informative essay: "how to live a healthy life."
1
Name of Student
Name of Institution Date
Date
How to Live A Healthy Life
People try to live healthy lifestyles to reduce the risk of diseases. Their lifestyles are extended as a result. It is imperative to have a healthy body and mind. The body is subject to disease due to unsatisfactory conditions such as an unhealthy diet. Using illegal drugs is also a significant cause of illness. Excessive consumption of alcohol or tobacco is among one of the biggest causes of cancer. It has been proven that poor physical health is a factor that leads to uncomfortable lives. They also become obese and can have cardiovascular diseases. Efforts have been made to encourage people to live healthier lives. This makes them live comfortable and longer lives. As a result, the young generation is also motivated to live healthy lives. The paper addresses different ways to ensure that someone is living a healthy life by observing various health routines and diet.
In the past and present, many people have been heavy smokers. Tobacco is legal in many countries and is smoked on a massive scale. People who are smoking risk contracting cancer of the respiratory system. "Tobacco contains lethal substances such as nicotine and tar" (Cope, Graham 4). They are also more susceptible to heart conditions and respiratory diseases. Most of the time, they experience shortness of breath when they try exercising. What is disturbing is that those who are around smokers are also affected. An increased risk of getting respiratory diseases is evident—pregnant mothers who smoke risk having premature or unhealthy children. Smoking near a recently born infant can lead to infant death. It has been noted that children who have parents who smoke tend to become smokers when they grow up. Hence people should stop smoking to keep their offspring safe. Quitting smoking is difficult. Withdrawal symptoms such as an increase in appetite lead to people gaining weight. They should exercise more and reduce their food intake. By knowing what triggers smoking and substituting it, people have stopped smoking. They have been able to live healthier lives.
Everyone should do physical exercise. People of all ages should exercise regularly. Exercise will improve blood circulation to the heart and brain. The body hence becomes healthier. In today's society, most people who work in offices risk having bad posture and body issues. Most of them sit on chairs for their entire working hours. Their bodies have a low breakdown of accumulated fat due to low energy expenditure. The muscles and joints are adversely affected when people sit in bad postures for extended periods. Joint and back pains occur. Deep vein thrombosis and diabetes are caused by extended sitting. Improper circulation of blood through the legs causes deep vein thrombosis. Diabetes is caused when the proportion of insulin the body does not break down sugar effectively. Most companies have put up policies that encourage people to exercise regularly. These organizations hold joint gym membership and sporting events to improve the health of their employees. It is advisable to exercise regularly through jogging, playing a sport or going to the gym. "According to science, people should exercise even if they have lost weight" (Lee-Baggley 31). One has to aim to exercise at least twice weekly.
Eating healthy foods is essential to the well-being of the body and mind. People should add more vegetables and fruits to their diet intake (Medawar, Huhn, Villringer, & Witte, 1-17). Many cultures encourage people to eat large quantities of meat. For example, the African American community has a culture of eating soul food. Most soul food contains a high caloric and meat content. As a result, the majority of elderly and adults suffer from obesity. When people who are obese smoke or consume alcohol, their life expectancy reduces. A healthy diet should consist of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy the body needs. Hence they should be in large quantities. Starchy food prevents constipation. Proteins repair broken-down muscles. These foods are suitable for athletes. Vitamins and minerals build the body's immunity system. By eating healthy diets, people reduce their chances of getting obesity and heart diseases.
Consumption of alcohol is an activity that many people do today. Drinking small amounts of alcohol does not cause a lot of health issues. However, many people tend to consume excess alcohol regularly. Negative health implications happen on the body. They include high blood pressure, liver cirrhosis, and cancer. Alcoholics usually do not have control of their lives. Most of them end up being violent in their homes. As a result, they have broken families. Intoxicated alcoholics cause the majority of road accidents. “People should try to fight cravings that can lead to habits such as drinking” (Lee-Baggley 143). Hence alcoholics should stop the excessive consumption of alcohol. This will enable them to have healthier bodies and good relationships.
Getting enough sleep is one of the essential concepts in life. “People should sleep for seven to eight hours each day” (Takeuchi, Catriona 15). Enough sleep enables the body to break down fat adequately. Hence the body becomes leaner. Additionally, the body is also able to repair broken-down muscles efficiently. This is because most of the muscle activity happens when people are sleeping. Athletes, bodybuilders, and people with injuries need to get adequate sleep daily. Not getting enough sleep causes health problems. These include mental fatigue, obesity, and several diseases. Sleep-deprived people have a moody attitude and sometimes get into accidents. They are not energetic and do not enjoy their days fully. Excessive sleep is not a good habit. It can cause diseases such as heart problems and diabetes. As a result, people should get adequate sleep for the recommended time. By doing this, they will be able to enjoy their healthy lifestyles more.
The company people keep incredibly affects their lifestyles. The lousy company includes people who abuse drugs. The majority of the youth get into drug abuse because of peer pressure. This destroys their relationships with their families and friends. Their school grades also decline, which leads to family disappointment. A good company includes energetic people who share a common interest. Most of their activities are decent. These activities can consist of sports and games. Staying around moody people can affect people's attitude towards others. Hence, people should keep good company to get the most out of life.
Stress management is also crucial to living healthy lives. Stress can be caused by relationship difficulty, bad news, or being overworked. People who are stressed end up having bad relationships due to poor communication. They mostly say hurtful words in the heat of the moment. Their bodies suffer from mental strain, insomnia, and high blood pressure. This causes them to be moody. People should reduce stress through exercise, getting enough sleep, and avoid overworking. “They should relax and do activities to relieve their stress” (Takeuchi, Catriona 11). As a result, they will become healthier.
People should avoid things that have adverse effects on their lives. Harmful drugs like excessive alcohol consumption and smoking of tobacco should be minimized. The body should be cared for by getting enough sleep and regular exercise. Eating balanced diets will prolong people's life span. By taking care of their bodies and minds, people will reduce the number of times they visit hospitals. Relationships will also be preserved when people avoid drugs and stressful activities. Hence, people need to live healthy lives. This will enable them to enjoy living longer lives in the process.
Works Cited
Cope, Graham F. Smoking-what all healthcare professionals need to know. M&K Update Ltd, 2016.
Lee-Baggley, Dayna. Healthy habits suck: How to get off the couch and live a healthy life... Even if you don't want to. New Harbinger Publications, 2019.
Takeuchi, Catriona.10 Ways to Be Healthy. HALCO, 2018.
Medawar, E., Huhn, S., Villringer, A. et al. The effects of plant-based diets on the body and the brain: a systematic review. Transl Psychiatry 9, 226 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-019-0552-0