10 Healthy Habits Every Woman Should Practice
People are always looking for ways to stay healthy and prolong their lives, whether itβs by eating right, exercising regularly, or taking supplements and vitamins. Of course, the best way to stay healthy is to take care of yourself overall, but even doing one or two of these simple things each day can be just as beneficial. Womenβs Health magazine notes that healthy habits are vital to your well-being at every age and stage in life, from youth through menopause and beyond. Take a look at these 10 healthy habits every woman should practice.
1) Clean Up Your Diet
The foods you eat have a direct effect on your overall health and well-being. Choosing unprocessed and whole foods can help you get plenty of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and other nutrients that are good for your body. Not only will these foods help keep you healthy, but they can also help prevent diseases like cancer and heart disease.
2) Get Enough Sleep
Lack of sleep can negatively impact your health and ability to maintain a healthy weight. Aim for 7β9 hours each night to help boost energy levels, concentration, and brainpower. Getting enough sleep will make it easier to keep up with other healthy habits. Here are more tips on how to get a better nightβs rest.
3) Meditate
Make a daily commitment to find time for meditation. Not only will it help you to decompress and relax, but it will also help with clarity of thought, focus, and stress management. Many people like to do 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening; however, you can make time whenever is most convenient for you.
4) Stay Active
As we get older, our bodies naturally slow downβthatβs just science. But staying active is a great way to build strength and flexibility, prevent injury and disease, and live longer. So make it a point to do a few simple exercises each dayβeven if itβs just walking or stretching for five minutes. It doesnβt take much time, but it makes a big difference in your health. Here are 10 exercises you can easily fit into your daily routine . . .
5) Manage Stress Naturally
When youβre stressed, your body is telling you somethingβs wrong. Use these natural ways to manage stress and calm yourself down. Exercise: You donβt have to run a marathon or participate in an intense gym classβeven simple forms of exercise can help relieve stress. Try taking a brisk walk every day after work or join a sports team at your community center to release some of that pent-up energy!
6) Limit Alcohol Intake
Women need to be especially careful about overdoing it with alcohol. The American Heart Association advises women not to exceed one drink per day; for reference, a single serving of wine is 5 ounces or about 120 milliliters. Further, no more than two drinks per day should be consumed by any woman trying to manage her weight.
7) Savor Slow Meals With Family & Friends
Americans are eating their meals faster than ever before. Today, people eat an average of 20 percent faster at home than they did just three decades ago. And with all that rapid-fire eating comes a host of health problemsβincluding obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and more. If you want to live a healthier lifeβand avoid chronic illnesses later onβtry slowing down at mealtime. Make meals more about quality time with friends and family; maybe even read your kids a book while you dine together!
8) Talk To A Doctor About Regular Checkups
When you see your primary care physician for a yearly checkup, he or she can assess your overall health and recommend other ways to improve it. If you donβt have a primary care doctor, get one; if you already do, make sure to schedule regular appointments (preferably once per year).
9) Live In The Moment
Living in the moment is an important component of practicing healthy habits. When youβre thinking about what needs to get done in a couple of hours, or next week, it can be easy to lose sight of whatβs going on around you. Practicing mindfulnessβfocusing your attention on one thing at a timeβcan be very beneficial to your health.
10) Don’t Judge Yourself Too Harshly
No matter how you look, thereβs no reason to be so hard on yourself. Womenβs Health reports that when woman monitor their weight obsessively and are overly critical of their bodies, they are at a greater risk for disease than those who feel better about themselves and make self-care a priority. Be kind to yourself, just as youβd want your best friend to beβdonβt focus on being perfect in every way but concentrate on doing your best each day.
