weight, defined as a normal body mass index (BMI), which is between 18.5 and 24.9.

• Smoking, well, there is no healthy amount of smoking. “Healthy” here meant never having smoked.

• Moderate alcohol intake, which was measured as between 5 and 15 grams per day for women, and 5 to 30 grams per day for men. Generally, one drink contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol. That’s 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.

Researchers also looked at data on age, ethnicity, and medication use, as well as comparison data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research.

Take steps for better health

Physical activity

Being physically active helps all people, no matter their age, lead healthier lives.

Some physical activity is better than doing none. By being more active throughout the day in relatively simple ways, people can quite easily achieve the recommended activity levels.

  

Children and adolescents aged 5-17 years

• Should do at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily.
• Physical activity of amounts more than 60 minutes daily provides additional health benefits.
• Should include activities that strengthen muscle and bone, at least 3 times per week.

 Exercise regularly

• Physical exercise plays a positive role in your mental health. It causes chemical reactions that are proven to reduce anxiety and stress and put you in a good mood.

 Get enough sleep

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  Lack of sleep affects your mental health as it can cause emotional and psychological problems. Go to bed at a reasonable hour and try to get 8 hours of sleep. It will help you achieve maximum recovery and face the next day with more vigor.