9 Steps for a Healthy Lifestyle

We are what we eat so choosing the right food in your daily diet is the first step towards a healthy lifestyle.  We have been taught the importance of balanced diet from school times but do we really incorporate it in our day to day routine?

A balanced diet means eating the right amount of proteins, carbohydrates and fatsthat along with Micronutrients like vitamins and minerals. Including a lot of green leafy vegetables and fruits in the daily diet along with healthy oils.

The three major things that a consumed every day in Indian households are Milk, Oil Salt and Sugar.

Milk and dairy items should be chosen rightly as there is lot of processing that goes on in the dairy industry that may be detrimental to the health. Having Desi Cow milk from a trusted source is a great option as desi cow milk contains A2 protein which is better than the A1 protein found in genetically mutated cows.

We get good fats from oils so it is very important to choose the right oil. Cold pressed or wood pressed oils made using the ancient wood pressing method are the best source of these good fats. Oils should be used based on your location, season and culture. Also it is good to change your oil each month so that you get a variety of nutrients.Cold pressed groundnut oil, cold pressed safflower oil, cold pressed sunflower oil, cold pressed mustard oil and cold pressed coconut oil and cold pressed flaxseed oil are the commonly used oils which are good for health.

Salt is an essential nutrient needed by our body. It is found that rock salt is an healthier option to the regular table salt. Table salt is highly refined and processed form of salt. Rock salt or Himalayan pink salt contains lesser sodium and additional nutrients so it maintains good respiratory health and helps controlling blood pressure. Recommended salt intake is one teaspoon per day per person.

While choosing sugar ensure that you select the minimally processed and natural form of sugar. The regular white sugar is processed using sulphur to remove the impurities from sugar crystals. Natural brown sugar is a healthier option to white sugar as it is the made from the first crystallization of cane juice to sugar crystals. It is processed in a complete natural way so the minerals and nutrients are intact.

Apart from this it is necessary to have fruits and vegetables daily.

Processed foods are bad for health as they contain added chemicals, preservatives and sweeteners which are harmful for health. They contain high amount of salt which may lead to high blood pressure and heart diseases.

We often neglect drinking the required amount of water each day. Water is essential for literally all the body functions and metabolism. Water is responsible for purification of our body. It is necessary to dring atleast 2 to 3 litres of water each day for maintaining a healthy metabolism.

Including physical fitness in the daily regime is as important as the diet that we eat. Daily exercise should include a minimum of 30 mins of physical activity like brisk walking, jogging, some sort of sport or even yoga.

Getting sufficient sleep is an essential part of healthy routine. Sleep can vary from person to person but it is necessary to sleep for 7 to 9 hours a day. A good sleep helps in increasing focus, loose weight and improve your overall health.

Smoking is not only harmful for the person smoking but also for the people around as it may lead to serious respiratory issues as well as lead to cancer. Excessive Alcohol consumption may lead to complications related to liver, heart and even more fatal diseases.

Daily meditation is very much essential for emotional well being of a person. It helps in relaxing the mind and body and helps achieve inner peace. Daily meditation of 10 to 15 mins can help in increasing focus and concentration.

Being positive means thinking good in any situation. A positive attitude is very important for being mentally strong.

Healthy lifestyle as we know is also about mental well being. And mental well being is strongly connected to our minds. Sometimes we get different thoughts back to back and we get entangled in them as we simply keep. Jumping from one thought to another without having any control on our mind. This leads to overthinking and we simply keep thinking without taking any action. Overthinking may lead to depression, stress and fatigue which may affect the mental state of mind. This in turn affects our life and has many negative impacts. So avoid overthinking in all ways. If you feel that you mind is wandering freely and it’s leading to overthinking just get involved in some physical activity or try to divert your mind to something else.

To maintain a healthy lifestyle one has to have a holistic approach towards well being. The 9 steps that we saw above will surely help us balance our lifestyle better and help us lead a quality life.