It is impossible to explain in one short sentence what a healthy lifestyle is. The WHO defines health as physical, mental and social well-being, not just the absence of disease or disability, and we agree 100%. By healthy lifestyle we mean not only proper nutrition or regular workouts, but also all other aspects of daily functioning that have a positive impact on our physical and mental condition.

What does a healthy lifestyle consist of?

A healthy lifestyle is comprehensive care for the body and mind. It involves introducing and maintaining habits that keep us physically fit and mentally balanced. The most obvious aspects of a healthy lifestyle - eating right, drinking water and sports - are only a drop in the ocean of our body's needs. It is also important to avoid various harmful factors (e.g., tobacco smoke, microplastics, UV radiation), rest, reduce stress, and maintain good relationships with other people. A healthy lifestyle is not just about giving up what is unhealthy, but also about enjoying the changes.

10 principles of a healthy lifestyle

Conscious eating

Making changes for the better should start with a revolution on the plate. A healthy lifestyle is based on balanced meals, composed of natural ingredients, free of trans fats and added sugars.

Regular physical activity

A healthy lifestyle should make us happy. That's why we don't have to immediately decide on intense weight training or long-distance running. Any other activity that gives us pleasure and forces us to give up our sedentary lifestyle, such as walking, dancing, yoga, slow jogging in the park or running on a treadmill, will be great.

Maintaining a healthy body weight

Both a proper diet and regular exercise help achieve and maintain a healthy body weight, which is very important for our health. Obesity increases the risk of many diseases and limits mobility.

Proper hydration of the body

A human being is made up of about 70% water, which must be replenished daily in adequate amounts for cells and individual organs to function properly. Swelling, dry skin and accelerated aging are just some of the consequences of water deficiency in the body.

Saying goodbye to stimulants

Smoking cigarettes, abusing drugs and medicines, drinking alcohol - all of these can destroy not only your health, but also deteriorate your mental state and affect social relationships. A healthy lifestyle and stimulants are mutually exclusive.

Skin care and protection

While caring for a healthy lifestyle, we should protect our skin from harmful UV rays. In addition, we should moisturize it frequently, reaching for natural cosmetics. Daily care should be enriched with dietary supplements for women with an inhibiting effect on the skin aging process.

Stress reduction

The impact of stress on health is sometimes neglected. We remember about diet, regular workouts, supplementation, and still live in constant tension. Chronic stress carries devastating consequences for both mental and physical health. It is worth giving up the "rat race" by finding a compromise between work and leisure time.

Taking care of sleep and recovery

An adult needs about 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. It is helpful to reduce stress. In addition to this, it's worth introducing a few habits that make it easier to fall asleep, such as avoiding blue light at night, limiting coffee intake, supplementation, and aromatherapy.

Dietary supplementation

The right supplements for men and women are the perfect complement to a healthy lifestyle: they provide ingredients that are missing from the daily diet, help with sleep, support memory and concentration, strengthen immunity, improve skin and hair condition, regulate hormones, stimulate libido and have many other uses.

Preventive research

The fact that nowadays we live much longer than even a few decades earlier is due, among other things, to the development of medicine. Regular examinations allow early diagnosis of diseases and other abnormalities.

Why is it worth living healthily?

Research results show that women living a healthy lifestyle live on average 10 and men 7 years longer*. You don't have to change everything 180 degrees right away. Successive implementation of successive pillars of a healthy lifestyle brings numerous benefits over time, including: increased energy, improved concentration, stress reduction, and better well-being.

Sources:

*Li Y., Schoufour J., Wang D.D., Dhana K., Pan A., Liu X., Hu F.B. (2020). Healthy lifestyle and life expectancy free of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes: prospective cohort study. British Medical Journal. https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/368/bmj.l6669.full.pdf