Top ten tips to keep yourself healthy

Keeping yourself fit and healthy can be difficult, so just exactly what can you do to ensure you experience regular health benefits? Read on for 10 fantastic health tips!

Take fat and salt out of your diet
The excessive consumption of salt and fat in your diet can be a major cause of a number of chronic illnesses that can affect you throughout your life. These problems arise when there is too much salt in your food, which causes high blood pressure and leads to you being three times more likely to develop serious heart disease in your lifetime. It’s thought that two-thirds of British people are currently taking in too much-saturated fats in their diets, which can put you at an increased risk of suffering from heart disease or a stroke.

Keep an eye on your weight
In England alone, nearly four in every ten men are classed as overweight. Obesity is the root cause of 9,000 premature deaths each year, reducing the life expectancy of both men and women by around nine years. Being overweight can lead to several health risks, including heart disease, diabetes and even cancer.

Eating healthier
To gain a healthy and balanced diet, you should try to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Research suggests that eating 400g of fruit and veg daily could lower your risk of health problems.

Have a better night’s sleep
It’s not uncommon for adults to experience sleep problems at some point in their life. It’s thought that around a third of people in the UK suffer from insomnia at some stage. Most healthy adults will sleep for seven to nine hours a night, on average. If you’re not sleeping enough, it will have a serious effect on your relationships (both work and personal) whilst delaying the recovery time from illnesses.

Stop smoking
We all know the damage that smoking can cause, but by simply quitting the health benefits are said to be immediate. After around 20 minutes, your blood pressure and pulse will return to a normal state. In 24 hours, your lungs begin to clear up. The continued stay away from cigarettes will add years to your life. Research has shown that people who quit smoking can add up to 10 years to their life.

Check your lumps
It’s thought that one in three people in England will be diagnosed with a form of cancer at some time in their lives. Cancer usually affects the older population, yet it can occur at any age. Detecting these deadly diseases sooner rather than later increases the chance of survival. If you notice a small change in your body, like a mole, unexplained weight loss and lumps, be sure to get checked over for cancer. It could save your life.

Cut down on your alcohol consumption
It’s not uncommon for people to drink more than recommended, yet only a few know about the long term health problems linked with excessive drinking. Diseases such as strokes, heart attacks and some cancers are all linked to the overconsumption of alcohol. It’s thought that men who drink more than three to four units of alcohol a day (regularly) are three times more likely to experience a stroke.

Get more exercise
Exercise can provide several health benefits and these aren’t limited to just weight loss. Even if you have a slim physique, you can still receive several benefits from simple exercises. Even a small amount of activity can lower the risk of developing major diseases such as coronary heart disease, strokes and diabetes by a massive 50%. Maintaining a regular exercise scheme can cut the risk of suffering a premature death by a considerable 20%+.

Stress is a problem
In 2010 alone, around 400,000 people within the UK reported that work-related stress was making them ill. Several psychological problems, which include stress, are behind one in five visits to a GP. If they’re left unchecked, the level of stress can skyrocket, causing further health problems such as high blood pressure, depression and anxiety.

Get tested
A major side effect of STDs is that sometimes there are little to no symptoms, which can be dangerous considering the side effects the diseases hold. For example, if Chlamydia is left untreated it can have a direct effect on a woman’s ability to conceive a child. Remember to get checked regularly to maintain a clean, healthy sex life.

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