As physiotherapists, we always encourage our patients to keep moving. It is healthy, it is good for the body's mobility and it also contributes to your mental well-being. But healthy eating is just as important to incorporate into your daily routine. Wondering how exercise and nutrition are related? We explain it for you.
What is a healthy lifestyle?
A healthy lifestyle is a correlation of several factors. These factors include exercise, diet, smoking, stress and sleep. A healthy lifestyle helps prevent certain health risks. By making conscious choices regarding your lifestyle, you will feel better in your skin.
How do I create a healthy lifestyle for myself?
All beginnings are difficult. But if you build a healthy lifestyle in small steps you will also be able to keep it up. Below we give you some tips that can lead to that healthy lifestyle.
Movement
Exercise for at least an hour daily. This does not necessarily mean slaving away at the gym. A walk, a bike ride to work and cleaning your house also fall under exercise. An hour of exercise may seem like a lot at first, but if you spread it out over the day, it's not too bad. For example: A 15-minute cycle ride to work, a 15-minute walk in the break, a 15-minute cycle back home and another 15-minute exercise in the evening. Easy right?
Also read: Article exercise guidelines
Nutrition
Any exercise is healthy, simple as that. With food, this is a little different. In fact, there is also a lot of food that does not contribute to a healthy lifestyle. With many foods, we know what is healthy and what is not. But what does a person really need? And perhaps more importantly, what doesn't?
What is:
- 250 grams of vegetables and 200 grams of fruit
- Wholemeal products
- Weekly pulses
- 3 eggs per week
- A handful of unsalted nuts daily
- A few servings of dairy per day
- Fish once a week
What not:
- Added sugars
- Products made from white wheat flour, such as white bread
- Little red or processed meat
- Salty products, such as crisps
- Alcohol
In doubt about whether something is healthy or not? Then check the website of the nutrition centre!
Smoking
Smoking is bad for your health. This is no longer a surprise. It is the main lifestyle factor causing people to fall ill or die. Even more so than following too little exercise or unhealthy diet. We can really only recommend quitting smoking. Are you curious about the effects of smoking? Then read this blog post:
Stress
A little stress is often helpful, but when you suffer from a lot of or prolonged stress, it can have negative effects on your health. You may also suffer from additional complaints such as headaches, fatigue, neck or back pain, gloom or sleep problems. Stress also often causes people to live unhealthier lives. However, this does not contribute to recovery. What does help? Try to tackle the source of your stress and change it. In addition, make sure you relax more. You can do this by reading a book, going for a walk (doubly healthy), listening to music or having a massage.
Also read: Article stress 7 tips
Sleep
An adult human needs 7-9 hours of sleep. Do you manage to get through the night without interruptions? In fact, many people don't manage to. This compromises the quality of your sleep. This is mainly due to stress or too much worrying. Being tired makes you stressed, if you weren't already. As a result, you get less exercise and start eating unhealthily. So the circle is complete again.
Break ingrained lifestyle habits
Would you like to see a change in your lifestyle? Then there is only one option: go for it. Get out of your habits, go for change, go for that healthy lifestyle. You will get a healthy body and a good state of mind in return. That's worth it, right?
Guidance for a healthy lifestyle
Do you need help maintaining your healthy lifestyle? Then contact FriskFysio and discuss your options. You can reach us at 085-5000333, info@friskfysio.nl or our contact form.
