Work Towards Your Healthiest You With 6 Easy Tips
May 9, 2018
Mother’s Day is also the official start of National Women’s Health Week. Why not celebrate both? This year, take time to do something for yourself by adding these simple health tips into your daily routine. We promise, they’re all easy.
1. Fill up on water
Drinking plenty of water is an easy way to make a big impact. Drinking 8 glasses a day helps keep organs functioning properly, facilitates weight loss, improves energy and helps prevent headaches. With so many benefits, water is a no brainer. Try adding a slice of lemon, lime or orange for a refreshing twist.
2. Watch the salt
Oh, how everyone loves salty snacks! But too much salt isn’t good for our bodies. The extra sodium makes your body retain water and this increases blood pressure. To avoid salt overload, follow this simple rule of thumb: Eat foods that have a 1-to-1 ratio between sodium and calories. So, if a food item has 150 calories, it should have no more than 150 mg of sodium. Overall, you don’t want to have more than 1,500 mg of sodium a day.
3. Control your sugar intake
Sugar is always in the news — and not in a good way. Too much sugar increases blood sugar levels that can lead to Type 2 diabetes or even heart disease. To keep sugar levels down, try to avoid products that list a form of sugar (things ending “syrup” or “ose”) in one of the first five ingredients.
4. Get at least 10 minutes of exercise each day
The most common reason for not exercising is not having enough time. However, studies show that just 10 minutes a day can make a big difference. Here’s a simple routine to try: 1 minute jog in place, 1 minute reverse lunges, 1 minute squats, 1 minute jumping jacks, 1 minute hold plank position. Repeat once.
5. Go to bed
Hopefully this will be the easiest tip to follow. Experts say adult women need between 7-8 hours of quality sleep a night. It’s important. Not only does adequate sleep make you feel better and energized, it helps reduce the risk for high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes.
6. Find the right doctor for you
Most of all, it’s essential to regularly see a physician that you like and that knows your specific health history and needs. If you need a doctor, ACCESS has many to choose from in many convenient locations.
Sources:
As of March 15, 2023