The ABCs Of A Healthy Life

Is healthy living as easy as learning your ABCs? We think it’s a start. We’ve found 26 key principles to a healthier life – hence the name ABCs Of A Healthy Life… (:

Avoid Processed Foods & Artificial Sweeteners

Processed foods generally have no nutritional value, and both processed foods and artificial sweeteners can lead to weight gain and health problems. Beware of aspartame, xylitol, saccharin, sucralose, and acesulfame potassium.

Breakfast

A good breakfast gives you the fuel to launch you into your day. People who eat breakfast have more energy, are more likely to do better in school/work, and eat healthier throughout the day.

Colorful Fruits & Vegetables

Eating a little of every color maximizes nutritional benefits. Different colors of fruits and vegetables indicate the different nutrients they contain. A diet with fruits and vegetables has been linked to improved health.

Drink Water

Drinking water has many many benefits. Here are a few: Increased energy, relieves fatigue, promotes weight loss, flushes out toxins, improves skin complexion, prevents cramps, natural headache remedy, and more!

Eat Seasonally

The best part of eating seasonally is that you get the best tasting, healthiest foods available. The costs go down and the quality goes up. Helping you save money and tasting the best flavor.

SEE ALSO: 50 Quick Healthy Snacks

Farmer’s Markets

You often end up supporting local farmers whenever you shop seasonally. Buying foods at a farmer’s market gives you a better chance at getting seasonal and fresh foods. Many also offer organic options if you’re looking for them.

Go Outside

Getting outside makes exercise easier! Nature increases brain function, aids in reducing stress, and the sun gives you vitamin D. Spending time outside makes you happy.

Hire A Health Coach

Health coaches are similar to dietitians (RDs) and certified nutritionists. Health coaches help you set goals, discover more about yourself, encourage accountability, and provide some type of education to patients.

Imagine Your Ideal Life & Self

To create a better future you need to learn what your sincerest hopes and dreams are. You must learn to listen to your inner voice, and then create visualizations of yourself and your future. This will help you discover what your attention should be on.

Junk Food No More

Quitting junk food can reduce calorie intake, improve nutrition, and reduce other health risks. Keep it out of your house, and replace the must-haves with healthier alternatives.

Keep A Food Journal

There are apps you can download that will show you what foods contain what nutrients, which can help you lose weight and plan out your meals. Plus, you will be able to look back and identify what makes you feel awful.

Lean Proteins

Lean protein builds and maintains lean muscle mass, repairs damaged cells and tissues, increases hormones, and strengthens your immune system. Skinless chicken breasts, beans, and turkey are some good lean protein options.

Meal Plan

Meal planning is a vital part of a healthy diet. You save money and time, add variety to your diet, and it’s less stressful to know what the next meal is going to be.

Nap When Needed

Naps are actually good for most people, and habitual nappers will often reach for energy drinks or caffeine if they don’t get the chance to recharge. A 20-30 minute nap is plenty for most, but if you really need it, you can nap up to 90 minutes. Try different nap lengths to find the one that leaves you feeling refreshed.

Omega-3s

Your body doesn’t create omega-3, so receiving it from your food is essential. It reduces the risk factors for heart disease, including high cholesterol and blood pressure.

SEE ALSO: 40 Simple Ways To Stay Healthy

Pack Your Lunch

Take the time in the morning, or the evening before, to make your lunch. You won’t spend as much money and can avoid gaining excess weight by always going out to lunch. Also, you won’t have any excuse for skipping lunch altogether.

Quit Making Excuses

Making excuses leads to self-limiting beliefs, lack of growth, bad judgments, and mental blocks stifling action and creativity. Overcome your excuses by first admitting you are making them and work on the solution.

Reduce Stress

Stress management is vitally important for your health. Continued stress has physical and psychological effects. It can trigger migraines, muscle tension, harm nutrient absorption, cause irritability, impatience, and depression.

Keep Your Goals To Yourself

Your biggest personal goal should be kept to yourself. Telling someone your goal makes it less likely to happen. By telling someone your goal, instead of doing the work, the acknowledgment from the person make you less motivated because your mind has been tricked into feeling like it’s already done.

Treat Yourself

Treats aren’t like rewards. They are small pleasures or indulgences that we give ourselves just because. Forming good habits can be draining, so treats play an important role in maintaining a steady willpower.

SEE ALSO: 25 Ways To Relieve Stress

Understand The Cravings

The biggest factors that cause cravings are dehydration, sleep, nutrient deprivation, and emotions. Tune into your senses and your body to understand where your cravings are coming from.

Vegetarian Once A Week

Going meat-free for just one day a week can help you cut out potentially dangerous processed meats, prevent heart disease, and you’d actually be helping to fight world hunger.

Whole Food Diet

Eating foods in their most natural state possible contain phytochemicals that fight cancer and heart disease, vitamins and minerals that improve overall health, and healthy-fats that decrease the risk of depression.

X-ercise

Exercise is only “30 percent” of your total health, but it’s an important part nonetheless. It helps you control your weight, increases your chance to live longer, and improves your mental health and mood. These are only a few of the many potential health benefits.

Yoga

Yoga also has many health benefits to offer. Yoga improves flexibility, builds muscle strength, and prevents cartilage and joint breakdown.

ZZZs

Let’s take a look at a few of the many benefits of getting quality sleep: Decreased inflammation, increased creativity, improved performance, improved memory, maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress, and fights depression. Look here to see how much sleep you need – Centers for Disease Control.