7 tips for good health

To be healthy, there are some very simple precepts and tips to follow. Here are 7 tips for good health:-

1. Eat a balanced and healthy diet

This is the first piece of advice we can give you. If you want to be healthy, watch your diet. The sacrosanct "eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day" is a rule that you must have heard dozens and dozens of times, but there is a reason for it. These fruits and vegetables have a protective role in the prevention of diseases that can appear at age, such as cancers (see also: Preventing cancer, advice for a healthy lifestyle ), cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes… They also provide the vitamins, minerals and fibers necessary for the proper functioning of the body.

For some doctors and nutritionists, you should even consume 7 or even 10 fruits and vegetables a day! You should therefore avoid eating too much fat, too sweet or too salty. To help you eat better, it is possible to go to specialists, or to bring your smartphone: certain applications like Yuka , available on Android or iPhone, allow you to consume better by telling you if a product that you you can find in supermarkets is too salty, sweet, or stuffed with additives. Easy to use, these applications will make it more fun!

2. Practice physical activity regularly

Again, this is surely something that you have often heard. But practicing regular physical activity is essential for your health, and this at all ages. Physical activity helps maintain the body and mind, reduce mortality and also prevent the onset of certain diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or being overweight. It also helps to combat stress and sleep better.

No need to be a great sportsman to practice a physical activity. Walking or taking your bike to work or avoiding taking the elevator to take the stairs are little everyday things that can only do you good. Going to the pool or jogging regularly are also beneficial and time-consuming activities.

The time you need to spend doing this physical activity depends on your age: you can look at the advice from the World Health Organization on this HERE . "WHO defines physical activity as any movement of the body produced by the muscles that requires energy expenditure - which includes movements made while working, playing, doing household chores, moving around and during activities of leisure ”, specifies WHO on its official site.

Good to know: "The term 'physical activity' should not be confused with the expression 'exercise', which is a subcategory of more deliberate, structured, repetitive physical activity and which aims to improve or maintain one or more aspects of physical fitness. "

3. Drink lots of water

Water is essential for our survival. As a reminder , our body is composed of 60 to 70% water. Drinking water thus allows us to maintain a certain physical form (even if that is not enough to be healthy, of course), assures us a good mental form also and has virtues for health that you surely do not suspect. . So you have to make sure you have enough water in a day to be on top. Doctors recommend drinking between 1.5 and 2 liter (s) of water per day for an adult person. A figure that can be revised upwards in hot weather like this summer or if you practice a sport, in order to hydrate yourself well.

4. Get enough sleep 

Did you know that you spend almost 25 years of your life sleeping? This means that sleep has a preponderant part in our existence and that it should not be neglected. But with work, studies, family and all the other pressures inherent in daily life , your sleep time is greatly impacted. And it can harm your health. The lack of sleep can affect your mood, your mental state, your physical condition, can disrupt your metabolism or increase the risk of developing certain diseases. So many reasons that should push you to adapt your lifestyle to get enough hours of sleep. According to the American National Sleep Foundation, the number of hours of sleep recommended depends on your age. This ranges from 14 to 17 hours per day for newborns to 7 to 8 hours for seniors (over 65). A teenager (14 to 17 years old) will need 8 to 10 hours of sleep, a young adult (18 to 25 years old) from 7 to 9 hours and an adult (26 to 64 years old) from 7 to 9 hours of sleep. These are of course indications and it all depends on the individual.

5. Avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol

Again, this may be something that makes sense to you. But to be healthy, cigarettes and tobacco are strongly discouraged. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, tobacco is the direct cause of 5.4 million deaths in 2004 and 100 million in the 20th century.

Alcohol is another major cause of death: it is associated with 2.6 million deaths worldwide in 2016. And if it has long been believed that a small glass of wine or a beer every now and then doesn’t was not so bad for health, a recent study confirmed that it was not really the case (see also: Alcohol is never good for your health ).

"The most surprising result is that alcohol consumption, even in small amounts, contributes to global health loss," said research manager Emmanuela Gakidou, professor of public health at the University of Washington. "We are used to hearing that one or two glasses of alcoholic beverages are perfect, but the evidence suggests a different situation. "

Alcohol and tobacco, the combo to absolutely avoid if you want to stay healthy and must be banned, even in moderation therefore!

6. Relax

It may seem simple to say. But sometimes you have to mentally "disconnect" from your daily life and relax. This can go through a relaxing activity, which you can practice alone or in groups (yoga, relaxation…). Clear your mind can only be beneficial for your body, especially if you follow the previous advice!

7. Take time for yourself and do what you love

Again, it's simple to say but sometimes difficult to do. Because in the tumult of daily life, between metro-work-dodo, it is sometimes difficult to take time for yourself. Not just to relax, as explained above. But to go out, see friends, do an activity (sports, culture ...), visit family ... So many important moments for your personal balance.