How to Improve Your Health and Wellness
Many assume that making lifestyle changes include losing weight, start exercising every day, quick smoking, etc. While you should always strive to accomplish these kinds of health goals, the path to better health doesn’t always have to mean huge leaps. There is a number of smaller steps you can take that will also help improve your overall health and quality of life.
I’m talking about easy changes that you can easily add to your routine, and that will be easy to maintain for the long haul. Even if you don’t have much time to spare, you can use that time to improve your well-being. Here are some simple strategies, that if become habits, can add up to a big positive effect on your overall health.
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Make a Few Dietary Substitutions
Small changes can make a big difference when it comes to healthy eating. In fact, simple food substitutions can have major benefits such as fewer calories, less cholesterol and more stable blood sugar levels. Furthermore, these changes can lower your risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other diseases.
Good examples of small changes that can have a big impact on your health include:
- Swap white rice, bread and pasta for healthier whole-grain versions
- Instead of skin on, use skinless chicken or turkey in your recipes. Go for leaner cuts of other meats such as beef or pork.
- Replace at least one sugary drink (juice, soda, etc) each day with a tall glass of water.
- Snack on a handful of almonds or cashews, or a piece of whole fruit, or carrot sticks dipped in hummus rather than reaching for potato chips or candy bars.
- Use egg whites instead of whole eggs
- Use fat-free yogurt instead of sour cream
Take Health Supplements
More often than not, even the best of diets doesn’t include all of the nutrients you need for optimum health and wellbeing. Supplement health products contain specific nutrients that may be difficult to get into your normal diets – nutrients that are known to provide a range of incredible benefits.
Nowadays, you can find a range of supplement health products formulated to improve health and vitality. Some of the most popular benefits of these supplements are:
- Promote longevity
- Combate against free radical damage
- Enhance bone health
- Support healthy sleeping patterns
- Promote women’s health
You need to understand that one supplement won’t provide you with all of the benefits mentioned above. Once you find out which area you would like to improve, you can choose your health supplement accordingly. For example, if your goal is immune support, then zinc, probiotics, certain vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and botanical supplements such as elderberry, turmeric and echinacea are good choices. For heart health, consider taking omega-3s, garlic and CoQ10 supplements. For digestive health, probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics all contribute to the health of the gut. Fibre also aids in digestion and helps friendly digestive bacteria to thrive. Considering that many of us fall short of fibre daily intake recommendations, taking a supplement can help.
Make sure you buy health supplements from a reliable retailer that stand behind every product it sells. This means getting a guarantee on the product and being able to return or exchange the in case you aren’t satisfied with it. Also, make sure to read the nutrition label carefully for any ingredients that stand out, especially if you have particular sensitivities.
Practice Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy has been used for centuries for natural healing. Its a type of alternative medicine that uses essential oils to improve a person’s health or mood. When it comes to what are the benefits of essential oil to our well-being, the answer is many. Essential oils have the power to stimulate the mind, reduce stress, clean the air, aid breath techniques and improve energy flow.
Essential oils used for aromatherapy are extracted from natural sources like flowers and plants. There is a range of different essential oils available, each with its own properties and benefits. Some of the best wellbeing essential oils you can buy include:
Lavender
Lavender has a subtle floral scent that helps relieve headaches and promote a sense of calm. Lavender is also well known for its healing properties that can help heal minor burns and bug bites.
Ylang Ylang
Used for centuries in perfumes, religious ceremonies and also in aromatherapy, ylang-ylang has a soothing, floral aroma that is known to help reduce feelings of anxiety, boost mood and restore confidence. Suitable for all skin types, ylang-ylang is also thought to help control skin’s oils and improve elasticity.
Camomile
The camomile oil comforting and calming properties make it a great option for easing low moods and creating a sense of inner peace. Suitable for all skin types, camomile essential oil can also be used to ease mild irritations.
You can easily find these wellbeing essential oils online, in health food stores and in some regular supermarkets. It’s important to purchase from a reputable producer since essential oils aren’t regulated by the FDA. This will ensure you get a quality product that is 100% natural. To be able to enjoy the benefits, the essential oil shouldn’t contain any additives or synthetic ingredients.
Aromatherapy can be incorporated into your home and self-care routine in many different ways. By adding a few drops into your bath to diffusing the oil around the room, you can easily reap the rewards of aromatherapy without seeing an aromatherapist or visiting a fancy spa.
Reduce Alcohol Intake
Drinking a glass of natural wine once in a while won’t harm you, but drinking too much alcohol isn’t good and can have multiple side effects on your body. So, if you’re having emotional problems, alcohol isn’t the solution. Aside from having only temporary stress relief excessive alcohol consumption can lead to high blood pressure, arrhythmia or even a cardiac attack.
Get Enough Sleep
You should be getting 7-9 hours of good sleep every night. If you’re having trouble sleeping before bedtime, know that there is a number of things that you can do to improve your sleep. Simple things to try include turning off all electronic devices, doing a light stretch, drinking chamomile tea or taking a relaxing bubble bath.
