What better gift can you give yourself this Christmas than health? Of course, you can get ill for reasons out of your control, but there is a lot that you can do to help to improve your health. No one enjoys feeling sick, tired, and emotional, especially during the festive season, but these are all feelings that come with living an unhealthy lifestyle. If you want to be happy and healthy this Christmas, then follow the advice below.
DO EAT YOUR GREENS
Fruits and vegetables are a great source of vitamins and minerals, which are essential for fighting off any nasty winter bugs. They are also low in calories and fat, as long as you don’t fry or roast them in fat, so are a great food source if you’re hoping to drop a few pounds over the holidays.
DON’T SKIP MEALS
At first thought, skipping meals does seem like a great way to lose weight, but it’s incredibly unhealthy. Not only will it slow your metabolism, which means you’ll burn off calories slower, but it also reduces muscle mass. Ironically, it’s also been found that people who skip meals tend to consume more calories from snacking, so make sure you eat three full meals a day.
DO EXERCISE REGULARLY
Exercise is important for a number of reasons other than weight loss. You also release endorphins while you’re exercising, which are chemicals in your brain that reduce stress and anxiety. Don’t think that this means that you have to spend hours in the gym though. There are lots of simple exercises that you can do at home.
DON’T TAKE STEROIDS
You might have heard horror stories about steroids, and that’s because they’re all true. Steroids can ruin your physique, make you overly aggressive, and so much more. If you want to gain muscle mass, then do it the right way and the safe way. Don’t put yourself and others at risk for your pecs.
DO DRINK WATER
Dizziness, fever, and rapid heart rate are all common symptoms of dehydration, so why would you risk suffering this when you can just drink some water? Some people don’t like the taste, which is understandable, so add a few piece of fruit to your cup and give it some flavour. You need to drink between 2 and 2.5 litres of water a day.
DON’T BOTTLE UP YOUR FEELINGS
There are lots of reasons why people bottle up their feelings. Perhaps you don’t want to burden someone with your issues, or you’re just too embarrassed to say that there’s something wrong with you. Whatever your reason, it’s always important to talk to people. Otherwise, you could become distant with loved ones and could develop anxiety or depression.
Your aim in life should always be to be physically and mentally healthy, so it’s important to do everything you can to reach this point. However, this isn’t always possible, at least not alone, so you should always speak to a doctor if you think you’re struggling to live healthier or you think you might be ill.
