Are you on a health drive or are you keen to take more of an interest in healthy living? If you have children, it’s never too early to adopt good habits, and encourage your kids to make healthy choices. If you search online for healthy living tips, you’ll come across hundreds of pages, and this can make it tricky to break down information and identify the essentials. The good news is that we’ve done it for you. Here are some easy peasy steps you can take to better family health.
Pay more attention to your diet
Your diet is essential at every stage of life. Your body relies on you to take in foods that contain the vital nutrients it needs to function properly every day. When you eat, you don’t just provide your body with fuel. If you eat the right foods, you’ll also be ensuring that you have access to the vitamins and minerals that will keep you healthy and free from illness. When you think about menu planning, make sure you have a balanced diet. Don’t cut out food groups, or hope for the best with fad diets to try and lose weight quickly. Stick to a healthy eating plan, which incorporates foods from every group, and will provide you with nutritious meals that you enjoy eating. Increase your intake of whole grains, keep an eye on your sugar and salt intake, and swap frying for grilling or roasting. Pay attention to serving suggestions, and don’t continue to eat if you feel full. Aim for five portions of fruit and vegetables per day. If you’re not a chef, and you’re struggling for ideas, you’ll find loads of simple recipes online.
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Keep up to date with health checks
Prevention is always better than cure, so make sure you’re all up to date with health and dental checks. If you do have problems between scheduled appointments, don’t wait, as many health issues get worse with time. If you have a toothache, for example, call your dentist and make an appointment as soon as possible. If you notice that your energy levels have dropped or you’ve got a persistent cough, get in touch with the local clinic or use an online service such as Babylon to speak to a doctor about your symptoms. Ensure children attend routine vaccination appointments and health and development checks.
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Get active
One of the main problems facing modern families is inactivity. We spend more time in front of a TV or computer screen than ever before. If you want to get healthier, one of the first things you should do is try and be more active as a family. Walk to the shops instead of taking the car and spend your weekends playing soccer in the garden or frisbee at the park. Go for bike rides instead of playing computer games or take the dog for a walk together. The more active you are, the lower your risk of illnesses such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
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If healthy living hasn’t been a priority in the past, don’t worry. It’s never too late to make changes. Follow these easy peasy steps, and you’ll notice a difference in no time.