Although there is no any particular ideal time for setting healthy living resolutions, today is the best day to initiate any positive changes. Advice from an NHS or private GP London clinic can be very helpful in doing so. The objective is to work out practical things you need to do, in order to have robust health.
Following are some tips to improve and maintain your health this year:
1. Eat healthy foods
Your diet should have a variety of foods. It must include fruits and vegetables. Legumes are also good. So are whole grains and nuts. The standard advice is for an adult to have 5 fruit and veggie servings per day. This amounts to about 400 grams per day.
2. Limit sugar and salt intake
Consuming too much salt raises the risk of ending up with high blood pressure. On the other hand, consuming too much sugar puts you at risk of morbid weight gain. It can also lead to tooth decay. Therefore don’t take more than 5g (roughly a teaspoon) of salt per day. And don’t consume more than 50g (roughly 12 teaspoons) of sugar per day.
3. Don’t consume lots of harmful fats
The harmful fats include those in fatty meat, ghee and lard. Others are to be found in butter and cream. Palm and coconut oils are not very healthy either. We also have the fats found in baked foods such as cookies and biscuits, these are not healthy. Same way avoid frozen pizzas and spreads as they are also not good for health. Better choices include the fats in avocado, sunflower, olive oil and fish.
4. Don’t overindulge in alcohol consumption
Too much alcohol puts you at risk of various mental and physical health problems. Better to avoid the intake of alcohol. Otherwise, it should be very firmly moderated.
5. Ensure that you don’t smoke
Tobacco smoking can cause very many diseases. Thus if you haven’t started smoking, don’t dare get on that bandwagon. But if you are already a smoker, work hard at quitting as soon as possible. If you are unable to quit on your own, seek medical help. It should be easy enough to find an NHS or private GP near me who can assist with the tobacco cessation process.
6. Be physically active
If you are an adult in the 18-64 years age bracket, you need at least 150 minutes of exercise per week. You should actually be aiming for 300 minutes total per week. Formal exercise regimens are good. But the informal physical activity that is incorporated into daily routines counts too.
7. Have your blood pressure checked often
High blood pressure is one of those conditions that often creep on people with no symptoms. Therefore it is advisable to have your blood pressure readings on regular basis. If it is found to be high, get advice from your doctor on how to lower it. Then really adhere to that advice.
8. Be regularly tested for various infections
It is important to take regular tests for things like STIs, hepatitis B and TB. This way, you get to know your health status. If you are found to be infected, timely treatment is initiated. And if you are found to be uninfected, you can be advised on how to remain that way.
9. Go for the relevant vaccinations
There are vaccines for many nasty diseases, such as tetanus, cervical cancer and influenza. Others include diphtheria, typhoid and yellow fever. You need to consult your healthcare provider for advice on the vaccines you really need. Then get vaccinated as per advice. Also, ensure that young children under your care get all the vaccines they need at the appropriate times.
10. Adhere to safe sex habits
The goal here is to avoid getting infected with diseases like syphilis and gonorrhoea, as well as possibly HIV. Condoms can be very helpful too. Where it is available, pre-exposure prophylaxis can be good too.
11. Don’t cough or sneeze with an uncovered mouth
The goal is to avoid spreading diseases like influenza as well as TB and pneumonia. You should cover your mouth with a face mask or tissue while sneezing or coughing. Then dispose of it responsibly. Your elbow’s crook will also do if masks or tissues are not available.
12. Protect yourself from mosquito bites
Mosquitos can spread many deadly diseases. That is why measures like using bed nets and applying insect repellants are really important. It is also necessary to destroy any potential mosquito breeding grounds regularly.
13. Adhere to traffic laws
The aim here is to avoid the injuries or even death that can occur due to road accidents. Thus you should have seat belts on while driving. Other key ones include no drunk driving, wearing helmets and not using a mobile while driving. They are all for your own good, really.
14. Avoid drinking unsafe water
If the water available is of dubious safety, boil it first. Then allow it to cool naturally, after which you can use it.
15. Ensure that babies in the 0-2 years age bracket are breastfed
This will promote their optimal growth. And for the mother, there will be benefits, such as a reduction of the risk for certain conditions. Those include type 2 diabetes, ovarian and breast cancer as well as postpartum depression. Proper breastfeeding reduces the risk of such illnesses.
16. Don’t bottle issues up, especially when you are feeling low
The best thing to do instead is to find someone you trust and talk to them. Otherwise, you may slip into depression, which can cause various complications.
17. Follow prescriptions strictly while taking antibiotics
You need to do this in order to avoid developing antibiotic resistance. Therefore only take antibiotics after the prescription. And ensure that you finish the dose.
18. Ensure that you clean your hands in the right manner
The right manner to clean your hands is with soap and water for 2 minutes. The alternative is to rub thoroughly with a product that contains alcohol. This way many infectious diseases are kept away.
19. Only eat food that is properly prepared
Pathogens can gain entry into your body through poorly prepared food. You thus need to cook any food that requires cooking thoroughly before eating it. Also, ensure that food meant for consumption is kept clean.
20. Go for regular medical checkups
This can help with early diagnosis of diseases while they are still easily manageable. A medical checkup also provides a chance to have various physical tests carried out holistically. You, therefore, need to make a firm commitment to go for the checkups whenever they are due.
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Remember, to some extent, the state of your health depends on your actions. Putting these tips into practice increases the chances of attaining and maintaining good health. For things like medical checkups, tests and vaccinations, a Best Private Doctor London clinic can help.
