Concerned friends, countless blogs and colorful prevention posters are incessantly warning about a “healthy lifestyle”. Health is trendy, but let’s be honest: Why is a healthy lifestyle important? The simple answer is: Health increases the quality of life and even increases life expectancy, says the Max Planck Society.
A healthy lifestyle is therefore not an achievement that you have to perform, but serves your well-being. We’ll take a closer look at this connection for you: Which factors make up a healthy lifestyle? What are the mechanisms behind it? And how can you increase your well-being in everyday life?
5 FACTORS FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
By: “The dedicated engineer”.
# 1 MOVEMENT STRENGTHENS MUSCULATURE AND THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
Regular exercise is one of the most important factors in a healthy lifestyle. There are many reasons for this: Sport strengthens the muscles and thus protects the skeleton from excessive and incorrect strain. The metabolism is boosted sustainably while the blood pressure drops. Physical activity prevents cardiovascular diseases. It also has a mood-enhancing effect because happiness hormones and immune-strengthening messenger substances are released.
Three to five hours of moderate endurance sports – swimming, running, dancing, cycling – are sufficient to achieve these positive effects. Regular everyday exercise, such as climbing stairs and walking, is also good for you.
# 2 SLEEP GRANTS MENTAL RELAXATION AND PHYSICAL REGENERATION
Sleep provides relaxation and even slows down aging processes. The body and brain work at full speed at night: A high concentration of growth hormones ensures that stored metabolic products are broken down and injuries in the body tissue are healed. The memory hardly needs to absorb external stimuli and can thus process the information of the day.
Therefore, a regular sleep routine according to your individual needs makes a big contribution to well-being. The recovery and growth processes enable development and regeneration. Both children and adults should get enough sleep. However, enough is not measured in hours, but in the fact that you feel rested and powerful during the day.
# 3 FOOD IS YOUR FOUNDATION
A balanced diet makes a significant contribution to a healthy lifestyle and forms the basis of your well-being. The food should provide your body with all the vital substances it needs for a strong nervous and immune system. A wholesome diet with fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as sufficient whole grain cereals and pulses is ideal. These foods are easy to metabolize and do not burden your body. Be careful not to do too much damage to him. Reduce the consumption of additives and preservatives, alcohol, nicotine, and refined sugar as much as possible. (You can find more detailed information on this topic in our article: Healthy Eating)
# 4 THE PARASYMPATHETIC PROTECTS AGAINST CONTINUOUS STRESS
The autonomic nervous system has a lot to say about health. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves act as opponents for a balanced relationship between tension and relaxation and thereby regulate digestion, circulation and the immune system. In everyday life, the sympathetic – the tension system – is often overly active. He reacts to the high density of stimuli, time pressure and stress. The parasympathetic nervous system – the relaxation system – is neglected. The lack of rest phases then cause an imbalance in the hormonal balance, permanent stress and emotional imbalances. This is followed by physical symptoms, such as indigestion, high blood pressure and an increased risk of infection.
Set counter-impulses by specifically activating your parasympathetic nervous system: Treat yourself and your sympathetic nervous system to quiet time-outs, spend time with yourself, practice yoga and meditation, or go for a walk in the fresh air. Extensive stretching and yawning in between also ensure more relaxation in everyday life.
# 5 SOCIAL CONTACTS AND OPTIMISM STRENGTHEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Scientific studies prove the influence of social inclusion and a positive attitude on life satisfaction. So for your well-being, pay attention to the people you surround yourself with and how you view life. Maintain friendships not out of a sense of obligation, but in such a way that you feel comfortable and secure in them. The same applies to your views: Which give you pleasure and which make life difficult for you? Try to break away from negative thoughts and connections and instead develop strengthening perspectives and social relationships. This promotes stress reduction and sometimes even alleviates physical inflammation processes
HOW DO YOU COME TO MORE WELL-BEING IN EVERYDAY LIFE?
The essential factors of a healthy lifestyle show that a holistic definition of health must include both the body and the psyche. Both are closely linked via your nervous, hormonal and immune systems. Physical illnesses also cause emotional pain and mental discomfort. In addition, psychological states such as fear and stress influence body functions and can cause organic diseases in the long term. These interactions require that you take your mental and physical wellbeing equally important.
A strict fitness plan that puts you under mental pressure will not improve your quality of life. It’s about bringing the different aspects into a balance that suits you and doesn’t require too much effort. In this way, you can gradually achieve more health and well-being in everyday life.
