Spring is a time of new growth and beginnings. Spring can mean a new beginning for you too, to recommit to a healthier lifestyle.
1. Eat a healthy diet, including a good breakfast.
Good nutrition is key to a healthy body and healthy brain. Experts recommend eating five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. For a healthy body, Stephanie Kalant, DO, a gastroenterologist with RUSH Copley Medical Group, recommends incorporating fish, lean meat, poultry, eggs, beans, peas, nuts and seeds into your diet.
For good brain health, eat broccoli, blueberries, green tea, eggs, oranges, and salmon and foods that contain omega-3.
And don’t forget to start your day off right — eating a healthy breakfast has been associated with better memory, decreased irritability and healthier body weight.
2. Drink plenty of water.
Staying hydrated is important for your overall health. It’s good for your heart, joints, muscles and skin. It also helps improve your memory, mood and motivation.
3. Exercise your body.
Regular physical activity promotes lifelong health and well-being and helps prevent risk factors for heart disease, obesity, Type 2 diabetes and other health conditions. It’s also good for your brain and can help protect against cognitive decline.
Exercise has immediate positive mental effects, such as boosting your mood.
4. Exercise your brain.
Read, do crossword puzzles, learn something new. Challenge your brain daily through work or play and keep it active.
5. Get enough sleep.
From children to older adults, sleep is important for individuals of every age. Lack of sleep can cause mood swings, irritability and difficulty concentrating, learning and problem-solving.
6. Get an annual physical.
Be proactive about your health and talk to your primary care provider about any concerns or new issues. At your annual physical, your provider will help to make sure you are current on immunizations, including tetanus.
7. Limit alcohol and sweet drinks.
Alcohol should be consumed in moderation. Kalant advises no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. You should also watch how many soft drinks and sweetened beverages you’re drinking because they contribute to weight gain and increase your risk for coronary artery disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.
8. Help others.
Studies have shown that volunteering can help lower your blood pressure. It can also help you decrease pain, manage stress, live longer and be happier.
