Making improvements to our health is achievable through a variety of approaches. Going too extreme in one direction or another is ill-advised. A natural progression, step-by-step, usually yields better medium- to long-term results.
Here are four ways to improve your outlook for better health over time.
1. Rule Out Food Allergies
Many of us have annoying food allergies that give us upset stomachs and other symptoms which can cause serious discomfort. Often, we make the mistake of not investigating or getting tested for allergies to isolate what foods are causing problems.
A good food allergy test Bangkok is one to take when staying in Thailand or vacationing there. It’s inexpensive and doesn’t take long to complete. The results will be useful when choosing what and where to eat in the future. When you isolate any food allergies and actively avoid those food types, you’ll feel healthier almost immediately once the bad foods are out of your system.
2. Walk 5 Days a Week
If you don’t regularly exercise, then it’s never a bad day to start. While your muscles might be tight and need stretching out, if you keep the exercise to some light daily walking, it won’t push your body too much. Daily walking for 20 to 30 minutes is an excellent way to breathe in some fresh air, change your outlook and get your heart pumping.
After you’ve gotten used to walking, the happy endorphin rush will hit you. It’s not necessary to push too hard to hit that state either. Along with feeling good about your improving physical health, it’s been shown that even light regular exercise is helpful to reduce depressive episodes. It pulls you out of a low mood because it’s hard to look sad while walking! Sounds crazy but it’s true.
3. Watch Your Calories
Along with avoiding known food allergies, it’s a good idea to see what your weekly eating plan looks like. If you’re anything like most people, it can go a bit haywire during the working week if you’re not careful about what you eat.
Plan your meals out during the week when you know there won’t be time to prepare them. Choose healthier options that still satisfy your hunger. Also, be careful about sugary drinks and snacks because they can add a surprising number of extra calories.
4. Try Yoga
Yoga has been found to open the mind in ways that regular exercise doesn’t. It can elongate the frame, add suppleness through small movements and deliver health benefits, which are surprising to people who’ve never tried it.
Mastering the many different yoga poses can take years of disciplined practice. It’s an excellent work out because moving into a position, holding it steady and then gracefully exiting it to transition into the next one takes poise, muscle strength, and control. It certainly is harder than it looks.
Mastering your mind and body to achieving a healthier outlook isn’t something that happens overnight. However, with focused effort, subtle changes lead to significant functional improvements given enough time.