Here are some practical habits we can acquire to be healthy.
1. Eat 5-6 small meals a day.
Most nutritionists recommend that we eat 5-6 small meals a day. For example, you can have a light breakfast at 7 AM, light snack (a banana or apple) at 10 AM, lunch at 12 noon, snack at 4 PM, dinner at 7 PM. This schedule will help reduce sudden surges in your blood sugar. It prevents you from overeating because of hunger.
2. Drink 8-10 glasses of water.
Doctors have to tell patients again and again the importance of drinking enough water a day. But it seems many patients, especially women, don’t listen. Drinking water can prevent kidney infections, kidney stones, migraine headache and constipation.
3. Rest at least 8 hours a day.
Sleeping and resting is the best way to boost your energies. If you feel tired, take a 15 minute rest to replenish your strength. At night, try to go for 8 hours of sleep. If you can’t sleep, just lying in bed and thinking happy thoughts can relax your mind and body, too. It’s not as good as sleep, but it’s the next best thing.
4. Climb 1 to 2 flights of stairs.
Exercise for your health. Moderate exercise has been proven to prevent diabetes, obesity and reduce arthritis. If your office is just on the second or third floor, use the stairs. It’s good for your heart and good for your joints. It also helps you get some exercise in between your work.
5. Live a clean life.
By “clean” living, we mean not just physically clean, but we should try to avoid unhealthy behavior like smoking, drinking alcohol, using illicit drugs, engaging in risky sex, and gorging on fatty foods. Smoking kills. Alcohol destroys brain cells. Avoid risky habits and prolong your life.
6. Be a vegetable and fruit lover.
You are what you eat. And the healthiest foods out there are vegetables and fruits. Green leafy vegetables, such as cabbage, pechay, kangkong, malunggay, camote tops (talbos) and spinach, contain so many vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant chemicals. Vegetables can prevent heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and bowel problems.
7. Laugh 15 minutes a day.
Laughter is indeed the best medicine. A study from the University of California Irvine College of Medicine reports that after watching a funny video, the viewers’ mood improved dramatically. Depression and anger dropped by 98%, fatigue fell by 87%, and tension was reduced by 61%.
8. Be enthusiastic about your work.
Choose a job you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life. Try to find ways to enjoy your line of work.
9. Have a lifetime partner.
Statistics show that married persons live longer than single persons. If you have someone to share your burdens with, it will lessen your stress.
10. Share your blessings.
Prof. Peggy Thoits’ study at the Vanderbilt University showed that people who volunteered and helped others had higher levels of happiness, self-esteem and better physical health. If you want to receive P2,000 worth of health and happiness, try donating P2,000 to your favorite charity. Helping the poor and the sick will surely give you a different “high.” God bless everyone and take care.
