1. ==== ====
Control Portions and Boost your Workout
Boost Your Workout
==== ====
We often take good health for granted, that is until we lose it! It's often only when something ails
us that we are forced to consider good health, or the lack of it, with a bit more thought.
Good health, or wellness, is not just about an absence of illness or disease, rather it's an overall
feeling of well-being that's made up of how we feel depending on what factors are impacting upon
that feeling at any one point in our lives.
Now whilst we might not be able to control all of the factors that cause us to suffer dis-ease in our
day to day lives there are a number of simple precautions that we as individuals should all take in
order to minimize at least some of the risks that too many of us fail to recognize until it's too late.
If you can follow the Five must do's you'll be well on your way to maintaining your good health.
Five good health must do's are as follows;
· Stop Smoking
Smoking is the number one killer in western society today. It kills approximately 440,000
Americans every year, that's 1,205 a DAY.
There's a myriad of websites offering advice that are available to those still smoking and we
should all be working towards a smoke-free environment for all if the good health of all of us,
smokers and non-smokers, is to be protected
· Eat well and exercise
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, "poor diet and physical inactivity"
are now causing 400,000 deaths a year in the United States.
A simple mixed diet including a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables a day has been proven to
help us stay healthy. Fruit and vegetables taste delicious and there's so much variety to choose
from.
They're a good source of vitamins and minerals, including folate, vitamin C and potassium.
They're an excellent source of dietary fibre, which helps maintain a healthy gut and prevent
constipation and other digestion problems. A diet high in fibre can also reduce your risk of bowel
cancer.
2. They can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers. Fruit and vegetables
contribute to a healthy and balanced diet.
If you take even some light exercise daily, you'll help your body maintain good health and lessen
the risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease.
· Drink less alcohol
After smoking and poor eating and exercise habits, the next biggest self-inflicted killer we
continually ignore is the excessive drinking of alcohol. A recent US Government study suggested
that excessive alcohol consumption kills some 75,000 Americans each year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which published the study, estimated that 34,833
people in 2001 died from cirrhosis of the liver, cancer and other diseases linked to drinking too
much beer, wine and spirits. Another 40,933 died from car crashes and other mishaps caused by
excessive alcohol use.
We can enjoy a drink with no problems whatsoever providing we do it responsibly and we're aware
of the dangers of over indulgence. Indeed there is evidence to suggest that light or moderate
alcohol intake can actually be beneficial to our health.
· Don't get burned!
We all love the feeling of sunshine on our skin but beware, like many other things excess can be
dangerous. Excessive exposure to strong sunlight can cause painful sunburn, sunstroke and may
lead to more serious conditions such as skin cancers.
Always be aware of the UV index rating for your area and take appropriate precautions.
Proper use of sunscreens, appropriate clothing and sensible durations of exposure to the sun will
allow all of us to enjoy the summer with none of the ill effects mentioned here.
· Be Happy!
Good health as I said at the beginning of this article is not just about avoiding or being aware of
the physical dangers that are prevalent in our society; it's as much dependent on our mood, our
outlook as anything else.
Are you a glass half-full or glass half-empty sort of person?
If we approach life with a positive attitude and (despite what I've written about today), we don't
take ourselves too seriously, we can do wonders for our general feeling of well-being.
Sure, there'll be good days and bad days, some will be infinitely better than others but if we pay
heed to the information above and if we approach each day with a feeling of excitement and relish,
we'll be more than ready for life's challenges and good health will stand it's best chance of staying
with us.
3. If you can follow all, or even most, of the five must do's for good health, you'll be doing yourself the
biggest favor you could think of.
Best wishes,
Derek McGuff
The Digital Scotsman
http://www.digitalscotsman.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derek_John_McGuff
==== ====
Control Portions and Boost your Workout
Boost Your Workout
==== ====