Living A Holistic Life Style

February 1st, 2016

What Are the Benefits of Living a Healthy Lifestyle?

| By Gail Morris

author image Gail Morris
Gail Morris has been writing extensively since 1997. She completed a master’s degree in nursing at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and practiced in medicine for more than 20 years. Morris has published medical articles in peer-reviewed journals and now writes for various online publications and freelances for Internet marketers.
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Fast foods are a tempting way to cut corners but cause significant health problems. Photo Credit BBS United/Photodisc/Getty Images

Overview

Living a healthy lifestyle can be a challenge when you are faced with processed foods, lack of time for exercise and going out with friends. Too many options are available for fast food, poor exercise choices and alcoholic beverages that negate other healthier lifestyle choices you may have made. There are significant benefits to improving the way in which you live so you can have a healthier and longer life.

Disease Prevention

One of the long-term benefits of living a healthier lifestyle is the prevention of diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. According to MayoClinic, these changes can be difficult. Even though you may understand the relationship between eating specific foods and your risk for heart disease, it can be difficult to undo years of unhealthy eating habits. However, the benefit is the prevention of arthritis, osteoporosis, stroke, diabetes and other immune-mediated illnesses that are affected by the dietary and lifestyle choices we make every day.

 

Injury Prevention

Living a healthy lifestyle includes paying close attention to safety issues that may increase your potential for being injured. For instance, according to FamilyDoctor.org, using appropriate lifting techniques when weight lifting will help to prevent back injuries that can plague you for the remainder of your life. Other smart lifestyle choices include wearing a helmet when bike riding, wearing seatbelts in the car and using appropriate safety gear when playing sports.

Increased Energy

Changing lifestyle choices and eating healthy food are not about being unrealistically thin but rather about having more energy and staying as healthy as possible. According to HelpGuide.org, eating smart is about both what you eat and how you eat. Eating healthy can boost your energy levels and allow you to participate in more activities on a daily basis. According to a study at the University of Georgia, researchers found overwhelming evidence that regular exercise also plays a role in increasing energy levels and reducing fatigue. Researcher Patrick O’Connor, from the exercise physiology laboratory at the University of Georgia, commented that while people may not want to exercise while fatigued, a bit more activity will often help to reduce feelings of fatigue and exhaustion.

Healthy Weight

The healthy lifestyle choices of stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake and eating a well-balanced diet that is high in fruits and vegetables and low in processed foods and fats will help to maintain a healthy weight. According to the Cleveland Clinic, reducing weight to within normal limits can also significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and improve overall health and well-being.

Good Mental Health

Your mental health also depends upon your healthy lifestyle choices. According to HelpGuide.org, eating well and exercising can help defend against depression and will sharpen your memory and stabilize your mood. By learning to expand your range of food choices and make smart lifestyle decisions, such as reducing or eliminating alcohol from the diet and stopping smoking, you can benefit with an improved mood and a better outlook on life.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/289651-what-are-the-benefits-of-living-a-healthy-lifestyle/