What does a healthy lifestyle mean ?

Guiding question: What does a healthy lifestyle mean?

A healthy lifestyle keeps you fit, energetic and at reduced chance of getting disease, based on the choices you make about your daily habits. A healthy diet (in terms of nutrition), daily exercise and sufficient sleep are the foundations for keeping good health. Managing stress in positive ways, instead of through smoking or drinking alcohol, reduces damage to your body.

Negative factors that can affect our health:

Obesity: Being overweight can contribute or lead to a range of health conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, indigestion and some cancers.

Binge drinking: Alcohol related problems can lead to ill health and premature death, especially through cirrhosis of the liver, and through alcohol related violence resulting in emergency admission to hospital.

Smoking: Smoking is a major cause of lung cancer, bronchitis, emphysema, cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it can also cause or contribute to conditions, such as asthma or high blood pressure. Research indicates that smoking can reduce life expectancy by seven to eight years

Drug: Drug taking, especially addiction, can have a horrible effect on personal health it can also impact your family, friends and communities.

What are some positive factors we can take into consideration if we want to maintain a healthy lifestyle?

1. Water

A lot of our body and brain are made up of water. You need water to keep you hydrated, to flush out toxins, to assimilate nutrients from food, and for your brain to work properly. Drinking lots of water also keeps your skin from becoming dry and prematurely wrinkled from dehydration.

2. Sun

Although too much exposure to the sun is bad we do need some sunshine. 10 -20 minutes of daily early morning or late evening sun is beneficial. Sunshine gives you vitamin D and also enables you bones to absorb calcium. Without enough vitamin D our bones can become brittle and break easily. It is not natural to spend all of our time on the inside. We need fresh air and a little bit of sunshine to maintain good health.

3. Exercise.

Our bodies need movement and physical activity. Proper exercise slows down our physical deterioration. We need three types of exercise: Flexibility, aerobic, and strength training. Exercise can help do the following things to us as humans:

• Make us feel healthier.

• Strengthen the heart.

• Make lungs more efficient as they will expand more when taking in air.

• Improve illnesses such as asthma.

• Strengthens immune system and as a result means you become ill less easily/often

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Become more alert and ready to perform tasks

• Strengthens our muscles

4. Diet

Fresh fruits and vegetables are some of the most important foods you can eat. The more diverse

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