The beginning of a new year is always a good time to recommit yourself to taking better care of your health.
Follow are seven strategies for supporting those efforts:
- Maintain a Healthy Diet
- Get More Exercise
- Manage Your Stress Level
- Make Your Mental Health a Priority
- Get the Sleep You Need
- See Your Primary Care Doctor Regularly
- Get Your Hormones Checked
Good health starts with good nutrition.
Try to eat a variety of healthy foods like fresh fruit and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and healthy fats. Include superfoods like berries, nuts, and leafy greens to boost your energy level and your immune system.
Consider reducing your meat consumption in favor of more plant-based proteins.
Regular physical activity is vital for both your body and mind. But the right kinds of exercise matter.
Try to work cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and stretching into your schedule several times per week.
If you’re short on time, try high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for your cardiovascular exercise. You’ll get faster results with less time.
Few things can harm your health more than chronic stress.
Stress causes your body to release excess amounts of the hormone cortisol, which can raise blood sugar, increase blood pressure, and weaken your immune system (to name just a few).
There are infinite possibilities when it comes to managing stress—it just depends on what works for you. Common solutions include yoga, rigorous exercise, deep breathing, meditation, and time spent in nature. Hobbies you enjoy can be another effective stress reliever.
It may be tempting to put your mental health on the back burner; but that would be a mistake. Your mental and emotional health are just as important as your physical health. In fact, ignoring one can negatively impact the other.
Consider that you probably don’t think twice about seeing your primary care doctor when you aren’t feeling well physically. Similarly, don’t be afraid to reach out to a mental health professional if you aren’t feeling well emotionally (particularly if you’re experiencing depression or anxiety).
A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your mental and physical health.
It’s when you’re sleeping that your body replaces and repairs damaged cells. Your brain also organizes and processes information from the day while you’re asleep.
Try to get 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night. To create a sleep-friendly environment, be sure to turn off screens at least an hour before you go to bed.
And if you think you may have issues with sleep apnea, consult with a sleep specialist.
You know what they say…an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. An annual visit with your primary care physician is a good way to make sure you stay healthy.
Be sure you’re seeing your primary care doctor annually for regular screenings. These tests should include screening for conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The idea is to identify these kinds of issues early, before they become major problems.
Hormones regulate everything your body does. Which means keeping your hormone levels optimized is critical for your physical and mental health.
And yet, hormone production will decline with age, which can cause a wide range of issues including weight gain, a loss of muscle mass, cognitive decline, and more.
This is where Renew Youth comes in. Talk to us about testing your hormones levels.
If your hormones are out of balance, we can provide customized treatment that will restore your hormones to healthy levels.
New Year…New You!
Good health is a process, not a one-time fix.
These seven strategies, if you stick with them, will go a long way toward helping you to stay mentally and physically fit in the coming year…and beyond.
Ready to get started? Renew Youth is here to help. To take the first step toward a healthier you by calling us at 800-859-7511. Or use our easy contact form to schedule your complimentary 30-minute consultation.