Life is all too short. Find ways to really live and enjoy it to the fullest everyday will help you make the best of every precious moment of it. Here are 3 secrets to living a longer healthier life.
Eat Well – What you feed your body determines how you feel, how you look, and how you feel about yourself. And all of these and directly related to how much and well you are able to really enjoy doing the things you love.
The term eating well has been used so often, it’s sometimes hard to define exactly what that means. A balanced is first on the list. This includes fruits, vegetables, high fiber, multi-grains, and lean meat, fish, and foods that are low in sugar and salt. Organic foods give you the assurance that chemicals have not been used in growing or manufacturing, and sumptuous taste is well worth the additional cost.
For those of us who love to eat, this kind of diet can sound limiting and even harsh. But a walk down different aisles of your supermarket will yield a pleasant surprise. There are delicious vegetable burgers, tasty low fat hot dogs, and dozens of yummy choices for dessert that are lower in calories but not in flavor. Gelatos, sorbets, and frozen yogurts are just a few delicious alternatives waiting for you to try.
You’ll find that a body that you thought was losing it, can look healthier, and younger again as you start thinking outside the box about the foods with which you fuel your body.
Keep Moving – A hundred years ago, daily life demanded physical activity. There were very few cars, elevators, escalators, washing machines, vacuums, or any of the other modern conveniences that make our lives so easy now. So there was no need to go to the gym because daily living required constant activity.
Now with vacuums that move on their own, multi-car families as the rule, subways, high rise buildings that demand use of an elevator, and remotes for everything, you can go through a whole day without moving very much at all.
Lack of movement may seem like a convenience, but is really hazardous to your health. If you don’t use it, you lose it has never been more true. What do you lose? Muscle tone, endurance, and energy are greatly decreased with limited activity.
But with such a busy lifestyle, how can you work in activity without adding hours to the day that you just don’t have? Use half of your lunch hour for a walk. Park further away from the store and walk. If you love to work in the garden, do it often. Consider getting a bicycle and riding with your children. Dance with the vacuum as you clean the house. And my personal favorite, get a dog and go for a walk every day.
Breathe Fresh Air – An 88 year old perky friend of mine keeps her house absolutely frigid. Even in the winter her windows are always open just a little. She attributes her long life and good health to breathing fresh air. Wow I thought.
But where does one get fresh air these days? Depending on where you live, opening the windows may let in more pollutants than fresh air, but the concept of always introducing new indoors is a healthy one.
If opening your windows is not a possibility, a high efficiency particle arresting (or HEPA) air purifier is and excellent solution for keeping the air inside your home fresh, clean and healthy.
HEPA air purifiers can remove pollutants as small as .3 microns includes household dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, pet dander, and bacteria and viruses. All of these are known to trigger respiratory conditions such as allergies and asthma. And filtering your air 24 hours a day is even better than opening the windows because it allows you to keep the temperature comfortable all the time.
Making changes in these three areas of your life with make living healthier fun, and will make life more fun to live.
