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10 Habits for a Healthy Life

10 Habits for a Healthy LifeSeems like a new study comes out everyday telling us what to eat, drink do, it’s enough to make your head spin. Here’s what experts say has true staying power, and how to easily follow their insights.

  1. Don’t Sit
    The more you sit, the greater your health risks, even if you regularly hit the gym. A Kansas State University study published last year found that men who sat more than four hours a day were much more likely to report having a chronic disease such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure. One theory is that sitting for long periods reduces blood flow to the brain and heart.
  2. Don’t Worry About Your Water Intake
    While water is crucial for your overall health, the good news is you don’t have to carry a water bottle everywhere. There’s an often-repeated standard to drink eight glasses of water daily, but it’s unclear where that came from. In the reviewing of research studies, there is zero research to support the claim that forcing down more water than you would drink normally flushes your body of toxins, improves skin tone, or helps you lose weight. Let thirst be your guide. If you’re healthy, there’s no reason to drink extra water. Also, fruits and veggies, iced coffee, and tea can help you hydrate. Studies show that if you have caffeine regularly, your body adjusts, and it doesn’t have a significant diuretic effect.
  3. Exercise to Avoid Brain Drain
    Remember less as the years go by? You’re not imagining things: Your memory declines about 2 percent each decade because your hippocampus (the part of your brain that stores memories) literally shrinks. But you can even the playing field by keeping up with regular exercise. A third of your brain is made up of blood vessels, so it makes sense that your physical fitness impacts your brain health. Research shows that after a yearlong exercise program, the size of the hippocampus increases by about 2 percent, which effectively reverses age-related brain loss.
  4. Eat Your Dark Green Leafy Veggies Every Day
    Spinach, kale, chard, and other leafy greens have the highest amounts of lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that studies show protect your eyes against diseases such as cataracts or macular degeneration. They seem to shield your eyes from harmful UV rays. Other good sources include egg yolks, corn, orange peppers, kiwi, grapes, and zucchini.
  5. Go Mediterranean in the way that you eat.
    Focus your foods around whole grains, fruits and veggies, legumes, and nuts; have fatty fish like salmon at least twice a week; and limit red meat to once a week. A Mediterranean-style diet lowers the risk of both heart disease and diabetes, probably because it’s so high in polyphenols and ‘good’ monounsaturated fats. A Harvard study published in February found that people who followed a Mediterranean diet had a 43 percent lower risk of weight gain and a 35 percent lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome (a condition that ups the risk of both type 2 diabetes and heart disease).
  6. Grab a Tape Measure and Check Your Waist
    It’s not about BMI anymore, all the current research now shows that the biggest health risk is belly fat. To keep disease risk low, experts say a measurement of under 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men is best. Research has found that women who have waists over 37 inches have an 80 percent higher risk of various conditions, including heart disease and cancer. The best way to keep your number in check: Regular exercise, ideally, 45 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity three times a week, and three 15-to-20-minute sessions of resistance training.
  7. Reconsider the Multivitamin
    Doctors used to recommend them, but then we realized they aren’t necessarily right for everyone. And some research has suggested there may be drawbacks.: The Iowa Women’s Health Study showed that women who took multivitamins faced a slightly higher risk of death than those who didn’t. As long as you eat a well-balanced diet that includes at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, you’re most likely fine. If you can’t manage the five, try a whole food-based supplement, which is a powder concentrate of fruits, veggies, and whole grains. That way, you get the foods closer to their natural state, as well as antioxidants and nutrients not found in a multi.
  8. …But Get Your Vitamin Ds and Omega-3s
    About 60 percent of us have too-low levels of vitamin D, finds study after study, and that’s been linked to a higher risk of many diseases. At your next checkup, have your levels tested so you can figure out how much D you need to take. While you can get some D from foods, it’s usually not enough: Three ounces of salmon has 447 IU, a cup of fortified OJ about 137, and a cup of nonfat milk about 115. Because vitamin D is fat-soluble, experts advise taking it with a meal containing fat, ideally the largest meal of the day. You should also consider taking omega-3 fatty acids because research has linked them to so many key benefits, from a lower risk of heart disease and cancer to a better mood.
  9. Snack on Dark Chocolate, Tea, and Berries
    This trio is rich in flavonoids, and a study done in the England of nearly 2,000 healthy women shows that those who had the highest flavonoid intake had lower levels of insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes. What’s more, flavonoids can help reduce inflammation, which is associated with a host of diseases including cancer. Tea and berries won’t wreak havoc on your healthy eating efforts, but keep the chocolate in check. Look for bars that are at least 70 percent cacao, and aim to eat no more than one ounce, (usually a small square) daily.
  10. Take a Technology Time-Out
    Research shows that being plugged in 24/7 stresses us out: If you’re continuously checking your e-mail, you’re more likely to ruminate about work-related issues, and you’re not connecting face-to-face with family and friends. In fact, studies show people who surf the Web and/or text within two hours before bedtime report higher stress levels than those who tune out of the cyberspace.
One Response to 10 Habits for a Healthy Life
  1. Jordan
    July 9, 2015 | 10:32 am

    Some great tips here. It’s important to separate facts about your health from often quoted but never verified stuff – like the 8 glasses of water a day thing. It’s important to keep yourself hydrated, but you don’t have to drink an exact number a day like that!

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