Exercising and making dietary changes are often two sure-fire ways to improve our health.
Unfortunately, it is truly much easier said than done.
Making lasting health changes to our lifestyles is no easy feat. It requires the introduction and development of new habits which can be significantly different to what we have traditionally done in the past.
Additionally, for these habits to stick, they need to be both simple and manageable, fitting in seamlessly with our daily routines.
The following tips provide 5 easy ways to introduce healthy habits into your current lifestyle without making any large and unsustainable changes to your current routine!
Tip 1: Drink more green tea
Green tea consumption has been shown to have a number of positive effects on various markers of health, and implementing it into your daily routine is simple – all it takes is drinking one or two cups of green tea per day!
The increased consumption of green tea has been linked to increases in both metabolic rate and fat metabolism, which can lead to an increased rate of fat loss over time. Furthermore, drinking green tea has shown to reduce the risk of developing type II diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer.
See Also: 4 Best Teas To Help You Lose Weight
Tip 2: Substitute snack foods for fresh fruit
Whether at home or at work, having snacks readily available to stave away our hunger is very commonplace. Unfortunately, most of these snacks are high in processed carbohydrates, sugars, and preservatives (yes, even those ‘health food’ bars).
By simply trading these snacks in for fresh fruit, we can significantly reduce our daily energy consumption while also reducing the amount of processed carbohydrates we consume. As an added bonus, fruit is full of micronutrients that influence health positively and improve immune system function!
Tip 3: Add veggies to ALL your meals
While this may sound like a lot of effort, it actually isn’t. By simply adding vegetables to the meals you are already cooking, you will not only add extra flavor to those meals, but also increase your consumption of essential vitamins and minerals.
These vitamins and minerals can have a number of positive health benefits, including increased cardiovascular functioning, and improved memory.
Tip 4: Break up long periods of sitting
Whether at home or at work, it is easy to fall into long periods of sitting without even noticing. Unfortunately, when we sit for long periods, our body stops secreting a hormone called Lipoprotein Lipase (which acts as a key fat burning hormone).
By standing up and doing a small amount of exercise (a brief walk, a few stretches etc.) in between longer bouts of sitting or lying down we can continue to stimulate Lipoprotein Lipase secretion. This is something we can do easily at work or at home that takes very little time and also has the potential to provide the additionally cardiovascular benefits associated with exercise.
Tip 5: Stay hydrated
It seems quite logical that if the human body is approximately 70% water, keeping well hydrated will promote optimal functioning. Unfortunately, not nearly enough of us even get close to drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water per day!
This is unfortunate as staying in a state of dehydration can limit cell functioning and lower our immune system. Fortunately, it is easy to rectify. By simply carrying around a drink bottle with us at work and home, and taking regular sips, we are much likely to consume enough water throughout the day without even realizing it!
See Also: Top 5 Tips On How To Stay Hydrated
In Conclusion
Maintaining and promoting a healthy lifestyle does not have to be difficult. By introducing these simple and easy to implement tips into your current daily routine, you can maximize your health with minimal effort!