To maintain a healthy lifestyle in a society that changes so frequently, one must stay determined to stay healthy. As I have learned in this course, being healthy is not easy in the world we live in today. Being truly healthy requires work and sacrifice. It may mean that maybe we shouldn’t have that extra slice of cake or maybe we should try to squeeze in that extra hour of sleep.
Whatever the small sacrifice may be, being healthy is so worth it because it can improve our overall quality of life. Our society is always advertising a new diet pill, or a new brand of cigarettes, but are those types of things worth feeling lousy and run down? I personally don’t think they are. To “die healthy” I would choose to make the right choices and live my best life I could possibly live. Some small choices I would make would be: to exercise more, have a healthy diet, get plenty of sleep, and remain positive and spiritual.
There is irrefutable evidence that regular physical activity can prevent various types of chronic illnesses. Even only 30 minutes of cardio every day can dramatically reduce the risks for cardiovascular disease. Although to some people 30 minutes may seem like too much or they may not be able to take a solid chunk of time out of their day to exercise. There are other ways to fit exercise in a busy day. Even by taking the stairs instead of the elevator can burn off a few calories.
The important thing is to stay creative and motivated. Exercise can lead to happiness because when the body is doing physical activity the brain releases a hormone named Serotonin. Serotonin is the chemical in our brains that is most linked to happy feelings and positive thoughts. Doing regular physical activity can lead to better confidence, heart health, body-image, and happiness.Sometimes getting enough exercise is hard and we tend to get lazy. I sometimes get self conscience of what other’s may think of me when I exercise.
I have learned that comparing myself to others will not get me to my goals and faster. In fact it will hold me back from success. I don’t have to be perfect but as long as I put in the effort and keep that effort going every time I exercise, my body will inevitably become healthier and stronger. The society we live in today can sometimes be distracting and tempting. The hardest part about getting enough exercise is staying on track and motivated. Learning that self-discipline will go a long ways in my life.
Having a healthy diet is crucial because food is the fuel to our bodies. Just as cars need gas to operate, the human body needs certain vitamins and minerals to function properly. Without an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals, the body begins to shut down. Eating healthy is not rocket science, eating healthy can start even by cutting out sugary drinks and junk food. An important concept of healthy eating is to aim for balance.
Choose different foods from various food groups. Get a good understanding of portion sizes and try to have a balance on your plate. Moderation is also very important. Having too much of anything is never good. All foods can be a part of healthy eating if they are eaten in moderation.Although healthy eating is a very simple concept, it is not always so easy.
We are tempted every day by processed foods and other things that are bad for our bodies. Especially in the United States where junk food is cheaper than healthy food. There are more fast-food restaurants than healthy restaurants. This makes it hard to even find healthy food when junk food is so readily available. I for one care about my body and what I feed it.
If buying healthy food means I will have to pay a dollar more then I think that it’s worth it. Eating healthy does not just happen over night but even the smallest steps count and can make a difference.Sleep is an important part of being healthy because it is a way for our bodies to recharge. Sleep can benefit your mood, heart, weight, and mind. When the human body is lacking sleep is goes into “stress mode” in which the body’s functions are all put on high-alert which can increase blood pressure.
High blood pressure is also linked to heart attacks and strokes. Stress hormones also make it much harder to sleep. Those who sleep anywhere from seven to nine hours a night are less likely to become obese and may even be more likely to drop weight rather than gain it. Adequate sleep can also make you more productive and alert.
Being a high school student, getting enough sleep is not always on the top of my list of things to do. I’m always busy or I choose to stay up later than I should in order to get things done. This is a fault on my part because by doing this I am forcing my body to run on fumes. I need to make it a point to allow my body to rest enough every night so that I can be even more productive the next day. Sleep may seem very trivial when it comes to getting healthier, but in fact it is the very base of having a healthy body.Positive thinking can protect our immune system.
Our thoughts and attitude have a very big effect on our bodies. By being negative, our bodies become more susceptible to illnesses and diseases. In many studies researchers have found that optimists tend to have better health than pessimists. Optimists were even found to recover from surgery faster than pessimists. Our mind has a very strong effect on our bodies and by thinking positively we can improve our health.
There is no thought that we have that our bodies do not hear. Our minds are very powerful tools and we must learn to use them for good and for our health.Being a positive thinker is very hard for me because I tend to be a pessimist. I usually dwell on the negative rather looking for the positive. When I am thinking negative, I must catch myself and try to think positively.
It may be hard at first but by changing my attitude for the better, my body will thus follow. There are many things I can do to become more positive such as: getting enough exercise, journaling, or even getting enough sleep. Even something as simple as “looking on the bright side” of things can improve overall health. Having a positive attitude can lead to a happier and healthier me.
Even the smallest steps towards becoming healthier can improve health in other areas. By eating correctly, exercising may become just a little easier. By getting enough exercise, I will get an even better night’s sleep. Even by getting enough sleep my mood will be improved thus strengthening my immune system.
I don’t have to start big, i just have to start. Being healthy does not happen overnight, but even the smallest steps can make a huge impact on the journey towards good health. To maintain health in our changing society, I would choose to work hard and make small sacrifices to stay healthy. By being healthy I would have lived my life to the fullest and when I one day die, I would have “died healthy.”
