Tips on how to embrace a healthy lifestyle

MANILA, Philippines - The New Year always inspires new beginnings and new resolutions to do better. This 2010, why not develop and adopt good habits that could help improve your health and well-being? Here are some tips on how to embrace a healthy lifestyle:

Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation has a number of bad effects on health. Chronic sleep deprivation may impair memory, increase blood pressure, and even cause weight gain.

Aside from giving your body a rest, sleeping also helps the brain improve memory and learning. Getting enough sleep also enhances alertness and focus. As an adult, try to get seven to eight hours of sleep.

To help you get to sleep well, keep your room dark and take your mind off work or anything that can stimulate your brain. Playing some relaxing music and having a light snack before going to bed can also help in inducing sleep.

Avoid tobacco; moderate alcohol. Improve your health by avoiding tobacco and consuming alcohol in moderate amounts. Smoking weakens the immune system and damages the lungs. Too much alcohol, on the other hand, damages the liver and brain cells.

Manage stress. Learn how to manage your workload and your time properly so that you don’t get more stress than necessary. Set aside time to forget responsibilities and have fun. Get involved in relaxing activities like meditation and yoga classes, or take up a relaxing hobby.

Studies also show that spending time with your loved ones, receiving emotional support, and making positive social connections can lower stress levels as well. These also help regulate insulin and maintain a healthy immune system.

Boost workouts. Studies show that working out helps in increasing the endurance and strength of muscles. It also helps improves one’s health by strengthening the heart muscle, lowering blood pressure, and preventing heart disease.

To avoid straining your muscles, start with simple exercises like walking and jogging. It’s recommended to allot 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic activity at least three times a week to stay fit.

Combining regular exercise and a proper diet will efficiently reduce body fat, improve your body’s ability to use calories, and manage your weight.

Choose healthier foods. The right foods provide for your nutritional needs and help you manage your weight. Eat more whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. Choose lean cuts of meat, or even better, eat more fish or chicken. These foods are low in fat and cholesterol and contain vitamins and minerals that the body needs to function properly.

Proper food portions. Most of us eat more food than what our bodies actually need. The more food we eat, the more calories we gain — and all the extra calories, the ones we don’t burn through physical activity and get stored as fat.

We can still enjoy the foods we like but in healthy portions. For example, you could share your burger with a friend, or eat half now and bring home the rest — for you or someone else to enjoy later.

Research on the Internet or better yet, consult a dietitian to establish the right food portion sizes for you.

Snack for health. Instead of three huge meals a day, try eating small meals with light healthy snacks in-between. Examples of healthy snacks include fruits, vegetables, and cereals.

Nesvita Cereal Milk Drink is a healthy mix of milk, cereal fiber, and vitamins that help us feel beautiful inside and out. It provides calcium that makes teeth and bones strong, as well as vitamins A and C that enhance immunity. It also contains vitamins B1, B2, and B6 for energy.

Available in Original, Choco Malt, and Sweet Corn flavors, Nesvita Cereal Milk Drink also helps in maintaining a healthy digestive system. It contains fiber that helps get rid of body wastes and regulates bowel movement.