“To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear”- Buddha
Physical wellness requires a variety of healthy behaviors such as appropriate exercise, and proper nutrition. Physical wellness should also include leaving harmful habits behind. Another aspect of physical wellness includes learning your body and being able to know when something seems off, getting recommended medical checkups, and developing overall healthy habits. Developing such healthy habits today will not only add years to your life but will enhance the enjoyment and quality of those years. It’s a beautiful life now explores 8 tips for physical wellness
8 Tips for optimal physical wellness:
1. Exercise daily
Exercise is extremely beneficial for physical health as well as mental health. As stated in the article “How Your Mental Health Reaps the Benefits of Exercise” by Psychology Today “, exercise directly affects the brain. Increasingly strong evidence suggests that exercise is not only for the maintenance of good mental health, but can be used to also treat mental illness. Exercise reduces the likelihood of depression and can also maintain mental health as we age. On the treatment side, exercise appears to be as good as existing pharmacological interventions across a range of conditions, including mild to moderate depression and anxiety.” Increased mental health coupled with abundant optimal physical wellness is a great excuse to exercise daily!
2. Sleep
Getting adequate rest is an important aspect of physical health. Getting enough sleep is known to boost your immune system, prevent weight gain, strengthen your heart, increase productivity, and improve memory. According to a Harvard Medical School study on sleep and mental health, “sleep and mental health are closely connected. Sleep deprivation affects your psychological state and mental health, and those with mental health problems are more likely to have insomnia or other sleep disorders.” Good sleep has been shown to improve problem-solving skills and enhance memory performance in both children and adults while also enhancing athletic performance. This tip for optimal physical wellness deserves the number 2 spot!
3. Eat a variety of healthy food
According to Harvard Health’s “Nutritional Psychiatry: Your brain on Food”, eating a clean diet can have an optimal effect on health both physically and mentally. “What you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain, and ultimately, your physical body and mood” Good nutrition, physical activity, and a healthy body weight are essential parts of a person’s overall health and well-being. A healthy diet, regular physical activity, and achieving and maintaining a healthy weight also are important optimal physical aspects of wellness.
4. Meal portion control
While eating healthy food is an important aspect of physical wellness, overeating even healthy foods is not recommended for optimal physical health. According to Harvard Medical Schools “Keeping Portions in Proportion”, excess body fat has profound metabolic consequences which can lead to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and possible depression. Overeating promotes excess body fat, interrupts the regulation of hunger, and can lead to an increase in weight, which can in turn lead to obesity and an increase in physical disease. Meal portion control is an important aspect of physical wellness.
5. Say Goodbye to Smoking and other harmful substance
Smoking and other harmful drugs create a greater risk for diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels, which can lead to cardiovascular disease. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), smoking has increased health risks, cardiovascular disease being one among many. According to the CDC’S “Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking”, smoking causes stroke and coronary heart disease, which are among the leading causes of death in the United States. The CDC goes on to report that “even people who smoke fewer than 5 cigarettes a day can have early signs of cardiovascular disease.” The facts about smoking are that this particular habit can cause cancer almost anywhere in your body. The good news that the CDC reports is that quitting smoking cuts cardiovascular risk. Just 1 year after quitting smoking, your risk for a heart attack drops significantly. Within 2 to 5 years after quitting smoking, your risk for stroke may reduce to about that of a nonsmoker’s. If you quit smoking, your risks for cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder drop by half within 5 years, ten years after you quit smoking, your risk for dying from lung cancer drops by half. This tip for optimal physical wellness is definitely something to consider.
6. Limit Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol affects the body and mind. Drinking too much overtime can cause chronic physical and mental health issues. Heavy drinking can cause or contribute to liver damage, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer. According to Harvard Health (Alcohol: Balancing Risks and Benefits) article “alcohol is both tonic and poison. The difference lies mostly in the dose. Moderate drinking seems to be good for the heart and circulatory system. Heavy drinking is a major cause of preventable death in most countries. Heavy drinking can cause liver and heart damage, increase chances of developing breast cancer, contributes to depression and violence, and can interfere with relationships”. Limiting alcohol consumption can help aid in positive physical and mental health. This physical wellness tip suggests limiting alcohol consumption, as balance is an important factor in optimal wellness.
7. Drink Water
The body is composed of a high percentage of water. Drinking water helps to get the full benefit of physical health while positively impacting brain function and energy levels.
According to Medical News Today, “keeping hydrated is crucial for health and well-being.” Medical News today also states the many benefits of drinking water, such as skin health and beauty, regulating body temperature, preventing kidney damage, boosting physical performance during exercise, and helping with losing and maintaining a healthy weight. Water is also an important factor in digestion, absorption, circulation, nutrient transportation, and regulating body temperature. This physical aspect of wellness is a must try!
8. Hygiene
Hygiene is defined as conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness. Optimal personal hygiene involves keeping all parts of the external body clean and healthy, such as showering, brushing teeth, washing hands, and flossing. These actions are important for maintaining both physical and mental health and promote a positive mood. Practicing optimal personal hygiene is important for helping keep the body healthy and clean. In people with substandard personal hygiene, the body provides an attainable environment for germs to grow, leaving it vulnerable to infection.
Optimal personal hygiene also includes preventative medical care like keeping up with annual checkups and making the appropriate doctors’ appointments. Hygiene is an important aspect of optimal physical wellness.
Summary
The physical aspects of wellness include exercising, getting adequate sleep, eating a variety of healthy food, meal portion control, disengaging in smoking and the use of other harmful substances, limiting alcohol consumption, drinking water, and good personal hygiene. Creating a balance in all of these areas and making the appropriate adjustments to get rid of harmful substances to the body are ways to enhance optimal physical wellness.
