According to Researchers, about 40 % of our daily activities are habitual. If life is habitual, predictable all the more so, and so is success or / and failure. We should therefore strive to develop the habits that will enable us have a lifestyle that is beneficial to us, and one that will make us enjoy our future. This passes over to our families and kids.   

Apparently, the consumption of sugars in the country has increased so sharply! This has translated to rise in cases of Diabetes and ailments caused by this kind of lifestyle. The main cause of this is the choice of foods that we love so much. This affects the most productive group in the society – the 25 year olds. They would rather have the junk snacks and fast foods than prepare a proper meal in the kitchen, or even have a healthy snack.

The result is:

• Fatigue
• Diabetic Coma – Due to Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia
• Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms
• Alteration of the tissues of the skin, and eventual loss of lower limbs
• Failure of the kidney among others?
• Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

What works for you? Unless you carefully review your lifestyle and identify the habitual trends that derail you from reaching your goals of maintaining a healthy diet while meeting your nutritional needs, you may not achieve much. This is because it is quite difficult to change a habit.

These habits are:

1. Be Active
2. Eat Wholesome Foods
3. Think Positively to avoid Stress
4. Specify your goals and come up with a clear-cut way of achieving them
5. Keeping Track of Success – Journal
6. Avoiding Salty and Bad Sugars
7. The mandatory – Lots of water and vegetables

Expounding on the 7 Habits of Good Health and Nutrition Lifestyle

1. Be active

Exercise works wonders to the whole being. You will enjoy the benefits derived from the work out. Strive to practice at least three times a day. The people who do aerobic exercises regularly rarely suffer from common lifestyle diseases like Obesity, Diabetes and even Common Cold. Research has also shown that these conditions are actually cured due to exercises, even when medication is not involved. Keeping fit also leads to improvement of the persistent ailments like hypertension, and asthma. Individuals who use Asthma Inhalers have stopped using them after engaging in exercises. That is the best health condition and prevention one would wish for!

Is your schedule too busy? Do not make excuses. Take the stairs instead of a lift, walk instead of driving or boarding a vehicle, and perform household chores like cleaning the floor of your house yourself.

However, don’t give yourself a heart attack by involving yourself in vigorous exercises and then indulging in junk, fatty foods, drinking alcohol and overeating! This affects the metabolism negatively.

• Eat wholesome foods. 

These are foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. They don’t have any additives.  

The benefits of wholesome foods to the health of an individual are

• They contain high levels of minerals and vitamins
• The body’s immunity is boosted immensely
• Add to red and white blood cells, and therefore keeping Anemia and other cardiovascular ailments and diseases away.
• Leads to increased strength in bones
• Keeps the cholesterol levels low, and thus lead to the control of hypertension and diabetes
• Reduces the risk of hemorrhoids and cancer of the colon
• Improves and maintains the skin and hair
• Improves the eye sight among other advantages.

The rich sources of wholesome foods include whole grains, tubers, nuts,

• Thinking Positive to avoid Stress

 You’ll have numerous opportunities and challenges. How you react to that makes all the difference. We looked at how to be successful in all spheres of life. You will achieve total success by leading a balanced life.

While at it, feed your mind and soul with inspiring books, great music and beautiful art or scenery.

• Define your specific goals in your program for the good health & nutrition

You need to list your goals in order to stay focused to your course. Unless you have a clear, defined course of action, you will deviate, or be derailed from the objectives / goals.

Many of us set goals, but very few take them to completion. Unless you deliberately note them down, and purpose to

• Keeping Track of your Success – Journal

Monitor your progress regularly and note your achievements. This makes you to stay focused and constantly reminds you of your goals. The effect is constant motivation and staying on course to achieve that one main goal you have set, without distractions and deviations from shiny objects and / or other seemingly important but derailing tasks. If you are not focused, with a defined course of action, then people will derail you too. You will be working towards achieving their lives’ mission, while you lose track of your main purpose in life.

When you note down everything you do, you will be motivated, and the passion to pursue your goals, say like losing 10 kgs in 6 weeks. And remaining productive and healthy while you are at it!

• Watch how you use Salt

Moderating your regular salt intake will help regulate the overall use of sodium in the body thus helping to prevent ailments related to a high intake.

Sodium is an integral mineral in the body.  The health benefits include enhancing contraction of muscles, aid in breakdown of foods by the enzymes and regulation of body fluids. However, if taken in excess, or in “bad”, processed state and form, it becomes harmful to the body.

The main source of the excess salt is deep-fried foodstuff and processed chows. They are so unhealthy because of their ingredients – they contain lots of calories that cause Obesity and other lifestyle diseases. According to research, one just needs about 2,300 mgs of salt (approximately 5 grams of pure salt).

The sources of extra salt are pizzas, chips, salted biscuits, ketchups, sauces, preserved soups, chocolates, canned foods, baked products dried meat products among others.

This is because the most commonly used preservatives are salt and sugar. When taken in excess, while in the junk foods, it compromises these benefits of sodium and lead to common ailments.

These junk foods, salts and sugars should be avoided altogether. Let’s get the sodium from the natural foods that provide this mineral. The beneficial sources include guavas, carrots, tomatoes, eggs, whole meal bread, cereals and grains. Other sources include fruits and vegetables. We will discuss veggies in the next point.

• The mandatory – Lots of water and vegetables

Another major cause of slowing down of metabolism is not drinking enough water. Apparently, more than 70% of us are not drinking water.

It is also impossible to lose weight without taking water. Hunger is triggered when you are thirsty. That is why it is advisable to take a glass of water whenever you feel hungry, and assess whether you are really hungry or it is just dehydration. The water taken also reduces the food portions, hence, you eat less.

The body will require different amounts of water depending on your size, what you do on a day to day basis and your body structure. However, everyone needs at least 8 glasses of water everyday.

Veggies are a good source of roughage, fiber, minerals and vitamins. These are essential for the general healthy diet to meet the required nutritional needs.   

Conclusion of the 7 Habits of Good Health and Nutrition Lifestyle

Lead a balanced life to avoid getting lifestyle diseases in old age. This will take discipline and adherence to good habits that will help you achieve your set goals.

Know exactly what you want and document it, watch what you eat to meet your nutritional needs, avoid stress and junk, salty foods. When you reach a certain milestone, reward yourself to celebrate your gains so that you get motivated to maintain the 7 habits of good health and nutrition lifestyle.