General Health and Well-being
Many regard health to be their most valuable asset as it is the determing factor for what kind of lifestyle they can lead. The choices you make each day affect how you feel and how you perform, which in turn affects everything you do.
With the hectic pace of modern living, many people are finding themselves increasingly busy with less time to spend on themselves, but with just a few simple changes to your lifestyle, you could be leading a longer, healthier and a much more enjoyable life.
How can I stay healthy?
Maintaining good health is not just caring about the outside of your body. Most people fail to remember that health and well being actually starts from within and what you put into your body will have a great impact on what you get out of it.
Consuming a well balanced diet is vital for health, as it will ensure that the body has the optimum intake of vitamins, minerals and trace elements to remain healthy.
Nutritional deficiencies and poor health were once associated with poverty, but now in some cases the opposite is true. Food is plentiful and freely available to most, but it is the quality of food that is important, not the quantity. Many people today consume too much food but are under-nourished.
Surveys conducted in Britain show that a large number of the population fail to consume the recommended daily amounts (RDAs) of various nutrients set in the Uk and deficiency diseases are now increasingly reappearing. Vitamin D and iron deficiencies are now fairly common amongst the UK population.
Diet plays a key role in maintaining a healthy immune system, our first defence against bacteria, viruses and toxins from damaging the body. If our immune system is compromised we can become ill, so it is important to eat correctly to help build up our immunity.
Foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, fish and wholegrains contain high levels of immune boosting nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, trace elements and essential fatty acids. The Department of Health recommends consuming at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day. One portion is equal to 80g
DID YOU KNOW………..
65% of men and 56% of women are overweight in the UK (2005)
You could also improve your lifestyle by taking regular exercise. Not only will this help you to stay a healthy weight, it will also reduce the chance of developing many common conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
Many people are leading increasingly busy, hectic and stressful lives, which leaves them with little or no time to spend cooking and preparing meals. Convenience meals and snacks are often highly processed which can deplete them of their nutrients. Stress can also have an impact on your nutrient stores as it can speed up the use of valuable vitamins and minerals. A combination vitamin, mineral and trace element supplement will help to maintain adequate levels of important nutrients.
Antioxidants, such as Vitamins C and E, Zinc and Selenium help to quench free radicals that potentially could damage body cells and are linked to degenerative disease. They are also important for maintaining a healthy immune system. Those who do not consume a balanced diet may not be getting a sufficient intake and a supplement may be required.
Most of the body’s immune cells are contained in the digestive tract; therefore healthy digestion is essential to our overall health and well-being. Probiotics are directly involved with our immune cells and have a role in keeping bad bacteria at bay in the digestive tract. Take a supplement that contains at least a guaranteed 4 billion bacteria.
DID YOU KNOW …….
18 million sick days and 30,000 deaths a year in England alone are caused by obesity
Do you have ……
- Dry/greasy or blemished skin?
- Soft/breakable nails?
- Dry hair?
- A flaky scalp?
Dry skin, hair and nails are often a tell-tale sign that you may be lacking certain nutrients.
Essential fatty acids, such as the omega-3 and omega-6 fats help to regulate the level of sebum (oil) in the skin and to maintain healthy soft and clear skin. They are also good for the scalp, hair and nails. Fish oil and flaxseed oil contain a rich source of these fatty acids.
Zinc is a component of 300 enzymes and proteins in the body and is involved in growth and repair of hair shafts and nail cuticles. There is some evidence that white flecks often seen on the nails are a sign of a zinc deficiency.
Iron is an important mineral which is important for good hair and nail growth. Thinning hair and soft and spoon-shaped or ridged nails can be a sign of low iron status.
Ways to stay healthy
- Eat a well balanced diet
- Reduce saturated fat, salt and sugar intake
- Take regular exercise
- Reduce alcohol consumption
- Stop smoking
- Drink 8 glasses of water daily
- Get plenty of sleep (around 8 hours daily)
