Tips for Amazing Long Life in ‘20
7 tips for good health
To be in good health, there are some very simple precepts and advice to follow. Here are 7 tips for good health.
1. Eat a balanced and healthy diet That's the first piece of advice we can give you. If you want to be healthy, watch what you eat. The sacrosanct "eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day" is a rule that you have probably heard dozens and dozens of times, but there is a reason for it. These fruits and vegetables have a protective role in the prevention of diseases that can appear at age, such as cancers (see also: Preventing cancer, tips for a healthy lifestyle), cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes... They also provide the vitamins, minerals and fibre necessary for the body to function properly.
For some doctors and nutritionists, it is even necessary to consume 7 or even 10 fruits and vegetables per day! It is therefore important to avoid eating too much fat, sugar or salt. To help you eat better, it is possible to go see specialists, or to bring your smartphone with you: some applications like Yuka, available on Android or iPhone, allow you to consume better by telling you if a product you can find in supermarkets is too salty, sweet, or full of additives. Easy to use, these applications will make it more fun!
Eating a balanced diet 2. Get regular physical activity Again, it's probably something you've often heard. But regular physical activity is important for your health at all ages. Physical activity helps to maintain the body and mind, to reduce mortality, and to prevent the onset of certain diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or being overweight. It also helps to fight stress and to sleep better.
You don't have to be a great sportsman to be physically active. Walking or cycling to work or avoiding taking the elevator to take the steps are small everyday things that can only do you good. Going to the pool or jogging regularly are also beneficial activities that don't take up too much of your time.
The amount of time you need to spend doing this physical activity depends on your age: you can look at the World Health Organization's advice on this subject HERE. "The WHO defines physical activity as any bodily movement produced by muscles that requires the expenditure of energy - this includes movement while working, playing, doing household chores, moving around and during leisure activities," says the WHO on its official website.
Good to know: "The term 'physical activity' should not be confused with the term 'exercise', which is a more deliberate, structured, repetitive sub-category of physical activity, aimed at improving or maintaining one or more aspects of physical fitness. » 3. Drink plenty of water Water is essential to our survival. As a reminder, our body is composed of 60 to 70% water. Drinking water therefore helps us keep in shape (even if it is not enough to be in good health, of course), keeps us mentally fit as well and has virtues for health that you surely don't suspect. So you need to make sure you have enough water in a day to be at your best. Doctors recommend drinking between 1.5 and 2 litre(s) of water per day for an adult person. This figure can be increased during hot weather such as this summer or if you practice a sport, in order to keep yourself well hydrated.
4. Get enough sleep Did you know that you spend almost 25 years of your life sleeping? That's to say that sleep is a major part of our lives and should not be neglected. But with work, school, family and all the other pressures of daily life, your sleep time is heavily impacted. And that can be detrimental to your health. Lack of sleep can affect your mood, your mental state, your physical state, can disrupt your metabolism and even increase the risk of developing certain diseases. These are all reasons that should push you to adapt your lifestyle to get enough hours of sleep. According to the American National Sleep Foundation, the number of hours of sleep recommended depends on your age. It ranges from 14 to 17 hours a day for newborns to 7 to 8 hours for seniors (over 65). A teenager (14 to 17 years old) will need 8 to 10 hours of sleep, a young adult (18 to 25 years old) 7 to 9 hours and an adult (26 to 64 years old) 7 to 9 hours.
